Hi there,
I know this forum isn't for swiss people (like me).. sorry. I thought I can try, maby out there is somebody who can help me with my problem.

Short explanation: I'm 27 years old and graphic designer (studied Industrial Design and worked in advertising agencies and design offices). My dream is, to go for work to Sydney. As a swiss citizien, I'm not allowed to get a working holiday visa. If I wanna work in Australia, I have to get a job (while I live in Switzerland) there (in Sydney) and after I have the employment agreement, I can get the work visa => impossible.. I'm confused, unhappy and sad. I'm thinking of going with a travel visa and work illegal.. but I would have an uneasy feeling.

Can you help me, please? Do you know somebody in Sydney who know's somebody who works in advertising, design.. or do you have a tip or any information and contacts which could help me?

I'm really thankfull for every answer!
Kind regards

Laconae

Here you go Aus.!

Ur chance to double the national IQ at a stroke?

Why don't you go on a tourist visa and spend your whole time there interviewing -- then if you get an offer, return to Switzerland and go through the proper channels to get the appropriate work visa? It soulds like you've never been to Australia -- really, you should visit and find out whether you like it (and like the lifestyle you could afford on an after-tax Australian salary) before committing to move.

Don't even think about working illegally. Noone will employ you illegally in a "white collar" (ish) job and even if they did, you'd be found out and deported pretty quickly.

Oh, and welcome to EF. You're in Switzerland and you speak English; this forum is for you.

Do not overstay your tourist visa...not even for one day....

And do not work illegally.

It should not be any harder for a swiss person to get a work permit for Australia, than for an Australian to get a permit for Switzerland...

One advice that probably works as much here as it does there, is to find a swiss company with offices in Australia, or an Australian company with offices in Switzerland.

Design and Advertising jobs are pretty limited industries in Australia - I know at least three Aussies in Sydney with these sorts of qualifications that struggle to get jobs - they are considered 'glamorous' but can be very cut-throat as the market is not that big...

You could try for further studies via a university with an internship/employment arrangement. There may be a limit on the number of hours you can work per week as a foreign student...

Hi 22 yards, I was already in Australia. Just in the NSW area. But I love Sydney and I don't fall quickly in love with somebody ;-)

Wow, thanks for your welcome and for this quickly answer! Mmmh, I know... I digest any idea which you wrote. I thought as well I will do the legaly way: I go for 3 months as a tourist, with my design portfolio and do job interviews.
I wished I would be a nurse = in 1 month I would be in Sydney.

Aaaaaaaahhhh. Might there is a reason why I have to do the whole work. Hope I will get the big price.

Maby you can invite some other people? Are you australians?

cheers roswitha

OK, good luck. I didn't actually understand all of your post but, again, good luck. Swisspea is right, design is competitive in NSW. If I were you, I'd contact all the major design dtudios and ad agencies, and wander around Surry Hills, Paddington and Woolloomooloo, popping into studios in the area.

I think all three of the people who have replied on this thread are Australian.

And finally, seriously, please don't try messing with Australian immigration law. They don't like illegal immigrants/visa overstayers any more than Switzerland does.

Hi there,

I know quite a few people in this field in Sydney and times are very tough. Every Tom, Dick and Harry can get a graphic design qualification there pretty easily and so the industry is full of young poorly paid designers. I don't know how this works with Industrial design but I would imagine it would be similar.

You may want to think about freelancing on the internet via websites like www.elance.com or www.odesk.com, at least you would get an income whilst you looked for work and it wouldn't matter which country you were in. Most likely you would pay Swiss taxes which are a hell of a lot better than the Australian equivalent. It is a very competitive marketplace though.

If you have a truly outstanding resume/portfolio and are willing to back yourself there may be opportunities for you in Oz but given the glut in the labour market for designers and the complications for employers to take on a foreign worker I would say you would have a hard time.

Still if you go enjoy Sydney, it is a beautiful city. Be warned though it is just as expensive as CH (except that you will be able to afford a good steak every now and then).

Hi there,

Im glad you found your way to your dream destination! I would recommend you to get in touch with some Australians from your field - through various networks (e.g. linkedIn). You could also join communities/groups, which always make it easier to get in touch with people. We have a Australian-Swiss network group in Switzerland.. You might be able to find somebody that can help you further (www.facebook.com/ascci) Once you are in a network with people of the same background you always get help..

Good luck!

Hello there,
To get a working visa / sponsorship visa ( 4 years ) you need to find a company which would be very interested in hiring you ( shortage of qualified people in your branch or interesting experience that you could bring to the company). You can contact the Aussie embassy and ask for the listing of the jobs that are in high demand by the Aussie government at the moment.
You can also go to Oz on a tourist visa and try to get interviews to find a job.
If you are lucky you will have to get out of Australia until your working visa is issued( time for holidays in New caledonia, Fidji ect).
You have to know that until you get a permanent residency visa ( only possible to apply after 4 years to have a slight chance ...), you will have to pay for Medicare yourself.
Besides that the cost of living is way lower than in Switzerland!!
Good luck!!!

Old joke but...

Do you not know Bruce in Design?