Pushkinias

Hi everyone,

Just freaking out a little and want to share my nerves with people who understand!

As you may have read elsewhere, I am a psychiatrist hoping to move over next year. I'm delighted to say I have already had two interviews and been successful in both (Palmerston North and Wellington). However, I still have one more to go and Brad and I have this one rated as our no.1 choice. It is based in Tauranga. It is a telephone panel interview which is rather challenging without the non-verbal cues you normally get to give you a degree of feedback.

So please send me some positive vibes for Monday night at 9.30pm (NZ Tuesday morning) because I really want to get this one.

Thank you!

Amanda x

dannigirl

Good luck!

Reylan

:f ingerscrossed:

bourbon-biscuit

Good luck ... but you might want to make your online presence a bit more anonymous; NZ is a very small place and you've given both your names, your professions and where you've been offered a job! For NZ that's as good as giving out your telephone number, address and a profile pic

As for the actual interview- don't worry too much; NZ employers are well accustomed to skype and phone interviews and they will make allowances for the delays and lack of non-verb cues. Take your time and don't be shy of allowing lapses in conversation just as you would have in a face-to-face scenario where you fill the 'thinking gaps' with body language. Maybe dress for an interview though, lots of people say it helps them feel more ready.

NZ is desperate for half decent consultant psychs- be prepared for your career to skyrocket, so long as you can cope with the different climate.

Lastly- Palmerston North? Really? Why?

skends

Good luck, i'm sure it will go your way.

Pushkinias

Thank you everyone. I'll let you know how it goes!

Amanda

Boopy

Best of luck Amanda for in the morning

Pushkinias

Well the interview (a full-on panel thing) went well but they said they have two other people to see and won't be able to tell me anything until the end of next week. Aaargh, I hate all the waiting!

muchachamama

Hi Amanda

I just saw this post and thought i would write. i am also a psychiatrist in CAMHS planning a move down under next year for work and lifestyle...and had the same sorts of dilemmas over jobs, and it is weird doing ivs by telephone and skype. Telephone actually easier as bit disconcerting with SKYPE and all the tech problems that go with it, delays , freezing frame etc..i did two ivs one each, i am, sure you will have done fine esp if you ever had an iv in uk...the nz ones in my experience were a chat in comparison, and much more clinical rather than governance, political etc as now in the nhs. i notice someone mentioned how small nz is, i agree that i would try not to keep all your eggs in different baskets too long. there are only 40 camhs consultants in the whole country, so it is v likely you meet everyone at some point!!! i ended up making my choice based on the first firm offer of employment and who seemed nicest!!!! both my jobs were in auckland, one specialised one general. I went for the general one but hope to perhaps move to the specialist one when I have settled in after a few years!!. so needed to try and keep on side, it is hard as I had three substantive IVs in Uk and didn't get any despite coming "second" each time and having v good feedback...London and CAMHS in general so competitive right now. So suddenly having two jobs v interested was a shock!!! I don't know about you but my experience was getting references took forever and this was a delaying factor in offering posts..ie they would get those first before the paperwork came through. Maybe adult is different. Anyway, I was v interested to see someone else in my position applying and having similar experiences!! Good luck with it all. I am heading to Auck with my young family so had also to do some negotiations around flights etc, so bear this in mind too..ie you can push for a better package (although again I found this v hard as not used to being in demand!!!!).

BW Zoe

thepinkone

robhob

Hi Amanda,
I had a telephone interview 2 weeks ago, I can definitely understand your being apprehensive, it was a first for me too (consultant psychiatrist working in Germany).
The interview went well, took over an hour, panel was very friendly, but did give me a case vignette to chew on.
I received an offer of employment yesterday, but was able to send my referee reports directly after the interview, as I already had the reports for MCNZ.

What I am still uncertain about is the MECA step that they have offered me, as it is considerably lower than my years as consultant - does anyone in the forum know how linear the MECA steps translate to years as specialist?

Don't worry about the waiting, they do seem to take their time somewhat. Most likely they also have several positions to fill (at least that is what they told me), so I am sure your chances are pretty good!

Good luck

Rob

muchachamama

Hi Rob

Yes I found the same, I am on point 4 due to go up to point 5 in UK and they put me on point 2!! V different to Aus where friends of mine just migrated and are on top of the scale!!! They are quite rural south of perth and I had been told that money is less good in NZ. I complained (well asked for more money) so they put me up a step, which was a $5000 increase, I am awaiting the updated contract to see how that affects my pay as I am only working part time (3.5 days). I think you should at least ask them to match your years of experience in Uk and through in your skills you are bringing above and beyond hat they have there in NZ.I suspect if I had pushed more I could also have got them to increase the steps further but I also aksed for my husbands and sons flights so thought I had pushed it enough. I think the steps are bigger increments than the NHS, when you go up a point in UK it is only an increase of a thousand or so asfar as I can see.

Hope this helps!! I think there is room for negotiation, it is just not what we are used to in the UK system these days!!

muchachamama

Sorry for the typos I am sleep deprived with two little kids!!!!

robhob

Hi Zoe,
thanks for the input, don't worry about the typos, I have two kids so know all about the sleep-deprivation.
I do feel that the DHB is testing the waters, if a overseas specialist takes the deal as is - sweet, money saved, if not we can always re-negotiate.
The difference in pay between MECA step 4 and 7 is significant (as far as I can remember approx. 15.000 NZ$ p.a.), what I find more worrying than the actual money is the feeling that we are not being treated on par with NZ SMO's.
Maybe we will be able to get more input from other consultants from the forum, I would rest a lot easier if the general consensus was one of "step 4 with 7 years specialist experience is a perfectly fair deal", but will definitely muster my troops and negotiate next week.
@ Zoe and Amanda - Maybe we should take further discussions out of the forum - it sounds like we will most likely be meeting up in NZ next year, and I do not think we should disclose our respective employer information publicly. <snip>
I will keep you posted, have a great weekend, good luck with catching those Zzz's Zoe!
Regards

Rob

muchachamama

Hi Rob

Yeah great, email me at my personal address <snip>

I am meeting one of my perspective NZ colleagues tomorrow, he is in Uk, so I will ask him and let you know! He is clinical lead at the service where I will work and has been a consultant less time than me!!!

BW Zoe

PS Are you working in the military over there?