Are we missing something ?
 

My partner and i submitted our ITA at the end of Feb 2007 at this time he did not have a job offer, it would appear that the job offer is vital to you being ensured of a visa. The problem that we are encountering is that we are applying for jobs online and either hear nothing back or recieve an email to say that this company only employs people with a current visa. He is applying for IT and Telecoms roles, is this typical in this field or are we missing something.


Steph.

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

G'day and welcome to the Forum!!
sorry if this does not make too much sense but its late down under....
Without a job offer there is a time premium for any visa (make sure the job is full time or it dont count). The lag between application and issue depends upon the time of the year and volumes of work, can be months, check out the London pages of the NZIS website for an idea of the lag, about 3 months makes sense between "ITA" application and receipt of confirmation that you can collect your stamped passports.
If you want to move fast then get a work visa (takes about a week if you have the paperwork, not sure if your PR application is alreay in process, but shouldn't be too long as the first thing they do is send your docs to data entry where the relevant checks are made - AFIK) and get the PR when you get here, we did that by running parallel applications (for reasons I shall not bore you with).
Your medical certs (if you need a longer term work permit/visa) that you got for PR can be used for both applications, ours were, just had to sit in two separate booths when I visited the London office with our paperwork, forms, money and certificates - no hasstle.
Let the potential employer know that your application is progressing - if you get a job offer fax it through to the London Office and you will get your application fast tracked - ours for PR was speeded up to about 3 weeks instead of 3 months, took longer to get stuff sorted out over in Auckland and get the passports stamped with the PR visas - you can get the case electronically transfered by your visa officer once you arrive - also you will get your certificates, etc sent recorded from London to NZ, worked fine for us.
If in doubt, or if you need the info fast (for flights, job starting dates, etc) you can also ask how long the visa will take to come through using the premium rate information line if you are desperate (as we were)!!
Good luck, Ian

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

Hi Ian,

We have submitted all of our paperwork as of Feb (medicals, police certs, qualifications etc etc) for PR. But seem to be hitting a brick wall on the job hunting side. Even though my partner is qualified (degree level) + 15 years experience seems to be getting no positive interest. Is it because the IT/Telecom demand isn't as great as people make out or is it just they are not interested unless you already have a visa.

Cheers Steph

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

It could be the latter - I tried to recruit someone from the UK last year who already had a visa, but would have been dubious about someone without one due to the inevitable delay before they can start work - especially if they also have to sell house etc. Can't you get enough points to get PR without a job offer? I'm sure you'd have much more luck with jobs if you had visas and a firm arrival date
Best of luck with your move

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

Have got enough points for PR visa but would llike to have a job offer before arriving in NZ. Not to bothered about selling the house here as long as it sells eventually. Just dont like the thought of arriving there and not having a job to start as have read that it can take a while and until then you are reliant on using your savings. How easy is it to find work in IT and Telecoms if you already have a work visa.


Many thanks,

Steph.

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

Hi,
A job offer isnt vital to you getting residence your just at the bottom of the pile. If your husband is finding lots of his job advertised then i guess its just that your not here. Why does,nt he phone some of the people. Job sights like seek always have the phone numbers, call them and see what interest he gets. You might find you just have to come out here and see what happens.
Carole:D

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

Hey Steph, and welcome to the Forum.

Speaking as a recruiter in NZ, I can say that companies such as ours get 100's of e-mails a day from people outside of NZ looking to come here to work.

90% are from no-hope chancers in Africa and South America, 7% from eligable people who have a vague idea that they may fancy working in NZ at some point and are testing the water, and 3% from people such as yourselves who are fixed on coming to NZ and have a timescale to get here.

You need to make it clear to potential employers/ agencies that you are in this 3%, and that you are deadly serious. Make a point of offering to send over evidence of visa applications/ EOI's etc. No agency wants to invest valauable time and effort in a candidate only for them to say 'Oh, we decided against NZ and are going to Oz now' as it makes the agency look stupid in the eyes of their clients, and that's never a good thing.

So - send e-mails to agencies and companies regarding positions they advertise, and then call them - daily if needs be - to impress on them your seriousness. 90% of those agencies and companies will blow you out, but that leaves 10% who will start considering you seriously. Yes, it may take a while, and will involve a few late evenings or early mornings, but with the time difference meaning that here in NZ we are now only 11hrs ahead you can get a good 3 hours of calling done between 8 & 11pm UK time.

Keep on trucking, follow all email applications with a call, and you should see a decent upturn in your job-seeking success.

Good luck!

PS: I've heard that Welllington seems to be THE place for IT jobs.

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

Hi Steph,
If you think about it from the employers point of view, then you will see that it is nothing personal, just it is much easier to interview someone already in the country.
The barriers to you getting a job while living in the UK still are quite big, depending on the industry and the scarcity of your skills. It is much easier to interview and give you a job if they can meet you, and sometimes the delays involved in getting to the first day of work are quite considerable.
However you can do a lot of research in the UK, find all the likely employers and ring them up and have a chat. Many people do get job offers while in the UK, but many do not, and it will probably get to the point where you get fed up of waiting around with your life on hold, and you will just make a move one way or another.
Good luck.

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

Do you know where you want to live in NZ yet? If so then I'd advise contacting some reputable agencies (I can dig out some for Auckland area if you need) who specialise in your area of expertise.

I'd also do as others have said and follow up with a phone call to impress on them that you are serious and you have enough points, etc.

Alot of companies look at employing during February/March so it may have been worthwhile coming over for interviews, etc. to show how serious you are.

Good luck with the job hunting

xx

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

If Canterbury interests you, then it may be worth getting in touch with these guys - http://www.canterburysoftware.org.nz/Home - it's a network for IT companies in Canterbury. When a company joins, they get accredited status for immigration (I think) which makes it much easier for them to recruit internationally.

It's a useful network to get involved in. Depending on skills, there's some real shortages in the IT industry in Chch, so it's probably just a question of finding the company that needs you, but as other people have said, it's much easier when you are in the country, as people will know that you're serious.

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

South Africa is way up there with the IT mate. Wouldn't discount that and there is a huge "well respected" community of South Africans and Zimbabweans all over New Zealand. In fact a few of them that I know could even be your clients as they own IT Co's here.

Cheers ………

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

Don't doubt it for a minute, and just as SA and Zimbabwe make up a % of Africa, so it goes that we see them as applicants in a % of the emails we get.

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

Well its no wonder I havent had any replies to my job apps. Seems I have the African Curse... ;)

Luckily my wife has British passport - so hopefully when she leaves later this month for NZ she can make the 3% :thumbsup:

cheers

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

OK, i dont feel to bad now :D

WT, some advice please: I have worked in the water & wastewater treatment business for the last 13 years, unfortunately did not get degree (started working straight out of school). Wife and kids arrive in Auckland later this month, I hope to follow in June. Question is do you have any feeling for the water industry in NZ, and how difficult it would be for me to gain employment once there (I have sent out CV to a number of Co's with little luck - notwithstanding whats already been said about not being in NZ when applying for jobs).

Thanks for any advice

PS we woudl be quite willing to work anywhere in NZ, we arent set on Auckland.

Cheers
Kev

Re: Are we missing something ?
 

I thought your reference “chancers” was a tad harsh and somewhat disrespectful. I would imagine that the % you are referring to are the ones that end up deleted with no response.

I have heard discussions on this in the business place, regarding a gap in the market where recruitment agencies have this generalising attitude towards Africa whilst the people that have re-located into several other countries including the UK (and I would imagine if you were in the business there you no-doubt would have heard it too) that South Africans have a great reputation of being hard workers and go-getters.

With such international reputations I feel sad to hear that your industry has the habits you have described when there is a serious skills shortage in NZ. I do understand that you mostly work to the clients brief but you never know the next client’s brief.

The next client may just have a high regard for Africans. I guess that is why it is called the recycle bin.

Not trying to have a go but rather present you with an alternative outlook.

Cheers :D