I moved from a PSW to a work visa — what did I do right?

Author: Xiaohongshu (RED) blogger “Manong HR Daodaodao”

After graduating in 2023 and getting my PSW, I thought that as long as I worked hard enough and applied to enough big companies, I would definitely be able to stay.

But every CV I sent out, every interview I carefully prepared for, often ended with a cold: “Unfortunately…” ❌
Because I needed visa sponsorship, many conversations that initially went well were suddenly cut off once this came up.

Each rejection felt like it was saying, “You don’t belong here.”
During that time, the first thing I did every morning was refresh my inbox 📩, and the last thing before bed was refresh it again—only to be disappointed.

My family didn’t really understand either and kept urging me to go back home 🏠.
But deep down, I knew I wanted to stay. I liked the pace of life here, and I loved the sense of achievement that comes from surviving on your own ✨.
Still, I started to doubt myself: Was I just not good enough?

Then one day, I had a realization: if I only applied to jobs that clearly stated visa sponsorship, wasn’t I labeling and limiting myself first?

So I made a bold decision. I added one line to my CV:
“Please note I do not require visa sponsorship.” 📝

I decided to secure the opportunity first and solve the problem later.
From that moment on, I applied widely, especially to small and medium-sized companies 🏢.

The result? In less than two weeks, I started receiving interview invitations.
Many companies, after learning more about my situation, even said:
“If you’re good enough, we can consider sponsoring you.” 🛂

I eventually joined a mid-sized company.
From day one, I pushed myself to prove my value—taking initiative on projects, helping colleagues with their tasks, and doing more whenever I could.
I kept telling myself:
“You’re not here just to ‘spend’ two years on a PSW. You’re here to stay.” 🔥

Finally, at the end of 2024, my boss—who was incredibly supportive—took the initiative to apply for a sponsorship license, and I successfully switched to a work visa ✅

Looking back on this one-and-a-half-year journey, I want to share a few thoughts that might help those who are struggling:

1. Don’t feel inferior because of your visa status.
Be brave in showing who you are and what you want. Often it’s not that we’re not good enough—we just underestimate ourselves. You deserve opportunities ✨

2. Don’t focus only on big companies.
Many small and medium-sized businesses may not be as famous, but they have simpler processes and more flexible decisions. If you perform well, you can directly impress the boss and gain sponsorship 🧑‍💼.
Big companies, on the other hand, often have quotas and complicated procedures—not always as “fair” as you imagine.

3. Tailor your CV carefully.
It’s not about sending the most applications; it’s about making every CV say:
“I am exactly the person you’re looking for.”

I’m really glad I didn’t give up back then and didn’t let the visa label define me.
You have to believe in yourself first—only then will others believe in you.