Get a working holiday maker visa and then a sponsership??

[Phazer]

Trying to find a job in the UK, it seems there's lots of positions there, but most companies seem to prefer people they don't need to sponser. Just been using recruitment agencies so far. Now would it be better for me to get a working holiday maker visa, then apply for jobs and indicate I am allowed to work in the UK under the working holiday maker visa. And then after the probation period at the new company ask for sponsership?

Looking at hsmp as well currently.

[John]

If you succeed in getting WHV you have the ability to do some work, and indeed can work for an employer without that employer needing to sponsor you in any way.

But given that on a 2-year WHV you can only work for 1 year, if you are able to get HSMP, well that would be far better for you.

[toby]

Both my mate and I came to the UK on WHM visas. In my experience most companies do prefer not to have to sponsor - and they are not that keen on the WHM visa either.

Simply because they know for a full time position that they have to sponsor. Further I encountered a bit of a perception that by being on a WHM visa - I was not looking at staying in the UK long term. Having said that, both the companies I worked for and my friend worked for - would not have sponsored us immediately, so having the WHM helped us there.

I definitely echo the comments that HSMP, if possible, is a much better alternative.

[Phazer]

Thanks for the advice guys. If the HSMP does not go through, I guess it might be a better route to get a WHM and go from there than to try and get a sponser from outside the UK.