Sponsoring Employer Case Study
Case Study 03: African Caterpillar Mechanics to Australia in 22 Days
Recruiting another 17 Internationals once again proved to be an outstanding success for one of the world’s largest Caterpillar Dealers.

Contents
- Executive Summary
- Client
- Country Deployed To
- The Problem
- Proposed Solution
- Interview Timeline
- Country Recruited From
- Who Did The Employer Send To Conduct Interviews
- Offer Timeline
- Nomination Timeline
- Visa Timeline
- Arrival
- Family
- International Recruitment
- Immigration Assistance
- Deployment Services
- Previous Working History
- Starting Work in the New Country
- Are The Candidates Still Employed
- Return On Investment
- Candidate Feedback
1. Executive Summary
The International Recruitment of Caterpillar Dealer Trained Heavy Equipment Mechanics is once again proving to be an outstanding success for one of the world’s largest Caterpillar Dealers.
ROI - Substantial
Despite extensive internal, local and interstate recruitment drives, the Australian Caterpillar Dealer was unable to recruit for their requirements from inside Australia.
Skilled Migration Group provided International Recruitment Services. Sourcing OEM trained Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Technicians and Electricians suitable to work in Australia that could meet and exceed Caterpillar Dealer standards. We provided a tried, tested and proven solution to the skills shortages in Australia.
Interviews were conducted by hybrid arrangement. The Cat Dealer sent a representative from Australia to Africa, to chat face to face with the candidates alongside the Skilled Migration Group interview teams. While at the same time, joining the interviews by video, were senior Cat Dealer Managers in two different Australian States.
The Australian Caterpillar Dealer Managers were 2935 km apart from each other, and were 16,295 km apart from the interview teams in Ghana, and Zambia.
Vast numbers of Interviews were conducted over a two-week period.
Skilled Migration Group provided pre-qualified candidates from Botswana, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. And the Caterpillar Dealer Managers comfortably selected the very large number of highly skilled Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Technicians and Electricians that they had been tasked to hire.
With the skills shortages issues solved, the workers deployed and Equipment Assembly progressing nicely, once again the Skilled Migration Group International Recruitment teams have delivered an exceptional return on investment for one of the world’s largest Caterpillar Dealers.
2. Client
One of the world’s largest Caterpillar Dealers.
3. Country Deployed To
Australia
4. The Problem
Due To Skills Shortages The Australian Caterpillar Dealer Was Unable to Train, Upskill or Recruit Sufficient Numbers of Field Service Mechanics and Technicians in Australia To Meet Demand.
5. Proposed Solution
Recruit highly skilled and experienced Caterpillar Dealer trained heavy equipment mechanics and technicians globally that are suitable to work in field service in Australia. And deploy them into the Caterpillar Dealer’s Australian Operations onto MARC Mine Sites.
6. Interview Timeline
Time taken from order placement to client interview - 4 weeks
7. Country Recruited From
Botswana, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe
8. Who Did The Employer Send To Conduct Interviews
Interviews were conducted by hybrid arrangement. The Cat Dealer sent a representative from Australia to Africa, to chat face to face with the candidates alongside the Skilled Migration Group interview teams. While at the same time, joining the interviews by video, were senior Cat Dealer Managers in two different Australian States
9. Offer Timeline
Time taken from presentation of offer of employment to acceptance of offer - 48 Hours
10. Nomination Timeline
Nominations were approved in 17 days.
11. Visa Timeline
Visas were granted in 22 days.
12. Arrival
Time taken from visa approval until arrival in Australia and commencing work at the Company - 6 weeks.
13. Family
The Caterpillar Dealer Trained Heavy equipment Mechanics were relocated without their families - Their families will reunite with them in Australia after a short settling in period.
14. International Recruitment
The candidates were sourced from industry connections and directly targeted sourcing - no job advertising of the positions were placed in the countries targeted.
15. Immigration Assistance
Immigration Assistance was provided by an Australian Registered Migration Agent
16. Deployment Services
Workers were deployed by the an Australian Company that is very experienced in deploying overseas workers into companies in Australia.
17. Previous Working History
Candidates all had first class knowledge of Caterpillar Dealer Systems, and electronic diagnostic tooling.
Candidates all had good experience on tractors, excavators, large haul trucks, motor graders, and wheel loaders.
18. Starting Work in the New Country
During their induction phase the candidates were initially placed into regional branch workshops for the Australian Caterpillar Dealer. Before quickly moving into the field service team working on Caterpillar large surface mining equipment.
Candidates were all well received by the Caterpillar dealer.
19. Are The Candidates Still Employed
All of the Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Technicians and Electricians are still employed by the same Australian Caterpillar dealership.
20. Return On Investment
Regardless how you measure success.
The International Recruitment of Caterpillar Dealer Trained Mechanics has once again been an outstanding success for this Australian Caterpillar Dealer.
Measure of ROI - Substantial
21. Candidate Feedback
We spoke to one of the many workers that were hired by the Australian Caterpillar Dealer. Virgil deployed to, and is working in Queensland on a MARC site for one of the world’s largest Caterpillar Dealers and he loves it!
He just raves about the high quality standards the Cat dealer demands and he is truly at home there in that type of work environment.
Virgil we think you’re a huge asset to that Cat dealer, and long may it continue.
You can read more about this worker’s journey by clicking this link.