How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?
Feb 18th 2014, 7:24 am
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Invercargill
Posts: 627
Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?
Hello Folks,
Does any forum member have experience as a migrant of searching for work and coming up with problems as employers want / prefer those with New Zealand work experience? In the NZ Herald there was an article recently talking about increased migration to NZ but migrants taking low pay jobs or having difficulty in finding jobs as the employers demand applicants have a few years NZ experience. When searching my scope will be in AKL / Hamilton so anyone with experience in those locations would be particularly helpful. Thanks alot! CBL
Does any forum member have experience as a migrant of searching for work and coming up with problems as employers want / prefer those with New Zealand work experience? In the NZ Herald there was an article recently talking about increased migration to NZ but migrants taking low pay jobs or having difficulty in finding jobs as the employers demand applicants have a few years NZ experience. When searching my scope will be in AKL / Hamilton so anyone with experience in those locations would be particularly helpful. Thanks alot! CBL
I came over with a job offer in essential skills shortage area. Job didn't work out. I really struggled to get interviews for other jobs due to lack of experience in the NZ work force.
Feb 18th 2014, 2:50 pm
#20
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 567
Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?
Husband needs to be offered work before we move out (if we do) as that's the only way we'll have enough points for an SMC visa. The likelihood of that is very high though as he has skills in short supply within a skills shortage area. it means there's not a huge amount of jobs but the plus side is there's very few applicants for them.
I'm taking the attitude I'll have to be self employed for a time doing things that I used to do self employed in the UK and that I'll need to do unpaid, voluntary, low grade work within my professional sector if I want to learn the NZ ropes and be seriously considered for paid employment at my professional level.
Sadly this is also happening in the UK. Two of my friends teenage daughters gained good degrees then had to work unpaid for three months with companies before being considered for a paid position. They were deemed to be 'graduate trainees' when working for nothing but they effectively did a full time job.
I'm taking the attitude I'll have to be self employed for a time doing things that I used to do self employed in the UK and that I'll need to do unpaid, voluntary, low grade work within my professional sector if I want to learn the NZ ropes and be seriously considered for paid employment at my professional level.
Sadly this is also happening in the UK. Two of my friends teenage daughters gained good degrees then had to work unpaid for three months with companies before being considered for a paid position. They were deemed to be 'graduate trainees' when working for nothing but they effectively did a full time job.
Feb 19th 2014, 5:33 am
#21
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 121
Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?
Husband needs to be offered work before we move out (if we do) as that's the only way we'll have enough points for an SMC visa. The likelihood of that is very high though as he has skills in short supply within a skills shortage area. it means there's not a huge amount of jobs but the plus side is there's very few applicants for them.
I'm taking the attitude I'll have to be self employed for a time doing things that I used to do self employed in the UK and that I'll need to do unpaid, voluntary, low grade work within my professional sector if I want to learn the NZ ropes and be seriously considered for paid employment at my professional level.
Sadly this is also happening in the UK. Two of my friends teenage daughters gained good degrees then had to work unpaid for three months with companies before being considered for a paid position. They were deemed to be 'graduate trainees' when working for nothing but they effectively did a full time job.
I'm taking the attitude I'll have to be self employed for a time doing things that I used to do self employed in the UK and that I'll need to do unpaid, voluntary, low grade work within my professional sector if I want to learn the NZ ropes and be seriously considered for paid employment at my professional level.
Sadly this is also happening in the UK. Two of my friends teenage daughters gained good degrees then had to work unpaid for three months with companies before being considered for a paid position. They were deemed to be 'graduate trainees' when working for nothing but they effectively did a full time job.
Yes can understand the frustration but in our case if I don't secure paid work in the first few weeks I will simply start my own business as cant remain idle for a long time!
