I seem to be receiving a lot of inquiries at the moment from applicants offshore, not that this is anything particularly new mind you. But the common thread between them at present seems to be the information (or misinformation) they have been given about the job market in New Zealand. They all seem to have heard a very rose coloured glasses version of what is happening in the employment market here, particularly with regards to how open employers are to making offers to those who don’t hold working rights. Along with how simple this process is for all concerned. And these individuals seem a bit put off when we explain what is actually happening on the ground here at the moment.
Now I am one of the first to confirm that the IT industry in NZ needs a continued flow of highly skilled and experienced international applicants coming into the market to support our continued growth, and ability to stay ahead of the curve. However our most pressing needs at present seem to fit into very specific skills categories, and an employers appetite to assist in securing a visa for a new employee seems to directly relate to whether their background fits into one of these niche areas. It certainly is not an across the board free for all, offering visas to everyone stepping off the plane. I should mentioned, this isn’t an absolute rule, but it does seem to be the overall trend.
What’s more is that preference is, and realistically should always be, given to those who are currently in New Zealand and already hold working rights (regardless of whether this is in the form of a Work Visa in it’s many forms, or Residency/Citizenship), along with holding the requisite skills and experience. If candidates are ticking all of these boxes I am sure that everyone can understand why an employer would opt for this option first.
Now I’m not sure what the source of information is suggesting to applicants that securing a role in NZ is the same as fishing in a barrell. It could be anything from friends of friends who picked up a job pretty easily, to media outlets, but I know this isn’t helping those who are focused on making a move here. At present the best approach to job hunting from offshore, is to make serious enquiries with Immigration New Zealand to understand what your visa options are, and if possible apply for a work permit under your own steam. From there the single best thing you can do, is make yourself available to interview in person, in New Zealand. I know this is a risky move, and likely an expensive one, but it is also likely to have the most positive outcome.
Also be an active participant in your job search. Don’t apply for a single role, or to a single recruiter and expect everything to just fall into place from there. Be active, engage in online networking, research companies you would like to work for, and make as many connections as you can. You need to really work at it (no pun intended). Although a quick disclaimer on this one – the connections and networking need to be related to your field of expertise in order to bear fruit. If you are actually in country though go for gold, you might just start to build a personal network as well.
This is a difficult process, and this post is not intended to rub salt into any wounds, only to hopefully help those out who are finding it tough, and going through the hard yards at the moment. It won’t necessarily be the easiest thing you have ever done, but I can promise the end product will be rewarding. You know how your parents used to tell you that good things take time? Well get ready to muster up some patience because this is one of those times. And fingers crossed all your hard work will pan out in the not too distant future.
Happy Job Hunting!
tabitha flack 
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