Professionally and personally it is extremely rewarding to work with The Migration Agency team, that’s the word from TMA team member and Immigration Business Partner, Vanessa Trang.
Before Vanessa joined The Migration Agency, her previous experience with immigration was very transactional – she was caught up in the administrative tasks and drafting of visa applications.
It wasn’t until she came to TMA that she was introduced to a customer-centric migration law firm where people are at the heart of the business, relationships are key, and wowing clients becomes second nature.
In this blog, Vanessa spills the beans on what it’s like to work with the TMA team and why the team and clients are the biggest rewards.
Being strategic allows the best outcomes for our clients
Vanessa’s background in Australian and US immigration law, and preparing and lodging visa applications gave her a strong footing as an immigration law specialist, but it was the reward of assisting her clients develop their immigration strategies and working on complex immigration matters for her TMA clients that was transformational for her.
The TMA team gets exposure to strategic work and working directly with our clients for the best outcome – and Vanessa says it is very rewarding.
“This past year has seen me working on complex travel exemptions and labour agreements, among other work that requires a more strategic approach,” she says.
“At TMA, our clients are at the centre of everything we do, whether that is an individual applicant or an employer sponsoring global talent – and we partner with our clients to develop a personalised immigration strategy for their business. We don’t take a cookie-cutter approach.”
“I really enjoy working with my clients and understanding their business to help them make informed decisions. That’s the TMA difference and business proposition. For example, the first thing we do with a new client is organise an introductory call, and for each application we are encouraged to pick up the phone and speak to our clients.”
At TMA, we believe in making the client experience seamless, from the initial call to the sourcing of documents and filling out forms. So instead of it being a transaction, it is a business partnership with a focus on the best possible outcomes.
The personal and professional rewards are abundant
Vanessa says, professionally, the biggest reward has been being exposed to different clients and different industries, and really deepening her understanding of our clients’ businesses.
“That’s helped me become a better immigration specialist because I am more involved with my clients and I am able to take a more proactive approach to their immigration needs and provide guidance when it’s needed most. This has enabled me to hone my skills and be more strategic,” she says.
“Personally, I really enjoy the relationships I have with my clients and the TMA team. I value those, and my clients know if they have questions, I am their first port of call.”
TMA has a different team culture that supports its employees
The boutique firm has given Vanessa the opportunity to build on her skills both personally and professionally – which is one of the things that drew her to TMA.
“I had known about TMA as one of my colleagues from a previous job had moved across to TMA and I had kept in contact with her. I could see how she had grown. The environment was a big draw card for me too. I liked how TMA and the team conducted themselves and business – and I was impressed,” she says.
“We are also supported in our professional development endeavours, both financially and with time off to complete mandatory training and other professional development. I recently became registered as a New Zealand immigration agent with TMA supporting me through the process,” she says.
“There are opportunities to present to clients and participate in internal and external presentations that help build our personal brands. We are also invited to be involved with the TMA graduate program as a trainer and mentor.”
Working with a tight-knit group at TMA
One of our values at TMA is that we have each other’s backs. Vanessa says being a global team means everyone is well supported.
“It’s great that we can bounce ideas off each other and get other team members advice on our cases. We have a great team of people. And having a manager like Sarah who is so supportive of us and our individual progress has a huge impact,” she says.
“One of the rewards I enjoy most are our team days where we are out of the office together bonding as a team. Last year we decided to bank some of these days and do a team retreat in Byron Bay where we could also bring our families. It’s things like that that make you feel appreciated.
“There is also an emphasis on looking after yourself and self-care, and to have a manager who encourages you to take time for yourself just shows how much TMA cares about its team and employees.”
Join the TMA team today
We are hiring and the TMA team is expanding! We are successful because of our talented and compassionate team of people and we welcome expressions of interest from other passionate immigration professionals who want to put people at the heart of their work too.
If you’re looking for a flexible, family and client-centric boutique migration firm, we invite you to join our high-performance team. Please reach out to us today to learn about the employment opportunities at The Migration Agency.
