Hello folks, could anyone please adbise if it is possible to obtain a firm job offer before arriving in NZ, is this common like doing skype interviews? or is it more likely to find a job after arriving there? The field of work is teaching, tutoring, business support, student services etc. PR has already been acquired which expires in 6 months and then all the hard work will be gone to waste! One favourable point is that since it will be my first job in NZ so I am flexible about the location and would even accept in towns other than the main cities which should increase my prospects, I guess? Any advice.....?

Hi. I work for NZ's second largest employer (I'm told) and we regularly do Skype interviews with people overseas.

Surely doing it that way would put your mind at rest greatly, rather than flying over her into the great unknown. My only concern would be that some smaller employers might not be tech-savvy enough to offer a Skype interview.

But then again, there's always the phone...

Thanks Bigjohnny7- its good to know skype interviews do take place and yes it would be a major boost to have a firm job offer before arriving and that will also facilitate the quick arrival in NZ of my family and dependants. I was just apprehensive that once the employer notices the candidate is in the Middle East they might get put off on the basis that what guarantee is there that if offered a job the person would arrive on time or arrive at all! I guess this is down to convincing the employer by one's attitude and positive strides towards settling in NZ.

I have heard of people getting jobs via Skype, especially if they are highly skilled in specialist areas where qualified applicants are thin on the ground here. If this is you, then sure it's possible.

I had a telephone interview. My job is on the skills shortages list (health professional) so they were keen to interview this way. I needed the job offer so that the employer could sponsor my visa anyway so was always going to have to find work before coming out here

Teaching jobs, as you know, are are thin on the ground at the moment and recent reports suggest 100s of applicants are applying for the same job. New graduates are being advised to look overseas for work as only expected 1:5 will secure a job in NZ.

Unless you're in a specialised field, I doubt very much you would secure a teaching job from overseas. Recent announcements of closures of schools in Christchurch and constant talk of cost-cutting with proposed adjustment to student / teacher ratios will only add to the over supply of teachers in NZ and it sadly it is just another addition to a world of woe for teachers already caught up in the Novopay fiasco, which will undoubtedly lead to industrial action.

You might consider coming to NZ for a short visit to validate your visa and look for work. If your PR is not dependent on you specifically having a job as a teacher, you could consider trying to find 'a.n.other' job until something better turns up.

The job market in New Zealand is tiny. Over the last five years I have watched it go from a massive shortage of candidates to a massive shortage of jobs and now it is swinging back the other way in some fields.

When there are plenty of qualified locals looking for work I think overseas applicants are not likely to be considered. When there is a shortage of candidates then employers will consider applicants that are overseas because they don't have any choice.

As mentioned above, there is nothing stopping you from taking a holiday in NZ before your PR expires so that you can activate it. Then you would have another two years* to sort out your move before the travel conditions that you get at first expire.

*That figure is from memory, I haven't checked it and I might be wrong.

We often interview people from overseas, and have close links with Immigration NZ so can help progress visa applications too. So, to answer your question, yes it is pretty common for people to get job offers before they get here.

Bit of a shame we're not in the same business sector really or I might have been able to fix you up... ;-)

As a teacher I can certainly back up what has been said. I was interviewed by phone for my job back in 2004. Back then there were loads of teaching jobs but no-one to fill them so it was the norm to recruit from the UK. My old principal even used to fly to the UK to do interviews in London.
Sadly those days are long gone and when I look through the gazette now there are hardly any jobs. People aren't moving and young teachers are not going to Europe as much since the job market in the UK for teachers is even worse than here!
If you can get a teaching job then that is great and you'll get the visa based on that. Good luck.

You already have pr? Personally I would arrive here and job hunt then if you afford to

Jan

With PR you could think to come and do supply teaching with the view to gain a permanent contract.
There again with PR you are free to work at anything and to start your own business.

Whichever, do come and validate that visa.

I would do that too.

Sorry, didn't pick up on the PR part. If you have that then you can come and look for a job if you can support yourself. As always there is supply work but it will be a lot thinner on the ground these days as school struggle with budgets. We are a big school and still employ relievers so there is work for sure.

Thanks Andy and Thanks alot Tranmere Rovers and other expats who have taken the time to reply and make the situation clear. Yes I have PR already and the plan is for me to come over alone in October to get a job. I will give it three months and I feel quite confident that I can find something whilst I am alone here as I can job hunt for 12 hours a day and then do web searching in the evenings.

It is good to know relief teachers are still sought but my line of work is not just confined to teaching as in the past I had acquired Procurement experience 1997-2002 in the UK (although some employers may view that as out of date perhaps) and then in the last 3 years I have moved into Student management and therefore havent taught recently. There seem to be good Govt jobs about but I am not sure if they will consider those with no NZ experience?

Yes I am interested in getting the PR validated and I am free to choose any job and to become self employed if I have to. Since I have worked in the Middle East for 9 years I can now afford to come and survive without a job for 2 years easily but I would never do that as I cant imagine being out of work for a long time. I have an excellent job in the Gulf which I will be resigning to come over paying over $90k NZD but in the long term I believe the kids need to be in a native english speaking country for their education and so we chose NZ.

If anyone has links to companies or establishments who are seeking someone with my background please let me know as I am not familiar with how recruitment works in NZ. My email is citybanklondon at yahoo dot com.

Once again thanks to everyone and cheers !!


Citybank