Guest CivEngJay Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Hi everyone, Myself and the OH are both in our mid 20s and just finishing our degrees. I'll be graduating with a BEng in civil and structural engineering and she'll be getting a MSc in environmental engineering with project management having finished her BEng last year. We both have small amounts of experience in related fields (<1 year) but nothing post graduate. We're just finalising our application for a 476 recognised graduate visa which gives us 18 months in country with no restrictions on employment. We have been looking for employment in QLD (due to family and friend links) via the internet but there doesn't seem to be much for graduates on the usual suspect sites (seek, indeed, etc.). We are persevering with job hunting but we're thinking of coming out whether or not we've secured a job. Our ambition is getting into the resource industry as we both studied in geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, surveying, structural engineering and project management. I was hoping that someone on here might provide some insight on the situation and be able to tell us whether we're being stupid or whether if there is a good chance we can find work when we get out there. Any and all help is gratefully received and I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Thanks, Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabo Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Jay, Welcome to PIO! There are a few members with direct experience of the resource sector and can speak more authoratively than I - my observation is that the sector typically seeks job-ready people with prerequisite experience. If you haven't already done so, you should check out the Engineers Australia site for info/accreditation etc. Organising something before you come out is often difficult. If your family connections are suitable that might help you get on your feet financially when you arrive. Most engineering companies I know don't take non-PR status graduates onto their graduate programmes. Key thing is to be flexible about the type of work you are prepared to take. Getting some/any Australian experience on your CV is vital. There are good opportunities in some engineering sectors here, once you have your foot in the door. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CivEngJay Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 (edited) Hi Fleabo, Thanks for your warm welcome and useful advice. I was getting the idea that a lot of the jobs are for those who are ready to jump right in but thought it would be worth asking. I also noticed what you mentioned about PR and graduate schemes although I am not necessarily looking to get straight on a grad scheme and mainly looking to get my foot in the door somewhere, again as you advise. The career path I am most interested in is geotechnical engineering and although you can complete post-grad studies to specialise I am not in the financial position to fork out £9000 for an MSc and am eager to get into the workplace. As I mentioned before I have some experience in the UK with Atkins water although I understand that this is nowhere near as important as getting some Australian experience and am looking for anything that can help get me that all important experience. Thanks again for you help, Jamie Edited July 11, 2012 by CivEngJay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest71686 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Hi, Welcome, I'm not a civil engineer but work in engineering as a naval architect. There's definately a shortage of engineers in australia which is good news for you both but I have to agree with others that experience is important so i guess its a case of using the 476 to get some contacts, i guess thats what its for! I assume you both studied at one of the unis on the list? I only realised this visa existed after i turned 31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CivEngJay Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Hi Can, Thanks for your welcome and advice. I'm glad to hear first hand of a shortage of engineers, as you can imagine that helps my confidence in our move. Sorry to hear you didn't find out in time. We both studied at Leeds University which we only discovered is one of the approved unis when we started really seriously researching coming over. I even had a 'free consultation' with a migration agent and had to tell them about the visa I was talking about as they'd not heard of it. I'm hoping the 18 months without working restrictions will make us slightly more attractive to employers than turning up on a WHV and hoping for sponsorship. Thanks again, Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EmiLanghorn Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Hi all, can anyone advise us of the availability of casual work in Brisbane if we come out before we can set engineering jobs up? Thanks CivEngJay's OH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 A word of caution. I recently heard about a couple who came out on the 476 visa and after three months went back broke as nobody was interested in employing them on this visa. Think about it, if you can get experience in UK first and then move over on a PR visa it might be better in long run. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EmiLanghorn Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Thanks for your reply Rupert. We know the value of hearing the negatives too so that we can make the most informed decision we can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GiraffesGiraffes Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Hi! I just got my 476 visa and plan on moving to Sydney in November / December. I am a bioengineer though I have work experience in software engineering and will try to get a full-term position in the company I am currently working for since they have offices there. My plan is to go even if I don't have anything and look once I get there (I will apply for jobs maybe a month before leaving but not sure if it'll be useful since I won't physically be there). I understand it'll be hard to start off, but if I'm not mistaken, it's not difficult to get PR from your 476 if you have a full-term job, right? Good luck and hope everything works out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CivEngJay Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Hi Giraffes, Thanks for your reply. Out of interest how long was your wait for the 476? I think we're going to adopt the same strategy as you and start peppering potential employers with applications in the near future when we have a firm date of arrival. As I understand certain engineering qualifications allow you to go for pr directly but we don't have the £2000 each lying around. I wish you all the luck when you get over there. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I understand it'll be hard to start off, but if I'm not mistaken, it's not difficult to get PR from your 476 if you have a full-term job, right? You either qualify for a PR visa or you do not, I can't see what difference the 476 makes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GiraffesGiraffes Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 (edited) You either qualify for a PR visa or you do not, I can't see what difference the 476 makes. My impression was that if you have a full-term job (which a 476 allows you to get), obtaining PR does not become that big an issue. I might be wrong though, since I haven't researched it thoroughly! Hi Giraffes, Thanks for your reply. Out of interest how long was your wait for the 476? I think we're going to adopt the same strategy as you and start peppering potential employers with applications in the near future when we have a firm date of arrival. As I understand certain engineering qualifications allow you to go for pr directly but we don't have the £2000 each lying around. I wish you all the luck when you get over there. Jay I applied end of March and got it mid-June. Good luck to you too Edited July 16, 2012 by GiraffesGiraffes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 My impression was that if you have a full-term job (which a 476 allows you to get), obtaining PR does not become that big an issue. I might be wrong though, since I haven't researched it thoroughly! You do not apply for something called "PR"; in Australia you apply for a visa and having a 476 visa will not really make any impact on any other visa application you make. What it might do, is enable someone to get a foot in the door with an employer, make them more willing to sponsor, although I believe a 476 holder would not have much work experience? In which case it would be a good two years on a temporary employer sponsored visa first as the employer would not be able to sponsor for a permanent visa straight away without work experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bartolo Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Hey GG! I got my 476 as well and I plan to move to Sydney December/January13'. I am a mechanical engineer, working in my field at the moment (2 years). Lately I have been looking for a job, and it seems it is not so easy from offshore. BTW I am from Poland Are you going there with some family? Friends? I am asking as I am migrating on my own and thought it might be easier, having a 'companiero'... Just askin' I will fly from London CHeErS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahmood1 Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 I know this thread is old, but I'm wondering is a beng from Newcastle university studying mechanical engineering. Is the Beng enough for this visa or do I need masters?, and how did it go with that visa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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