[JasonS]

Looks like I'm going to Welly at the end of next week! After consulting with recruiters and John (SkibumWa), I've decided to go down and pound the pavement looking for jobs and get an idea of what Welly is like. I've been to
the south island extensively, and apart from the Welly airport and ferry terminal, i haven't seen much of the city.

My background is in Information Security and Business Continuity, with 5 of my 12 years in IT focusing on these two fields. So if anyone out there has some leads or recommendations for me, send them my way please.

I look forward to the trip, and hopefully landing a few job offers.

Jason

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Good luck.

AbsoluteIT and Beyond Recruitment tend to have a lot of jobs in Welly, although I'm sure you've come across these agencies by now.

Definitely worth a look at the government website, telecom, inland revenue & police. Apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs

http://www.jobs.govt.nz/
http://www.ird.govt.nz/aboutir/careers/
http://www.telecom.co.nz/stream/0,8747,203723-1547,00.html

Plus of course the banks - Kiwibank, Westpac, ASB, ANZ, National Bank.......

[IanW99]

You may also find the Wellies IT Expats (http://www.wellies.org.nz/) useful, many good links and great for networking with IT professionals.

Ian

[Chiba]

Hey Jason, I'll be arriving a few days later for the same purpose! Well, it's a holiday too, so my family are coming along.

Good luck to you! BNZ have been looking for a few security people lately. Signed up for their job mails?

[holland]

Good Luck Jason and Chiba!

J and G x

[skibumwa]

Hey Jason & Chiba,

Give me a call when you arrive so we can set up an "after interviewing day brew-ha-ha-ha" :cheers.
My mobile is +64 21 070 8484

I am getting my 1st car this weekend. It's a used car & a 5-speed born n bred NZ Nissan Sentra. So I'll be able to play tour guide to Welly for you guys. It's interesting to say the least driving stick from the other side of the car (right side) + other side of the road (left side)- hehe! :laugh.

Reccy trips are tiring, but fun as you get to meet so many new people in a short period of time!

Cheers from windy Welly!

-John

[JasonS]

Thanks for the tips. I heard about the wellies site very recently, so I just signed up with that. BNZ doesn't have any security postings right now, but I'm keeping my eye on them. I have a recruiter trying to get me an interview with them just in case they may be considering another position in this space.

I hadn't checked on Telecom lately, so thanks for the reminder. I saw that they're going to get broken up it seems, so that will be interesting.

Chiba, good luck as well. I don't think I'll have much time to touring, but hopefully the full weekend I'll be there I can get out and about.

Now to figure out where I'm going to stay, and how to get around....

Jason

[slw]

If you can stay in the CBD, you'll find getting around quite easy as most of the recruiters and businesses are within walking distance.

I saw a job opening at my place of work for IT Security Specialists. I can PM you the link if you're interested.

[Syed]

Hi there
I am not security specialist, but I am taking cources and hopefully I will have CCSP before leaving New Zealand. Will CCSP help or not ?
I personally think that Security is the most important and vital field of IT industry,
Any comment from IT Security Specialists here ?

[barryp]

I'd say there are two problems with security certs:
(1) In order to do security work properly, you need to have broad AND deep knowledge. Certs come in one or the other (ex: Security+ as the former and CEH/PenTest as the latter).
(2) Almost all IT security certs are tied to a specific vendor; what's the 'C' in CSSP?

Of course, neither may be a problem for YOU - depends on what your career goals are. If you want to know, love, and secure Cisco setups... then a CSSP is an excellent promotional tool for you and will force you to confront realistic (though not 'real') challenges that will help with a job building and maintaining Cisco gear.

The only security cert I give any credence to is CISSP, and most security pros I know aren't even that generous. There is work in NZ, though far more in Oz - with better career prospects overall, in my opinion.

[Chiba]

Hey Jason & Chiba,
Give me a call when you arrive so we can set up an "after interviewing day brew-ha-ha-ha" :cheers.


John - with the family in tow it's going to be tough, but once we're over there (down there?) you're on.

[JasonS]

I'd say there are two problems with security certs:
(1) In order to do security work properly, you need to have broad AND deep knowledge. Certs come in one or the other (ex: Security+ as the former and CEH/PenTest as the latter).
(2) Almost all IT security certs are tied to a specific vendor; what's the 'C' in CSSP?

Of course, neither may be a problem for YOU - depends on what your career goals are. If you want to know, love, and secure Cisco setups... then a CSSP is an excellent promotional tool for you and will force you to confront realistic (though not 'real') challenges that will help with a job building and maintaining Cisco gear.

The only security cert I give any credence to is CISSP, and most security pros I know aren't even that generous. There is work in NZ, though far more in Oz - with better career prospects overall, in my opinion.

I agree with Barry on being effective in security really requires a broad knowledge as well as depth. I've seen people that are skilled in both UNIX/Linux and Windows really excel compared to someone that is specialized in one or the other. However, that doesn't mean you can't specialize in just one platform and excel either.

I've held off on certifications for most of my career as many of them are only good to prove you can take a test and pass it. Some like GSEC Gold or CBCP (Business Continuity cert) require you to document what you've done in the field, or write a paper explaining some security principles and experience you
have.

Jason

[skibumwa]

Chiba - give me a call on 021 070 8484 when you arrive. Jason and I are meeting up after my work/Jason's interviews around 4pm ish at the HI Wellington on Wakefield. My cel is 021 070 8484.
Cheers!

-John