Visa’s – The main options:
Working Holiday visa
Securing a visa is crucial and there are a couple of different routes you can go down.
The WHV (working holiday visa) offers a practical solution to anyone under 30 who has made up their mind they are coming to Australia and are willing to secure the job on the ground. It's a quick, no fuss, online application process that if successful means you can arrive in Australia with 12 months to secure long term sponsorship. Being on the ground means you allow yourself the opportunity to get to know the market, meet potential employers face to face and make an informed decision on what fits best for you. The goal is to start your new role on your WHV but gain sponsorship (457) at the end of your probation period – a try before you buy of sorts, for both parties.
On a WHV you can work for up to 6 months for any one employer. This can be extended if you go and do rural work before the end of your first year, adding another year to the visa.
The only consideration with this visa is that there is no guaranteed job on arrival and it can be harder for less experienced candidates to be selected over local talent. It is entirely achievable and really just depends on timing, tenacity and your profile.
Business Sponsored 457 visa
For those of us who have already hit this age milestone, Australian businesses will offer sponsorship (457 visa) to those candidates (usually c4years+) who they feel can add real value and exceptional experience that can’t be matched locally.
British researchers are respected in Australia as the UK market is known for good training, innovation, best practise and best thinking. As such, businesses see the value of going through the visa process (which is timely and costly) for the ‘right’ candidates.
One of the most important things to do to secure sponsorship is to assure potential employers of your enthusiasm, seriousness and commitment. Have you visited Australia before? Do you have friend and family here? What's motivating you to make this move?
The remote interview process is similar although can be slightly longer and typically conducted through a series of telephone interviews and Skype calls where you will 'meet' multiple people and quite likely still deliver some kind of task. Be prepared to be at your best early and late as the time difference means you'll be interviewing at odd times. On occasion and depending on seniority then you can be asked to fly over or potentially meet local counterparts.
Once you have the job offer and a commitment to sponsor, the paperwork follows. You will be taken through this step by step by HR or an immigration partner and just be prepared for lots of form-filling. You will need to be thorough, organised and diligent – scrabbling around in dusty boxes to find old degree certificates, birth certificates as well as acquiring police reports and other official documentation to prove you're an upstanding citizen. It is all worth it when you get the magic seal of approval, which these days isn’t a tangible stamp for your passport, just a green light through Australian border control.
Be aware that essential this paperwork process is about proving to immigration you are qualified for the position and a local candidate could not be found in the first instance, with the same expertise.
Spousal
Another option is if you are coming over with a partner and they secure a 457 visa you can come over as an addition to their visa and enjoy full working rights. It should be noted that your right to stay is very much incumbent on your partner’s right to stay.
Salary:
When making any international move you cannot just convert sterling to dollars to work out your market rate. It is imperative that you get advice on local market benchmarking.
The Australian market research industry pays well and is generally favourable when converted.
Salary is really determined on your experience, the role you’re applying for and your value to the business. Are you the perfect fit? Are you transferring into a different sector? Do you require up-skilling in certain areas? Are your skills particularly sought after? All these things will affect what salary you can command.
We tailor advice depending on profiles and are always available to talk this through on a case by case basis.
An important difference here is superannuation which is a compulsory part of your package. It is your pension and calculated at c9.5% of your salary and payable by your employer so make sure you understand if your offer is including super or with super on top as this will make a significant difference.
Holiday is a standard 20 days. No point moaning this is different to the standard 25 days in the UK. At least it’s sunny most of those 20 days, and bank holidays are additional!
Otherwise different organisations offer a different range of benefits.
Market:
The market in Australia is much smaller than the UK but no less focussed on innovation and the changing landscape of consumer insights. The market is well fragmented with lots of boutiques making up a big part of the picture but the global players are all still here. As everything is smaller, you will find that everything is more hands-on at all levels both in the small or large agencies.
Small isn't any less well formed, and we have it all - qualitative and quantitative survey research, business intelligence, POS data, brand consultancy, innovation agency, online panels, field and data collection, advanced analytics, customer analytics etc.
The market remains vibrant and friendly with lots of networking events organised by the AMSRS committee such as the YRG (Young Research Group), specialist groups and the annual conference to name but a few.
Sydney (largest) and Melbourne are the main markets but there are roles to be found in Brisbane, Perth and Canberra etc.
Research is typically more focussed on Australian brands and services with Asia dominating the international regional research, but there are still some regional roles.
Why do it?
To combine a career move with a lifestyle move, for professional advancement, for the adventure, to travel, to experience a new market, to challenge yourself, to work with different agencies and peers and approaches and for a break from the English climate – both the weather and economy!
Whatever your own motivations, if you would like to make your Australian dream a reality then please contact the team at Resources Group in confidence for further information: London 020 7242 6321/Sydney +61 2 9258 1121 or email info@resourcesgroup.com
