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KD17
6th March 2007, 09:17 AM
It's taken me about 3 weeks to find work here and I accepted a job offer yesterday, which was made to me then and there at the interview.

I had sent my cv to one or two agencies before we left the UK, who called me to arrange a time to see them when I got here.

They all told me that I would have to accept less than I'm worth until I proved myself in NZ, which they valued me around the $65k mark; then I could ask for the kind of money I should be earning (whatever that may be ?) All but one agency seemed to want to pigeon hole me, which is difficult to do as I have a mix of talents which includes sales, IT and finance; but we settled on a Business Analyst type position.

In those 3 weeks I went for 4 interviews and 2 second interviews, which I was either too experienced or not experienced enough for. One of the second interviews was for 2 1/2 hours and involed 5 potential work colleagues coming in and grilling me on how/ where / when /why over all my CV and picking holes in just about everything - I was not impressed but remained calm and kept smiling; albeit an "I want to jump over the table and punch you" type grin :p

It's one thing meeting your potential colleagues to find out if you might like them and be able to work with them, but to ask them the same questions and more that you have been asked by your future manager and HR I thought was well out of order, and in my opinion none of their business why I changed jobs 5 years ago :mad: Needless to say I didn't get that job...

The job I've accepted is working at Alcatel-Lucent in central Wellington, and I start tomorrow - no time like the present eh?? Ironically the agency that found me the job in based in Auckland and disagreed with having to prove myself first and got me just over $80k, which is not a bad start to a first job I think :)

I'm looking forward to joining a normal Kiwi life and just need to get Keith out to work now :laugh


Debby & Keith

zardell
6th March 2007, 09:40 AM
disagreed with having to prove myself first and got me just over $80k, which is not a bad start to a first job I think :)




:raebanana

Good for you Debbie.

I don't see why we should have to prove ourselves either.

If the proof of our skills was good enough for NZIS to give a person PR then it should be good enough for an employer.

Julie

xx

Andy-Dee
6th March 2007, 09:44 AM
:raebanana Good for you - and thanks for the insight into the NZ job market - always worth knowing. :raebanana

Marco
6th March 2007, 10:00 AM
Well done Debbie!
And a great salary as well - still struggling myself here with getting a reasonably paid job (after more than a year in Welly).

So you really know how to do your search - or you are in a shortage area?

Cheers,
Anita

KD17
6th March 2007, 10:11 AM
I don't think I'm in a shortage area, I could have accepted work for a lot less if I'd have wanted to. I'm as determined as I can be not to sell myself short and stuck by my beliefs not to be talked into jobs by agencies just because they needed "bums on seats" - which could also be described as being stubborn :uhoh

I found this through the Seek job site, which I think is pretty good and got a lot of response from.

Trigirl
6th March 2007, 10:23 AM
congrats on the new job debby! enjoy that last day of freedom. i think its pretty easy to end up being paid a lot less than you are worth here for your first job - good for you on holding out for what you are worth.

Marco
6th March 2007, 10:24 AM
So, this will make a good point of discussion next Saturday during the meet up - hopefully I can learn a bit from you with that respect?!

Until recently the only replies I got was: lack of NZ experience - meaning: I do not want a 'foreigner' especially not one with English as a second language.

Cheers,
Anita

gil
6th March 2007, 10:28 AM
Fantastic news Debby, well done! :raebanana Just Keith to go then ;)

Gil

Trigirl
7th March 2007, 09:21 PM
hope your first day went well

KerryS
8th March 2007, 10:58 AM
Congrats on the job and holding out for a decent offer. Hope your first day was enjoyable.

KD17
9th March 2007, 07:58 AM
Thank you.

My first day was probably the most relaxed and less stressful first day I've ever had. :) although I'm sure that will change..

My boss told me not to stress about anything at al as he doesn't expect me to know everything in record time and for me to accept it's going to take me a while to get the know the job, company and how they work. He also said for me to miss the major rush hour traffic and I can go into work around 9.15 and leave before the panic home.... pinch me someone cos I must be dreaming :p

I'm positive that in a couple of months that will all change and I'm gonna be very busy, but I thought that was a wonderful gesture.

so I got in yesterday at 9.15 and aim for the same today (hence having a moment to type this !) then we go out for coffee around 10, lunch at 12.30 and I might get some work done in the afternoon. How much more relaxed could my intro to NZ working life be.

Anyone working in Welly that would like to meet up for a lunchtime coffee? send me a PM.

Thanks all for your support and we'll see some of you and the Welly Rocks meet tomorrow.

Debby

Marco
9th March 2007, 08:13 AM
Hi Debby,

That really sounds great! and really Kiwi.
All day teas and coffees and lunches - do you work for the government by any chance?? - LOL

I know there is a lot of difference in office cultures all over Wellington. I think I am at the other side of the spectrum. Even have to buy my own coffee when I want some.

See you tomorrow,
Anita

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