[dookieusm]

Hi all,

After a few weeks of job search where most recruitments consultants open the conversation with "when are you arriving?" we now find ourselves seriously considering selling up and moving to NZ prior to securing a job offer.

The plan is to line up a number of interviews prior to arriving and then to apply for the required work permit once an offer has been secured.

This has received a positive responses from recruitment agencies and most claim that "walking into a job" will be a breaze. However, my experience with UK agencies in the past has somewhat tainted my view of agents, with many promising things they have been unable to deliver. Some, however, have been excellent.

Has anyone else been tempted to do what we are now planning? If so, what happened?

For information, I am a Programme Manager with 20 years experience in IT, across Telco and Financial Services industries.

Many thanks,

Steve

[danwoods]

Hi Steve,
That is what we intend on doing. Had very much to same feedback from employers, so we decided on using the working holiday visa route. Basically get over there, ship house contents (and Cat) find someplace to rent then find job, apply for PR (we are at the "EOI selected" stage at the moment with 125 points, no job offer) This was induced mainly by the fact that our house sold quicker than expected to a first time buyer! so we need to be out by the middle of August! In answer to your question, not sure if it is sensible, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!!

[dookieusm]

Unfortunatley because of my age (I'm 38) the working holiday visa doesn't apply, so will have to look at the Work to Residence route.

[Ana&Steve]

Hi Steve, this is our plan, to find work once there. We were told by many people that (my) Steve won't have problems finding a job, but we're still planning on it taking at least 2 months, just so we aren't caught off guard. The positive feedback came not only from recruiters, but from employers, fellow forumites, and people we met at Thursday Night Curry and the Wellies. (IT social groups) Also, I think your skill set and years of experience put you at quite an advantage once in NZ, as I have seen desperate need for your skills in the want ads.:) All it takes is a leap of faith, I wish you the best whatever you decide!
Ana

[pinkpiggy]

Steve

I wouldn't have thought you would have too much trouble finding a job in NZ with your experience and qualifications. It would depend of course, on where you decide to settle. OH is an IT Infrastructure Support Engineer and we decided to settle in Hamilton. It took him 7 weeks but he started a job last week.

I would say make sure you have enough funds to survive at least 2 months without a job. Apart from anything else, you will have so much to do when you arrive, (finding somewhere to live, bank accounts, car etc.) and of course you'll want to have a little time to familiarise yourself with your surroundings etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[speckythecky]

Steve


I would say make sure you have enough funds to survive at least 2 months without a job. Apart from anything else, you will have so much to do when you arrive, (finding somewhere to live, bank accounts, car etc.)

You will also need to wait for a work permit before you can start work and this can take a couple of weeks.

Also you can not just get a work to residence visa, this is something you would be offered if you went for PR but NZIS were not happy about your job offer. What you would need to do is travel as if you were a tourist, secure work, apply for a work permit, start work.
You may have problems shipping your belongings if you go down this route as some shipping companies will not move you unless you have a 2 yr work visa or PR. In addition, if you do manage to get shippers, you need to pay a bond to NZ customs when you arrive as you have imported goods without residency

[JoanneG]

We've considered the same thing but 4 kids makes it harder. My OH has worked in IT Networks & Security for around the same time - mainly monitoring. He has begun making contact with companies and has already secured some meetings direct with employers at the Expo in London in October.

We have decide to approach all this with all our options open and just go where things take us. So we're doing things a little backwards. Getting the house and contents ready for sale first so that we can move quickly if needs be. We even have a project plan! We're planning a recce next year when No.4 turns 2yrs old to make more contact with employers (and the Wellies) and see what happens.

I think Pink Piggy is right about funds. The less financial strain you are under the better - less pressure.

[hilly up here]

Hi Dookieusm, we too are considering just selling up and taking a chance on gaining PR once in NZ. Mainly because we want to travel en route and don't want to be tied to a time scale or be granted PR and have to cut short our travels.

' Renew' has advised :" I guess the only problem i can see with doing the EOI & ITA in New Zealand would be medical. It would be a shame to have sold up and moved all that way to be rejected for PR on medical grounds".

(sorry- I dont know how to quote parts of posts, am new to this forum thingy)

I guess it is a big risk but then again - nothing ventured nothing gained - and the worst case scenario for us would be having to return to the UK and rent a house/flat as we would never be able to get back on the property ladder.

We will have enough money to support us for about 6 - 12 months in NZ (from the sale of the house) and we don't have young kids to worry about so we think it is a reasonable risk for us......

Good Luck :)

[dookieusm]

Thanks for all your replies. They have provided useful information and encouragement in equal measure.

Our plan is for me to have as many telephone/videocon interviews as possible before flying out in September, after which my wife and son will follow. We are planning on selling up completely and committing 100% to the move. We've figured that waiting for the right job offer before making the move would result in us still being in the UK in five years time and wondering "what if". Of course they're are risks with this approach, but nothing ventured nothing gained.

Good luck to you all

Steve (and Fiona & Alex)

[speckythecky]

' Renew' has advised :" I guess the only problem i can see with doing the EOI & ITA in New Zealand would be medical. It would be a shame to have sold up and moved all that way to be rejected for PR on medical grounds".

I have heard somewhere that it is cheaper to have the medical in NZ than in UK or USA. This doesn't help if you are rejected on medical grounds.
Having said that, unless you would be a major drain on the health service, it doesn't seem that many people fail the medicals.

[victoria]

An important point to not having anything other than the tourist visa is if you ship your stuff over you will pay duty which is non refundable.The agent may offer to store for payment but this might be pricier than if you arrange your own ( self storage etc, from arrival) With a WP you will only pay a bond ($1000 approx) & that at least is refundable when you get PR. Also you'll be able to take your stuff out of storage.Some good previous threads on shipping & in particular, some companies to avoid! LOL

[kanatakiwi]

(sorry- I dont know how to quote parts of posts, am new to this forum thingy):)


Hi Hilly up here

See the little QUOTE button on the bottom right hand corner of every post? Click on that. and then delete the parts of the quote that are NOT relevant to what you wanted to quote. make sure you don't delete the brackets and the word "Quote"

[hilly up here]

Aha ! :cheers

[Ana&Steve]

An important point to not having anything other than the tourist visa is if you ship your stuff over you will pay duty which is non refundable.The agent may offer to store for payment but this might be pricier than if you arrange your own ( self storage etc, from arrival) With a WP you will only pay a bond ($1000 approx) & that at least is refundable when you get PR. Also you'll be able to take your stuff out of storage.Some good previous threads on shipping & in particular, some companies to avoid! LOLDidn't know this! I thought you paid the bond if you didn't have a visa, and it was refundable after your visa was received:confused: Do you know where to find this info on the immigration site?
Ana