palvanie

Hi all;

i may be wrong, but i had observed a pattern. I belong to a specialised field of voice communications. I had been using the web extensivley to secure an interview (atleast) for opportunities in nz. thus far i had failed. everytime i get a response the email reply sparks optimism and suggests that i fill out an attached form and send it back to the company at my earliest convinience, when i do there is no further contact. Basically the questionaire asks me about my business strengths, technical skills, how soon i can pop over etc...

I see a lot of people here who do get jobs offered. I am happy for them. If any Kiwi is reading the post may you please elaborate as to why somebody who is well qualified, has apt industry experience in a specialised area of work (communication systems) would not even get a response to emails from the companies in NZ. Is it becuase i am not from UK and from Asia?

I did ask one of the recruitment agents of a well known Kiwi recruitment firm as to if it has something to do with the colour of my hair or the colour of my skin? he has nt yet responded and it has been over 2 months!

Prepostorous!!! Please share a suggestion or two to cope with such odds.

regards.

Dustybin

This may just be my experience, but if you aren't here then getting interviews is hard. If you show willing and come to the country then employers are more likely to talk to you. E mails are great, but it just doesn't seem to work here, you have to get out and meet people.




Hope it works out.

Maz

I don't think I'd respond to an e-mail that basically said "you haven't got me a job yet, why not?" and bring out the race card.

Get over here, line up interviews, and do it that way.

And don't start throwing the race card around again, that won't get you very far. And rightly so.

Avid

It's quite possible but impossible to prove, I would think.

It's just as likely to be because you are overqualified or too specialised...or there could be other, more innocent reasons.

Why don't you re-apply for one of the jobs that rejected you?, But pretend to be a British person....it won't help that much, but it will help prove or disprove the 'race' theory.

Anyway, if companies ARE refusing to hire you because of racial issues, would you really want to work for them? It's their loss.

TeamEmbo

I don't think it has anything at all to do with the colour of your hair or skin! Tons of 'typical blonde, white, blue eyeds' get ignored, brushed off, whatever you wanna call it and it is basically that companies simply don't have the time to dedicate to or respond to people who they don't see as being 100% committed and organised to be here. I mean look at it from the employers point of view. They get tens to hundreds of request by letter, fax, email from people every week saying I'm thinking of coming to NZ ... blah, blah, blah. If you were in their shoes how much time would you set aside to deal with that? I know I wouldn't! I would however follow up someone who's cv shone out, filled the criteria and where the covering letter said, 'I will be arriving in NZ on such and such a date and am very much hoping to line up interviews... etc' That shows, dedication, committment and a willingness to put your money into achieving your new life and an eagerness to get here. Employers want someone who is already 90% if not 100% way through the immigration process, they don't want to hire someone who isn't going to be here for 9 months as they've yet to sell their house, sort visas etc. Admittedly some may be willing to do this for the right person. I think by emailling the race card you'd have further put the employer off. I mean would you want to employ someone that bolshey before they've even proved their skills and attributes? For your sake, dispose of the race card. And just look at it rationally. I mean maybe, just maybe, your cv didn't impress them? They don't have a job your skills could be utilised for? There are plenty of reasons.
If you're serious about coming, plan a recce over here, let employment agents and possible interested companies know your travel dates and see what happens.

phil01

Ditto!

We sent loads of emails from the UK both for Phil and for me...being the blonde haired blue eyed...still didn't get me an interview. We got Phil a job but it took me a further 7 months after arriving to get a job and thats when you are in the country.

and the race card will definitely not work here you have to show willing by coming over, demonstrate your experience and then hope they will take you on...as said by others why would they bother with someone who can't be bothered to come over when they have hundreds who will.

NZBee

I have spoken to quite a few NZ recruitment consultants, and some have told me that they can be reluctant to take on Brits on their books until you get over to NZ. Reason is they want to see a commitment from Brits to be in NZ. They said that it is Brits that are more likely to bail, and go back to the UK, rather than say South Africans etc....they said it was a common occurance that they would get Brits a job, and then they would either decide not to come to NZ, or return back to the UK fairly quickly.....also, from another thread that I have written on here, I found getting a job difficult too, even though plenty of suitable jobs were advertised that I applied for. Contrary to responses that I got on my previous thread I have been told I can be seen as overqualified for my age (by recruitment consultants) and Kiwis can can find this intimidating!!

whitesand

I really think it's more simple than all the other reasons. It's simply supply and demand. If they had a vacancy or need of your specific skills they would be desperate to have you. However, if they are in no rush to have your specific skills then they won't bother to acknowlege your requests.

NZ appears very bad on the replying and acknowledging front. They simply can't be bothered and don't see the need to reply to requests. Don't take it personally - it happens to many of us here in some way or another.

zoej

there is also an employment law that many employers have to follow - which is basically you have to advertise in NZ first and activily seek to employ someone with Residency before looking at overseas employees. So unless you are here in residency many may not be able to take your application further.

PaulGent

Hi palvanie
I agree with what most of the others have said ... you really need to come over and visit as you will be unlikely to get a job offer via email especially in the specialist industry you are looking in. I would doubt very much that it's anything to do with your race.
I was a manager in one of the bigger comms companies in NZ and was desperate to find people with the specialist skills it sounds like you have got. I had real problems finding the right people but we would never offer people jobs without seeing them face to face. The company had been misled more than once by people claiming that they had far more qualification than they had.
Certainly in Auckland you should be able to find yourself work in this industry and get well rewarded (by NZ standard anyway) but you will only get offered jobs if you come over and get interviewed. Bear in mind it's a 2 way street. If you accept a job over the internet then you won't be sure what the company is like or what the person you will be working for is like.
Good luck
Paul

Nerine

What part of Asia are you from? Have you tried to apply for jobs in any other countries apart from New Zealand and what sort of response did you get?

People do manage to secure job offers without going to NZ in person - video and telephone interviews are well used, NZ is quite "E" savvy. Being on the ground though will increase your chances of success.

sachi.sg

Ya, It is True.
Not always everybody gets the job right away.

NZ they always look for a right match it seems. One of my friend went to NZ (Auckland) for two weeks. Tried talking to a lot of consultants even before going to NZ. After been there for 2weeks and meeting a lot of consultants filling up a lot of documents(basically questions about skills etc)....nothing worked out..

It is a different world...

Nerine

But isn't that why you want to go there?

If you've got skills that are in demand then you should stand a reasonable chance of getting a job if you're qualified and have the necessary experience.

Best advice though is to use the network, if you know someone who's already working over there see if they can put in a good word for you. Sometimes its who you know....good luck.

mcuddy1

I also found it difficult to attain any job offers just by sending in my CV.

So I tried the direct approach, I went door knocking. Of the 4 companies I tried 3 job offers came out of my few hours of effort.
If you can not convince HR you are serious you will never get past the first paper sift.
The direct approach seems to be favoured in NZ.
Good Luck.

crap coffee

hey

this is not a joke. I saw plenty of asians from Asia on Working Holiday visa got jobs (IT) offered despite they don't speak good English. a few of them work for government departments in Wellington. (very good positions and get paid very well. indeed it’s shocking)

you know what?

1. The secret is the CV. The Key = your CV!!!!! - "how to formulate your cv" that's the answer and it’s super important. I suggest you do really need to consult with (face to face) an experienced professional recruiter in total confidence in NZ who can assist your cvs/interview skills/cover letters etc etc etc ex) Duncan & Ryan associates http://www.duncanryan.co.nz/ Loads of Brits find IT jobs through these guys

2. you should have a minimum of 5~6 years+ work experience in your field and an undergraduate degree in a relevant (technology or science) field. ...

3. you should be in NZ when you apply for the positions

4. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Cheers

ps. Is it weird that? I am not an IT person.