It's not about "bending the rules." I don't know how to get you a work permit. I bet it costs a ton of money and involves knowing an immigration lawyer. I can't add "learn how to get somebody a work permit" to my todo list this week. I just can't. I can only hire people who are already authorized to work here. I know this rules out some great candidates, but I have to live with that. I also can't pay you to move here from thousands of miles away -- and I live in a big country, so people who are authorized to work here could easily be living 2000 or more miles from me. Again I may lose some great candidates but I don't have a budget for that.
If you don't mention that you need a permit until quite far into the process, I'm going to be angry. But angry or not, whether I show it or not, I won't hire you. I can't hire you because I don't know how. You seem to think it's a case of "the boss says don't help with work permits, but this candidate is so great, I'm going to do it anyway." I am willing to bet cash money that no-one has ever done that. Ever. Because we don't know how, and there's nobody in the company who knows how. Even though this costs us some great candidates.
Do you have to tell me right away? No, you don't have to do anything. You can use all our interviews as practice to get yourself better. But it's kind of selfish. If the ad doesn't say that you must already be authorized to work here, and doesn't say "we'll help you get permission to work here", then you should be asking about that help as early in the process as possible, to save us all time. Waiting to ask won't change the answer, that's the key. So why wait?
manpreet![Tuteehub forum best answer]()
Best Answer
2 years ago
I hope this is the right place to post. In recent months I have been finding contracts or skilled-volunteering after I quit my job. Now I'm searching for new opportunities and I saw few in countries that I can't work legally without a visa permit.
Sometimes, though very rarely, employers are explicit about being able to sponsor a visa for the right candidate. More often than not they will not say anything, and sometimes will say that you need the permit first.
I am a believer that if a company finds the right candidate they would be willing to bend such rules. It could be wishful thinking on my part but why not?
I lost two possible positions when I got through the interviews, references, and then the employers said they can't hire me. One of them politely said they would really want to but their budget doesn't let them sponsor anybody. The other one was angry that I didn't disclose that information earlier (they never asked).
Right now I am in a bit of an ethical pickle.
Personally I think it's silly to send my job application along with the information that "hey I need a visa to work for you" as that might be something they read even before my application. It's like shooting myself in a foot. But at the same time I want to be honest and want them to understand I do it only so that I am first judged by my qualifications and then by my passport..
Where is the balance then?
What do you think is the right place and time to mention this if an employer did not specifically say anything on the matter?
And now the extreme case, let's say job says I need a permit. I don't have one but at the same time I am very qualified for the job and it's a perfect company/organisation.
Where do I mention it (if at all?) but without compromising my chance before it even begins?