Question
I am a 29-year-old Australian female who has been working and travelling in the UK on a working holiday visa for the past 18 months.
I have 10 years' experience in the hospitality industry with six or so of them spent running a fast-food restaurant. I am very keen to pursue my career and move into pubs with the idea of eventually opening my own. My only problem is that I need to find a company to sponsor me so that I can stay in this country. I have sent off many CVs and a lot of companies seem keen until I get to the sponsorship part. All I need is a two-year sponsor and then I will be able to stay here. Surely there are companies out there who are able to help.
I believe I have a lot to offer a company and just need that one person to give me a chance. Hope you can advise.
What the expert says
Julian Bradwell, human resources director, Greene King Pub Company
The question that any employer will ask in this kind of situation is: what's in it for me? Unfortunately you are at a disadvantage because pub companies have other simpler and less risky ways of filling vacancies than sponsoring someone who is relatively new to the pub industry for two years.
Therefore, you need to think about what you can offer a company - what is your unique selling point as an individual? Then you will need to be able to communicate this to the company you are interested in.
Another factor to think about is what you will do after you have completed your sponsorship. Again, think about what the benefits are for the employer. The rest is down to your own hard work and powers of persuasion.