[The_scotsman30]

Guys and gals

I have recently returned from wellington. I decided that the best policy was to go out to NZ and job hunt for two weeks. I spoke to loads of recruitment agencies that said they would not have spoken to me if i hadn't bothered to come out and show commitment to emigrating.

Anyway while out there i spoke to a emigration guy who stated with my job ( a Computer Hardware engineer) the immigration authority would be looking for a degree or masters in IT before considering me and my family for emigration. I told him my wife was a lifeguard/swimming instructor and aqua arobics instructor and he suggested that she would be better being the principle applicant as its classed as a sports coach.This doesn't require a degree and is apparently on the long term skill shortage list

Does this make sense or was he talking rubbish?

I have done the EOI and just get under 100 points without a job offer and 140 with one. Is there something i am missing do i need to send my qualifications away to the NZQA to get points allocated to them?
Or do i just wait for one of the agencies to offer me a job?

I appreciate any help or advice you can all offer. Like many others i was concidering an agency to see if they could get me the points i need.

Over here people seem to employ on the basis of experience and the knowledge you can do the job over in NZ they seem to want meaningless qualifications.

help..........lol

[speckythecky]

I can't see sports coach on the long term skills shortage list:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/063ECB35-F5D5-44D8-8325-7041A727A9D5/0/1093.pdf
but yes you do need a level 7 degree for IT jobs for your eoi / pr

[Rhodan]

From what I understand from various immigration consultants I've met with, if you don't have a degree and related work experiance, then you cannot claim points for the skills shortage list.

Basically, take your age, and work experiance, and add that up with the points for a job offer and see how many points you get. If you get 100 points or more, you will be fine, and once you have a job offer you can submit your EOI and it will be fast tracked, along with your work permit.

[pinkpiggy]

Hi there thescotsman,

My OH is an IT Infrastructure Support Team Leader and like you, has no qualifications in IT whatsoever. However what he does have is an HNC in building studies which we used to gain points for having a 'basic recognized qualification'. We still need to have it assessed by NZQA and it got us 50 points. If you check out our blog (link below) and view the entry for Wednesday January 3rd 2007 you will see a 'copy' of our EOI. We got 130 points without a job offer and you'll be able to see how they're made up.

OH had his settlement interview with immigration yesterday and we're waiting on the final decision. Good luck.

[The_scotsman30]

Surely you don't need a degree to emigrate

I have been doing my job for 10 years and i have never been asked for a degree. In fact if people apply for a job with us with a degree we normally turn them down as they don't have the relevant experience.
There must be another way other than getting a degree

[Rhodan]

You don't *need* a degree as I explained in my post above. ;)

[The_scotsman30]

sorry miss read the post Rhodan. If i submit my EOI with a job offer i have enough points. The problem is getting the job offer to submit the EOI.

I have been out and hunted for jobs out in new zealand and there are plenty but finding it hard now that i am back in the UK.

So let me clarify

If you don't have a degree you need a job offer

Correct?

[Rhodan]

Yes, basically you need 100 points to qualify for applying for PR, and the only way to get that if you don't have qualifications (i.e degree), is with a job offer, which is worth 50 points on it's own.

You will find it difficult to try and secure a job offer without being in NZ, as most employers want to see you face to face, and make sure that you are committed to immigration process. Although I have heard of people getting lucky and getting jobs over telephone interviews.

Don't let one recruitment agency put you off. I've emailed a number of recruiters, and all of them have been very positive, and want to know when I'll be arriving so they can arrange interviews. I'm in IT as well (Networking / Support).

As a matter of interest, what qualifications do you have ? If you have any HND's / 3 year diploma's, it would be worth sending it in to the NZQA, and they could allocate you points for them. Unfortunately they won't recoqnize standard IT qualifications however (MCSE, CompTIA, Cisco etc.).

[Trigirl]

basically if you don't have a degree in IT then you can't claim points for "work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage". so if you've included points for that, take them out and see how your points stack up.

with a job offer you will need 100 points. without you will need more like 130+ and even then you are unlikely to get selected without 140.

have you considered moving over on a visitors visa and getting a job once you arrive - as you've experienced its much easier getting a job from here?

[The_scotsman30]

Actually we were just talking about that tonight. Selling the house and moving out then finding jobs when we arrive. From speaking to all the job recruitment agencies when i was out in NZ there is plenty of work so that might be the best offer.

I suppose once we are settled and have job we can then apply for residency and will be in a stronger position to have it granted.

Just would prefer to have it sorted before we sell up and move out.

I don't suppose a emigration agent would be able to wangle the numbers anymore than anyone else so it would be a waste of money speaking to them

[Trigirl]

i'd be very surprised indeed if they can get you more points than you are entitled to. my view has always been agent = waste of money. but others have used them successfully - mostly where they haven't had the spare time to do the paprework themselves. so i guess they more help with the process than change the outcome.

[Diva]

Surely you don't need a degree to emigrate



No, but it does seem to help. My situation is the opposite of yours but equally daft. I have post-graduate qualifications and years of experience in my field of study which means, according to a quick check of my points total, that I can probably get PR without any trouble. But in reality there don't seem to be any jobs out here that I am 'qualified' to do. My degrees are pointless, but seem to be what the Immigration people are looking for.

Funny old world.....

[pinkpiggy]

I don't suppose a emigration agent would be able to wangle the numbers anymore than anyone else so it would be a waste of money speaking to them
Absolutely NOT. :no :no They use exactly the same form as everyone else and you still have to supply them with all the information/documentation they need. If you can fill a form in, you can do it yourself. Much cheaper.

[vixxann]

Just adding our viewpoint..
OH has no qualifications in his trade but twenty yrs experience - whilst on our reccie he was offered several jobs to start immediately but would not have been able to get one from the UK, Employers really want to see you. Also I think many firms would be looking at a trial period on a lower starting wage just to see if you can do what you say (although that may just apply in case of no quals?)

We are going to go without visa and get it sorted once there, seems very possible.

Good luck :)