In nearly every system that permits changing to work status, the employer is the engine of the process, not the applicant. Typical employer-side steps include issuing a formal job offer or signed contract, obtaining a labor market approval or work permit quota from the labor ministry, registering as a licensed sponsor where that concept exists, and filing the sponsorship or petition paperwork that your visa application then hangs on.
You usually cannot start your own work visa process without these pieces, so the employer's experience with hiring foreigners matters enormously. A company that has sponsored before will know the sequence, the fees they must bear, and the realistic timeline; a first-time sponsor may underestimate all three.
Your role is normally to supply personal documents such as qualifications, police clearances, and medicals, and to attend biometrics or interviews. Ask the employer early exactly which steps they handle and which fall to you, and confirm the division against the official immigration site so nothing sits unowned between you.