[Steve73]

Hello everyone - this is my first post and I'd like to thank everyone who has already answered a lot of questions that I had in other posts. It's nice to know that there are other people in the same confused state as me regarding WPs and the NZIS website!

By way of introduction, I'm in the UK at the moment and moving to NZ soon to be with my lovely Kiwi girlfriend in Auckland. I think I'm going to have to go the route of coming on a visitor visa, then finding a job and converting to a WP. As we haven't lived together before, I don't qualify on the partnership basis, though I have heard that some people have got WPs even before living with their partner a year. I don't know if anyone has any experience of this at all?

I will be in NZ for a couple of weeks in September to speak to some recruitment agencies and hopefully maybe even get a couple of interviews if possible before moving permanently in November. I work in IT (third line general server support type stuff with 10 years' experience and MCSE qualification) I know lots of people have posted on job searching in this field before but I would welcome any thoughts, advice or experiences people have had - particularly as I won't have a WP. Lots of the adverts say you need this before applying but if you're there in the country will agents and employers generally be prepared to look at you anyway?

As I say, any thoughts welcome, or agency recommendations etc!!

Thanks everyone!

Steve

[zardell]

Sorry Steve, can't answer any of your questions, but just wanted to say 'Hi' and 'Welcome to the forum'

Julie

xx

[Timbo]

Hi Steve, and welcome to the forum.
You should find that potential employers are more than willing to talk to you if you have what they want, and if they are serious they will be willing to help you to get a work permit and wait accordingly.
Before we came over, we more often than not got a polite response to job enquiries along the lines of " come and talk when you are in NZ".
Your just being here in person shows some commitment, and that does seem to carry some weight.
Good luck.

[holland]

HI Steve,

I am the same as Julie on the answer front! But hello and welcome.

J x

[Silverwing86]

Hi Steve,

I'm afraid I can't be of much help either, but also wanted to welcome you to the forum and wish you luck with the process ! I'm sure with your qualifications it shouldn't be too much of a problem to find something suitable...

Silver