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How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

Old Feb 13th 2014, 4:59 am
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Default 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
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Old Feb 13th 2014, 5:40 am
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

Kiwi employers prefer you to have experience of local working conditions, so a lot will depend on the strength of your skills and experience alongside the competition. There is no single answer to your question. If you are in a job that will be easily filled here (e.g. lots of applicants), your chances are slim if competing with people who are local. If you are a specialist with expert knowledge it's probably not an issue.

Try to think about why kiwi employers want local experience. Many of them have been burned by immigrants from certain countries (!) coming over here and telling them how to run things and screwing the whole thing up because this isn't [insert country of origin here].

Maybe have a think about how you can demonstrate that you have an understanding of the need to fit in with different cultures and work within the system (unless the job description calls for the opposite of course). Did I see that you have other overseas experience? I would mention this in terms of having learned about working with a wide range of people and getting results by doing so. Show you are able to be flexible and adaptable depending on where you are working and who you are working with.

My experience with immigrants as clients is that often they do have to take one step back, but within a year they are usually back on an upward path. I had the same when I went to the UK as an immigrant.
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Old Feb 13th 2014, 6:54 am
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

I have found it majorly beneficial having NZ experience. It was far harder to be seen as a "serious" candidate when I first got here (Auckland). I ended up taking a job for less money (thats quite a common thing with immigrants). However, after 2 years there and gaining that NZ experience, I found a lot more success with interviews and employers.
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Old Feb 13th 2014, 8:29 am
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

I think it depends how in demand you are as jmh says. My partner was hired whilst we were still in the UK, they didn't seem at all bothered about NZ experience. He does work in IT with skills and experience in demand in Christchurch. Companies are really struggling to find people, locals and immigrants to fill the positions. He did not have to accept less money. In fact he is earning more in Chch than he did in London. This is partly due to the fact he took a step up and has more responsibility at the Chch company.

As for me people didn't seem to care about NZ experience and I am at the same level as I was in the UK - no pay cuts, no step back. My job role involves prescribing exercise to people who have injuries (back pain, knee problems etc). Sort of some where between between a physio and personal trainer. As with my partner the owner of the gym said that she has been waiting for long time to find a trainer as there is no such qualification in NZ.

Hope that helps! Sorry it is not specific to Auckland or Hamilton so hopefully more people will come along with their experiences.
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Old Feb 13th 2014, 6:55 pm
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

My OH was hired from the UK - but to a company which already had quite a few Brits working there.
My job is also on the LTSS list - but even so, I didn't even get a look in at a couple of jobs here when we first arrived - despite having all (and more) the qualifications and experience required. While I understand that they really prefer NZ experience, it's still hard to swallow when you don't even get considered for what would, in the UK, be a major step down!
I was later hired by a company that also has some Brits working there already. It certainly seems common to struggle to find work if you are competing with kiwis unless the company have already decided they need to recruit from overseas or have already had a positive experience of hiring 'foreigners.'
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Old Feb 13th 2014, 7:10 pm
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

Hubby was hired whilst still in the UK. He has taken a huge step down in pay and the type of work he is doing. I was a counsellor in the UK but cannot get that type of work over here. I have taken a huge pay cut too. But not all is bad. I love my job here and its worth taking the cut in money.

It depends on what youre long term goal is. Sometimes you have to take a step down to enable you to start moving up. If it gets you a job that you will love then it is worth it.
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Old Feb 13th 2014, 7:46 pm
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

It depends mostly upon who is doing the hiring. If the Manager in charge of hiring is either an ex-pat, or at least is a kiwi who has loved and worked overseas - even just on an OE, then you have a decent chance of getting an interview. Once you get the interview it's over to you as to whether you can turn that into a job offer.

However, if it's a kiwi who's never been overseas (except on their hols), they are likely to have that blinkered "everything NZ is best" attitude that prevails amongst people who have only ever experienced NZ.

The people I have struggled to get on with, here, are these people. Generally, kiwis who have experienced life outside of NZ are a great bunch. The others, less so. I find them insular beyond belief - with all the bigotry and jingoism that goes with it. It's actually laughable.
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Old Feb 13th 2014, 8:19 pm
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

It all depends on the employer I think

For me, it was easy. I had an interview with a worldwide known company so they experience hiring candidates across the world.

But for my wife, her jobs she's got in my opinion have been because the interviewers/recruiters were South African. She's had years of experience and has all the skills but no one would touch her when looking for a job recently. It's either because she wasn't from South East Asia or because she wasn't a New Zealander. Yet where i've been, you'd do well to spot a Kiwi working in a care home. Strange eh
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Old Feb 14th 2014, 10:24 am
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

Here's a thread I started last year. There's a NZ employers' attitude report in it.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=791263
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Old Feb 14th 2014, 11:06 am
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

it was many yrs ago.. around 2002 .. but it was hard..

"oh sorry.. you dont have NZ exp"

like many have said.. took a job that was pathetic pay, as i recall a massive $29K , but once i got on the ladder.. i never looked back
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Old Feb 15th 2014, 1:40 pm
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

I was lucky and got a job very easily when I moved over, same when we moved to the South Island. I just sent my CV to all the local possible employers and got work that way. However I am in a small very specialised profession which is on the LTSSL (and seems to actually be in shortage in my experience)

CBL - have you arrived in NZ yet? Are you looking from overseas? Have you activated your residents visa as it appears from previous threads that it will have expired by now if you haven't.

.

Last edited by Persephone; Feb 15th 2014 at 2:36 pm.
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Old Feb 15th 2014, 5:08 pm
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

I didnt experience this but I was expected to learn quick and initially the curve was a steep one, especially the cultural aspects of life here in NZ.

Nursing could be described as being vey similar the world over though and illness doesnt discriminate so NZ experience may not have been as much of a priority when recruiting.
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Old Feb 15th 2014, 6:53 pm
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

I always presumed that Primary School teaching would be the same here as in the UK, after all they're all children! Totally wrong though. The area I teach in is pretty deprived and education seems to be at the bottom of a lot of parents lists.
My teaching is very basic, these children need to learn life skills, basic maths and be able to read. Many days I just wish I could scoop them up and bring them home. Of course not every family is like this, but it sure isn't Devon.
When I first got here I worked for 3 weeks in a local private school - different scenario altogether. The teachers there said I would get my heart broken out in the State sector. But someone has to stay there and do their best for them, show them there is something else to life.
Sorry, went off tack. Yes, NZ work experience is important so you know what you're talking about at interview!
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Old Feb 16th 2014, 8:36 am
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

Yes the visas were activated around Christmas time and we settled in Hamilton but I had to leave few weeks after arriving to do my 90 days notice period and will be back in April. I was thinking maybe the intermediate school where my kids now go could be a good starting point as I have met the principal and have NZTC registration valid until Nov. Otherwise I will check out agencies, applying from overseas is not really fruitful. I hope I will have something fixed up in 4-6 weeks of arriving, its just Hamilton is nice but the job market seems small!




Originally Posted by Persephone
I was lucky and got a job very easily when I moved over, same when we moved to the South Island. I just sent my CV to all the local possible employers and got work that way. However I am in a small very specialised profession which is on the LTSSL (and seems to actually be in shortage in my experience)

CBL - have you arrived in NZ yet? Are you looking from overseas? Have you activated your residents visa as it appears from previous threads that it will have expired by now if you haven't.

.
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Old Feb 17th 2014, 6:36 am
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Default Re: How important is local NZ work experience in job hunting?

Originally Posted by citybanklondon
I have met the principal and have NZTC registration valid until Nov.
Sorry to be nosey but why does your teacher reg run out in November?
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