[b&k]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd fill you in on my experience so far.

I applied for PR in December and was selected straight away. I'm an IT project manager with 7 years experience so I claimed bonus points for this on my application.

When my file was reviewed, I was stripped of my bonus points on the grounds that I do not have a degree it IT. Several letters were exchanged where I pointed out that:
- My employability is experienced based and not based on my academic qualifications (I have several very sought-after professional qualifications which are not counted)
- I manage IT people not IT systems (in fact I can and have managed many projects in any area of IT)
- Not one job ad for project managers in NZ asks for an IT degree

Anyway, policy is policy and I'm now back in the pool with a, frankly useless, 105 points.

At this point, I decided that I wanted a change and left my permanent job to become a contractor. Just about every day since I have had people chasing me for my services. I still want to emigrate to NZ as it is the place for which I have the most affinity.

I have been talking with some agencies in NZ and they think that I would have no problem getting a job offer in NZ. So, out plan is to stay here a bit longer and earn some more money before heading over while I'm between contracts to find a NZ job - if no luck, then we'll come back. If that doesn't work then I try the Australian back door where my skills are in demand.

Basically, if my skills are in demand then I'll find a way.

Don't really know why I'm writing all this but hope that somebody finds it useful.

[minnieuk]

Depends on your circumstances but you can just go to NZ on a visitor visa and get a job there then apply for PR. That would be our 'last resort' way of getting out there but if we have to we will.

[tigerlily]

I think you may even be able to get a job before you go. Have you tried talking to any of the head hunters? They seem to be very interested in people with your skills- just from what I've seen on Seek and around here.

[Trigirl]

hi b&k - if you are ready to up and leave at very short notice then you may indeed manage to get a job from overseas. certainly some IT areas are in very high demand, although others less so - so i guess it depends on what you do.

lots of people have been down the lost bonus points route. i've not yet heard of anyone getting it overturned by complaining. as you say policy is policy.

[KerryS]

There are loads of PM jobs about at the moment. I do contract work and am being chased by recruiters almost daily to see if I have any availability.
If you have a chance, come over and get a job offer, so you can get the additional 50 points for your EOI.

[Angelonthemove]

Do not forget if you take a contract role you have to prove that you have a contracting history before. We too have lost points (IT degree he says is not his major subject too hard to prove otherwise. But now with the job offer it grants us 50 points so we can make it back up again (fingers crossed).

We came on a visitors visa and got jobs within 2 weeks.

[green25]

All those claiming bonus points in an area of absolute skills shortage, beware! Get a full Qualification Assessment Report (QAR) from NZQA first before submitting your EOI. Be sure that the QAR says your qualification is comparable to the one listed on the LTSSL. It happened to me that my EOI was deselected because I could not produce the QAR immediately when asked during the preliminary checks. Therefore, no ITA and a lot of mental pain and anguish. It may now take up to 6 months to get a QAR.

[speckythecky]

It may now take up to 6 months to get a QAR.

if you are lucky

[luiz,br]

Basically, if my skills are in demand then I'll find a way.

Don't really know why I'm writing all this but hope that somebody finds it useful.
__________________
NZ - for a life less ordinary


I did it B ::confused: (or K?)

your signature is the answer to the question I'm doing to myself: "Why am I doing this?"