Patrick, Heavy Equipment Mechanic – Zambia to Australia
Where did Patrick’s journey with Skilled Migration Group begin?
Patrick first contacted Skilled Migration Group Limited in July 2022.
He explained that he was working for Liebherr Zambia at the Kalumbila Copper Mine in the Kalumbila District, North-Western Province, Zambia (west of Solwezi). And that he would like to discuss the possibility of applying for work in Australia.
Patrick’s email and his CV were passed to one of our Technical Interview Team Leaders Dennis, and Dennis got in contact with Patrick that very day.
Dennis explained to Patrick that because Patrick was already over 45 years old, that most companies in Australia would not hire him, because he was over the age at which an employer sponsored permanent residency visa could be applied for.
But, Dennis went onto say that he was working on changing age related perceptions with Australian Employers.
And that there were some very experienced and highly skilled workers around the world that were over 45, and if Patrick had the drive and desire. Then Dennis would work with Patrick to seek out a decent, ethical Australian employer that would see Patrick’s value and true worth, and get him a job in Australia.
Patrick agreed, and this was the beginning of a friendship that will last the test of time.
Interview For Australia
Over the next few months of 2022, we got to know more and more about the work that Patrick did, the real hands on work he did with T-284 trucks and in areas he was deficient we guided and advised Patrick as to what specific skills an Australian employer would require.
Patrick undertook courses, gained OEM experience with different Brands software, such as understanding Caterpillar Service Information System (CAT SIS).
And in November 2022 Brent Diflo, Dennis and Patrick sat down for the first face to face conversation. Patrick talked about his previous experience working on Hitachi excavators and his previous leadership experience and roles.
Even though Patrick was a very fit man, who takes his health and fitness very seriously, he openly admitted that he was not good in interview situations and that he found it difficult to speak up and promote himself and his experience. We said if he wanted to, that we would work with him, meet up with him multiple times, try and break down any fears that he had, and get him comfortable enough around Australian Employers representatives that he would interview with the best of them.
Patrick worked as hard as any applicant we have ever worked with and over the next 14 months we met up with Patrick in person many times, and Patrick had an interview with an Australian employer representative, but was unsuccessful in gaining an offer of employment from an Australian Company.
Patrick said he would not give up – he wanted to know the specific details of why he was not hired, and he went away and worked on fine tuning his skills. For this we congratulate you Patrick.
Pack Your Bags Mate, You’re Going To Australia!
In November 2023 Patrick was successful in gaining an offer of employment with an exceptional Australian Company – they are the market leader in their field by a country mile.
Patrick met one of the supervisors (now a manager) of the Australian company in Lusaka, Zambia. Where Patrick displayed who he really was as a person, and as a tradesperson, he talked about his ability to train and mentor others and how he coached kids at soccer and that he always tried to be someone that people could rely on.
The supervisor asked deep technical questions about large mining trucks and procedures. Discussion took place about safety procedures and protocols.
Patrick killed it at that interview. And he was presented with an offer of employment – Patrick was going to Australia!
What’s It Like Living And Working In Australia?
The Australian Company that Patrick works for is an incredible employer of choice – they have implemented a set of induction and welcoming procedures and processes that are the best we have ever seen in terms of onboarding International Workers.
Patrick and his co-workers are all benefitting from these and Patrick said they are all very happy with their employer. And he went on to say that he was very grateful to them for giving him a chance to work in Australia.
Feedback from Patrick
Patrick is a man of few words – he just hoped that his worker’s journey article would help inspire and encourage other workers to never give up their dreams. He is setting himself up and preparing for his wife and two children to join him in Australia.
Patrick confirmed that he was never charged any fee and did not have to pay any costs to obtain employment in Australia, everything was paid for him and he has no loans to repay.
This is Patrick from Zambia, and his Worker’s Journey.
Patrick thank you for trusting us, we are Skilled Migration Group, you are pure quality, and Quality Never Goes Out Of Style.
“Patrick is a man of few words – he hopes that his worker’s journey inspires and encourages workers to never give up their dreams.”
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