Job applications overseas

[cguy]

Jip, I am 28...

I am working in TechnoPark now. The problem is that my specific field is not really present in South Africa. Only small operations at university, and after 9 years I am "gatvol" for university...

I do agree that work experience, in most cases, count more than any degree. So hopefully in a couple years time things will look up. It is just strange that a couple of years back (5 years?) it seemed easier to get a job overseas. I know of a number of people that got work out of university overseas. But economics changed and appointing local people are more beneficial I believe.

It was much easier to get a job in the UK 5 years ago. They changed their visa scheme to work something like the USA (need job sponsorship) - previously, I could get a "show up and look for work" visa based on my qualifications and/or income levels. The USA has remained much the same (job sponsorship with a yearly cap). The USA companies are used to this process, whereas the UK companies are not. The UK companies would therefore generally need a lot more motivation to go through the process than the US companies.

My guess is that your resume just doesn't stick out. Just having a PhD isn't enough (I go through hundreds of new/recent PhD resumes every year). If you don't have the publication profile, you need to expound on the work you did during your PhD, and try tailor it to the specific company you are applying for. Possibly your final research isn't relevant to the company, but the skills that you obtained to do it are (very common scenario).

 

[cguy]

I am in a similar boat. I'm keen to try interview overseas but never get a response. What I don't understand is the problem pointed out that they want you to already have a work permit but how it seems near impossible without a company actually bringing you over?

Then you just land up in a circle of Need Work Permit to get job offer but I need a job offer to get work permit etc etc...

My thinking is maybe sign up for a recruitment agency and organise a time to visit that country so that the recruitment agency can try organise interviews during that time.

I don't think that the above is really your problem. If a company ignores you for not having a work permit, it means that you were only borderline interesting, and would likely be competing with a lot of local talent for the job (meaning that it only requires a very generic skill set).

Basically, it costs them next to nothing to phone screen you. If you're not reaching this stage, it means that you should make your resume more compelling somehow. Once you have someone on the phone, if you can blow them away, the wheels start turning. If you can't get them interested in phone screening you, it is very unlikely that they would be interested in hiring you via the tedious work visa process.

 

[bin3]

General steps for getting a job overseas.

Go overseas.
Find a company you like and that likes you.
Convince them you will be a benefit for the next 5 years.
Come back to South Africa.
Company applies for a work permit for you.

Or something like that.

 

[cguy]

General steps for getting a job overseas.

Go overseas.
Find a company you like and that likes you.
Convince them you will be a benefit for the next 5 years.
Come back to South Africa.
Company applies for a work permit for you.

Or something like that.

Interviewing on a holiday visa is generally not allowed (I know someone who was banned from the USA for 10 years for this). Some companies don't care (usually the smaller ones that don't realize that they could be on the hook for this), but this is usually frowned upon.

Usual process:
- First contact: send resume, recruiter, internal reference, etc.
- Phone interview (up to 3 or 4)
- They fly you up for an onsite interview (business visa)
- You fly back
- They make you an offer or reject you
- If you accept their offer, they will relocate you

 

[ponder]

Try a placement/recruitment agency in the US that specialises in foreign recruitments. Years ago (mid 90's) I dealt with one run by expats that only recruited from SA, UK, Oz & NZ.

No I cannot remember the name of the agency but they were based in Boca Raton, Florida and placed people all over the US.

 

[krycor]

BEng Hons is the same as BSc(Eng).. 4-5yrs. Oddly enough only saw a separate BEng Homs course up here at University of Pretoria.

Hrm.. While studying > masters is great the world economic changes of the last 5 yrs has meant it no longer places you in a huge advantage as it use to. Needs of industry has changed and you find they look more for doers, entrepreneurs even. With tech visas last time I looked there is also an income requirement in addition to age & education which is usually means u have to pull off 3-5 yrs experience income in 0 time or get a great position in SA to go over.

So yah.. I think the placement via study/research is the way to go if u invest as much time with studies as time counts against you with visas..unless u go to UAE wherein you can go with little to no experience

 

[MagusKAN]

BEng Hons is the same as BSc(Eng).. 4-5yrs. Oddly enough only saw a separate BEng Homs course up here at University of Pretoria.

Hrm.. While studying > masters is great the world economic changes of the last 5 yrs has meant it no longer places you in a huge advantage as it use to. Needs of industry has changed and you find they look more for doers, entrepreneurs even. With tech visas last time I looked there is also an income requirement in addition to age & education which is usually means u have to pull off 3-5 yrs experience income in 0 time or get a great position in SA to go over.

So yah.. I think the placement via study/research is the way to go if u invest as much time with studies as time counts against you with visas..unless u go to UAE wherein you can go with little to no experience

Actually, a BEng is the same as a BSc(Eng). They are both 4-year degrees at NQF level 7 (and recognised as such under the Washington Accord)
The BEng(Hons) degree at the University of Pretoria is a postgraduate degree wherein one does advanced engineering courses at NQL level 8, so it's essentially a Masters degree without a research report or dissertation (and without the same recognition, obviously)
Because the BEng(Hons) degree is a postgrad degree, it allows the University of Pretoria to obtain additional research funding (a nice ploy if you ask me), but the caveat is that one has to jump through this additional hoop to obtain a Masters degree there. You first have to do a BEng(Hons) before you can start with a Masters (which are only research-based).

The following universities offer BEng/BIng degrees:

*University of Pretoria
*University of the North West (Potch)
*Stellenbosch University

The following offer BSc(Eng) degrees:

*University of Cape Town
*Wits

Check here: http://www.saqa.org.za/show.asp?include=structure/sgb/regsgbs/eng-brief.html

 

[Sonic2k]

This reminds me of the "pack fish in Alaska" ads from 10-12 years ago.

Generally, the loopholes have been plugged now, its much harder to get into the UK, or NZ for example.

General steps for getting a job overseas.

Go overseas.
Find a company you like and that likes you.
Convince them you will be a benefit for the next 5 years.
Come back to South Africa.
Company applies for a work permit for you.

Or something like that.

good advice!