Moving to NZ
Apr 29th 2003, 3:50 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 11
Moving to NZ
HI
Just found this excellent website. My husband and I are investigating moving to NZ after becoming disillusioned in the UK.
Have done a fair amount of research and decided NZ is for us, only thing now is to find a job, to get the points, to be able to apply for a residence visa. Does anyone out there know how easy/difficult it is to find jobs in NZ when you are not actually in the country. I am a microbiologist, which is on the Occupational Shortages List: will this make job hunting any easier. If there is anyone out there who works in the science sector in NZ I would be really grateful for any responses.
Plus I would love to hear any advice people can give me about the whole Visa application saga. Seems like some people have to wait forever and for others it takes only week.
Thanks in advancec to anyone who replies. I now know how many people are thinking the same as me, and I wish everyone good luck in getting to NZ.
Just found this excellent website. My husband and I are investigating moving to NZ after becoming disillusioned in the UK.
Have done a fair amount of research and decided NZ is for us, only thing now is to find a job, to get the points, to be able to apply for a residence visa. Does anyone out there know how easy/difficult it is to find jobs in NZ when you are not actually in the country. I am a microbiologist, which is on the Occupational Shortages List: will this make job hunting any easier. If there is anyone out there who works in the science sector in NZ I would be really grateful for any responses.
Plus I would love to hear any advice people can give me about the whole Visa application saga. Seems like some people have to wait forever and for others it takes only week.
Thanks in advancec to anyone who replies. I now know how many people are thinking the same as me, and I wish everyone good luck in getting to NZ.
Apr 29th 2003, 4:07 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 90
What are you looking for? Large city, country environment, what are your requirements?
Let us help you out. There is a lot of debate concerning North Shore in Auckland at the moment, in a thread further down.
If your looking for the advantages of a big city, but a relaxed lifestyle, I would suggest somewhere like Orewa or Devonport on North Shore.
Clearly budget is an issue, but I would say most professionals in the UK can afford New Zealand property and still be quite lavish.
Further south, if your looking for a great area in Wellington, Oriental Bay is one to aim for.
In the South Island, Nelson is a very desireable place to live, highest sunshine rates in the country down there.
All the best with your application.
Let us help you out. There is a lot of debate concerning North Shore in Auckland at the moment, in a thread further down.
If your looking for the advantages of a big city, but a relaxed lifestyle, I would suggest somewhere like Orewa or Devonport on North Shore.
Clearly budget is an issue, but I would say most professionals in the UK can afford New Zealand property and still be quite lavish.
Further south, if your looking for a great area in Wellington, Oriental Bay is one to aim for.
In the South Island, Nelson is a very desireable place to live, highest sunshine rates in the country down there.
All the best with your application.
Apr 29th 2003, 4:12 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 90
Hope that is of some help, keep us posted.
Apr 29th 2003, 4:29 pm
#4
Banned
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,613
Re: Moving to NZ
Originally posted by davieshm
Plus I would love to hear any advice people can give me about the whole Visa application saga. Seems like some people have to wait forever and for others it takes only week.
Plus I would love to hear any advice people can give me about the whole Visa application saga. Seems like some people have to wait forever and for others it takes only week.
A bit of history: early last year NZIS London were extremely efficient and processing most PR apps in weeks rather than months. But the visa quota filled up fast for 2002 and 2003 immigration years and needed to be held back, points passmark increases figured part of that strategy but a go-slow on processing also seems to be the way NZIS will hit its immigration quota by 2003 immigration year end (June).
Cheers - Don
Apr 29th 2003, 7:06 pm
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: Berkshire, UK
Posts: 470
Re: Moving to NZ
Originally posted by davieshm
HI
Just found this excellent website. My husband and I are investigating moving to NZ after becoming disillusioned in the UK.
Have done a fair amount of research and decided NZ is for us, only thing now is to find a job, to get the points, to be able to apply for a residence visa. Does anyone out there know how easy/difficult it is to find jobs in NZ when you are not actually in the country. I am a microbiologist, which is on the Occupational Shortages List: will this make job hunting any easier. If there is anyone out there who works in the science sector in NZ I would be really grateful for any responses.
Plus I would love to hear any advice people can give me about the whole Visa application saga. Seems like some people have to wait forever and for others it takes only week.
Thanks in advancec to anyone who replies. I now know how many people are thinking the same as me, and I wish everyone good luck in getting to NZ.
HI
Just found this excellent website. My husband and I are investigating moving to NZ after becoming disillusioned in the UK.
Have done a fair amount of research and decided NZ is for us, only thing now is to find a job, to get the points, to be able to apply for a residence visa. Does anyone out there know how easy/difficult it is to find jobs in NZ when you are not actually in the country. I am a microbiologist, which is on the Occupational Shortages List: will this make job hunting any easier. If there is anyone out there who works in the science sector in NZ I would be really grateful for any responses.
Plus I would love to hear any advice people can give me about the whole Visa application saga. Seems like some people have to wait forever and for others it takes only week.
Thanks in advancec to anyone who replies. I now know how many people are thinking the same as me, and I wish everyone good luck in getting to NZ.
Personally, I'm trying a few very specific direct approaches to companies (I don't think it would help to flood companies with my CV). I have a reasonable opportunity with one, which should come to a head within the next week or two. If that falls through, I expect to have to wait for my job search visa (though still compiling the information for the application at the moment, after medicals).
I guess that the tricky bit will be deciding whether to leave your current job and go over on the job search visa for up to a few months, using up savings, or to take an extended vacation, hoping to get the job offer within a few weeks.
Apr 29th 2003, 8:09 pm
#6
Christchurch Bound
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 52
Hi
If your a microbiologist in the hospital setting try contacting the hospital direct sending a cv to human resources.
http://www.newzealandsites.com/healt...ons/more2.html
If your a microbiologist in the hospital setting try contacting the hospital direct sending a cv to human resources.
http://www.newzealandsites.com/healt...ons/more2.html
Apr 30th 2003, 4:40 am
#7
Banned
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,613
Re: Moving to NZ
Originally posted by Slippers
Hi
Your post has prompted me to register with the site, so I
hope you enjoy my debut!
I am a 32 yrd old with 1st class Bsc and PhD in chemistry
related stuff from London uni. I have worked for 2 years at
a national lab in UK doing both research and very commercial
customer work, and one year research at one of the top 3 unis in
UK. I have written and published several papers in international
science journals and have excellent references. I am a Brit
(London) and bilingual (English and rhyming slang). I have PR
in NZ and have lived there with my NZer partner since late
last year. I am very business friendly and have done much
work of industrial importance (some of my work is under
further development in UK and Aus at the moment). My IT
and communication skills are very good. Blimey, this is like
a job app.
To cut a long story short, I have applied for 32 jobs since
I got to NZ and have not even had an interview. There
are precious few science jobs of any kind in NZ and so
I have applied for anything and everything for which I
have some sort of experience/training, however badly
paid the job or short the contract (and there are loads
of such jobs here). You name it, I have been PFO'd for it!
To take 5 months to get a job might be considered OK
(not by me, though) but to get no interviews in such
a time is just daft.
Being in bio-stuff or food science (and especially
if you can work in the medical world) may well mean
that you get on much better than me. I hope you do.
I know you may not see it this way at the moment, but
at least you will be forced to confront the all-important
jobs question before arriving in paradise. I came here
thinking I would get a good job cos of having good
qualifications and having worked at some of the best
places in the world. I knew that NZ was to science what
Ken Clarke is to 100m sprinting, but was prepared to
do anything for which I would be considered and which did
not involve getting a moped licence. I laugh at this now.
You live and learn.
Slippers
Hi
Your post has prompted me to register with the site, so I
hope you enjoy my debut!
I am a 32 yrd old with 1st class Bsc and PhD in chemistry
related stuff from London uni. I have worked for 2 years at
a national lab in UK doing both research and very commercial
customer work, and one year research at one of the top 3 unis in
UK. I have written and published several papers in international
science journals and have excellent references. I am a Brit
(London) and bilingual (English and rhyming slang). I have PR
in NZ and have lived there with my NZer partner since late
last year. I am very business friendly and have done much
work of industrial importance (some of my work is under
further development in UK and Aus at the moment). My IT
and communication skills are very good. Blimey, this is like
a job app.
To cut a long story short, I have applied for 32 jobs since
I got to NZ and have not even had an interview. There
are precious few science jobs of any kind in NZ and so
I have applied for anything and everything for which I
have some sort of experience/training, however badly
paid the job or short the contract (and there are loads
of such jobs here). You name it, I have been PFO'd for it!
To take 5 months to get a job might be considered OK
(not by me, though) but to get no interviews in such
a time is just daft.
Being in bio-stuff or food science (and especially
if you can work in the medical world) may well mean
that you get on much better than me. I hope you do.
I know you may not see it this way at the moment, but
at least you will be forced to confront the all-important
jobs question before arriving in paradise. I came here
thinking I would get a good job cos of having good
qualifications and having worked at some of the best
places in the world. I knew that NZ was to science what
Ken Clarke is to 100m sprinting, but was prepared to
do anything for which I would be considered and which did
not involve getting a moped licence. I laugh at this now.
You live and learn.
Slippers
We're definitely going to check out the action for our skillset but getting close to thinking that a good alternative will be setting up our own business.
Cheers - Don
Apr 30th 2003, 6:01 am
#8
Release the hounds!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 302
Originally posted by Slippers
I cannot prove it, of course, but my experiences, and much
of what I have seen in newspapers here, suggests that
NZ employers prefer hiring NZers rather than foreigners, even
if English is no problem. A recent article in the daily
newspaper here even said that approx 25% of agencies say
that a NZ accent is essential for getting mid/senior posts
in many industries/fields. I can say from personal experience
that when they realise that you are not a NZer (despite
trying to disguise it as much as you reasonably can on the
CV) there is an audible drop in their enthusiasm. I have an
average SE England accent, so assumed I would have no
probs. When you consider how many Kiwis work in London,
it was a great shock to me to think that not being a NZer
would even be an issue.
I cannot prove it, of course, but my experiences, and much
of what I have seen in newspapers here, suggests that
NZ employers prefer hiring NZers rather than foreigners, even
if English is no problem. A recent article in the daily
newspaper here even said that approx 25% of agencies say
that a NZ accent is essential for getting mid/senior posts
in many industries/fields. I can say from personal experience
that when they realise that you are not a NZer (despite
trying to disguise it as much as you reasonably can on the
CV) there is an audible drop in their enthusiasm. I have an
average SE England accent, so assumed I would have no
probs. When you consider how many Kiwis work in London,
it was a great shock to me to think that not being a NZer
would even be an issue.
My sister recently started a job in NZ, she was 'parachuted' in from overseas (Brunei in her case) and has for the first five months faced endless resentment from the locals, who are giving a hard time about it. Making her life extremely tough etc.
Still, I suppose she got the position...
Apr 30th 2003, 6:57 am
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: Berkshire, UK
Posts: 470
Originally posted by Slippers
What has come as a great disappointment is that despite
putting in applications for uni admin, lab techs, govt clerks
and officers of all kinds, jobs analysing data, data entry,
middle manager, lowest pen-pusher, etc, jobs of all kinds
and levels - anything requiring school leaving certs to
good uni quals and experience- one still just gets the same
old rejection letters, and not even seen before they decide.
What has come as a great disappointment is that despite
putting in applications for uni admin, lab techs, govt clerks
and officers of all kinds, jobs analysing data, data entry,
middle manager, lowest pen-pusher, etc, jobs of all kinds
and levels - anything requiring school leaving certs to
good uni quals and experience- one still just gets the same
old rejection letters, and not even seen before they decide.
Is it the area you're in that has the problem, or have you tried all areas of NZ?
Tony
Apr 30th 2003, 9:07 am
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: Berkshire, UK
Posts: 470
Originally posted by Slippers
Sofistek,
Yes, I tailor each app accordingly, although you start to
wonder if it is worth it in the end. The first 31 are the hardest.
The overqualified thing is probably true, but once you get
no interest for your natural choice of jobs (or, as in NZ,
when there just aren't any jobs in your "field" around)
you lower your sights or look at other things and so I suppose
you could be considered "overqualified". Daft, though, cos
it makes you wonder how you are supposed to get the
famous "New Zealand Work Experience" they tell immigrants
they must have here. I have been looking in Wgtn mostly,
but also Auck and ChCh if a good chance.
Cheers,
Slippers
Sofistek,
Yes, I tailor each app accordingly, although you start to
wonder if it is worth it in the end. The first 31 are the hardest.
The overqualified thing is probably true, but once you get
no interest for your natural choice of jobs (or, as in NZ,
when there just aren't any jobs in your "field" around)
you lower your sights or look at other things and so I suppose
you could be considered "overqualified". Daft, though, cos
it makes you wonder how you are supposed to get the
famous "New Zealand Work Experience" they tell immigrants
they must have here. I have been looking in Wgtn mostly,
but also Auck and ChCh if a good chance.
Cheers,
Slippers
Good luck.
Tony
