[H & Rick]

Well two years on and we are finally two months away from getting to NZ; during that time we have lived and breathed NZ like many on this forum.

The house is now sold and there is nothing holding us back……or is there?
I am really excited and looking forward to the new challenge but Rich is having terrible cold feet and sleepless nights of worry.

We have money in the bank but no jobs lined up yet, as we have found that employers want people on the ground before they will consider offering them jobs, well that is our experience in Christchurch.

We just want to know are these feelings normal, does everyone go through this?

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated :no

[Andy-Dee]

Completely normal - as in all things in life there is no gain without risk. The worst that can happen is its not right for you and within 24 hours you can be back in the UK, having paid for your personal possessions to go on a round the world cruise.

One life, one chance, go for it!

[H & Rick]

That's the way I feel, OH needs more convincing.....

[lockstock]

Feeling exactly the same. Every time I imagine getting on the plane I see myself making a dash for the exit screaming I don't want to go. I think this must be the 'surreal' phase - something about journeys and getting there...Oh well, at least we've got the exchange rate to entertain us until we go!

[willsken]

Like you, I lived and breathed NZ for well over a year. When the last weeks came looming I had many doubts. What if, what if? Well, something made me want to emigrate in the first place and those things hadn't changed. Did I really want to be where I was in 10 years time? I have to admit, the thought made me shudder. :yes

Doubts are a normal part of the process and I think most people must have a few along the way. Just hold on to the reasons you were going, somehow they get lost as you are about to make the move and all the reasons you don't want to go become magnified. I had my list of pros and cons and that never changed in reality.

Making this move has been the best thing we ever did. Sure it's worked out for us and we couldn't be happier but if it hadn't and we headed back to the UK, at least it would've made me appriciate what I'd had there more.

[H & Rick]

Thanks for the reply Lockstock not too worried about the plane journey although you are right about the "surreal" feeling. :roll

Nicola did you have jobs when you went out there or did you manage to secure jobs when you arrived?
I think that is part of the worry with Rich the being out of work thing.
I think this move has gone on so long I guess we have kind of lost direction and need to reassess where we are and why we wanted it in the first place.

[Jo Jo]

Completely normal, if my experience is anything to go by. My husband and I had been planning to move to NZ for 2 or 3 years, but in the week before we flew out I woke up one day absolutely convinced I was doing the wrong thing, and told my husband I didn't want to go AT ALL.

I've only been here a week, so it could turn out that I was right still!

[newkiwis2]

We both arrived wihtout jobs.

I got the first one I had an interview for and so far my OH has been offered 4/4 but took the second one. Think he just likes interviews now.

[JoanneG]

We are in a similar cold feet position at times. My OH wants to sell everything and go but that's a huge risk with 4 children even if he does work in IT.

Has anyone sold up and simply headed over, with children?

[JoanneG]

ps. H & Rick - my 3 year old little boy loves your Avatar - keeps making me go back to it!

[willsken]

Nicola did you have jobs when you went out there or did you manage to secure jobs when you arrived?
I think that is part of the worry with Rich the being out of work thing.
I think this move has gone on so long I guess we have kind of lost direction and need to reassess where we are and why we wanted it in the first place.

I had a job but OH didn't. I know it's scary but you will be fine! What does your OH do for a living?

[holland]

Hi we go in 3 weeks and change the way we feel about it on a daily basis. I am suprisingly calm at the moment, but that doesn't mean I am questionning whether or not we are doing the right thing...all I know is that in 3 weeks time, we will be at the airport, OH MY GOODNESS, just typing that has made my stomach thud...you will be absolutely fine....

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxJ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Familyofmonkeys]

We are in a similar cold feet position at times. My OH wants to sell everything and go but that's a huge risk with 4 children even if he does work in IT.

Has anyone sold up and simply headed over, with children?

I woudln't sell everything..not with kids. We sold our house and shipped everything else and then went to NZ Expo at Earls court where OH secured job. We would have come over anyway (with 3 kids), even if he had no job, as there is tons of IT work in NZ. Just do research at companies you might aproach before you leave UK and make contact with agencies.

[H & Rick]

Thanks for all the replies, glad to see we are not completely loosing our minds, although it feels like it at the moment.

Oh is still really worried about job prospects he is an Electronic Design Engineer/Web designer and on the skills shortage list.

Although we are finding that when applying for jobs; even when we giving a date that companies don’t seem to acknowledge us - we have put it down to maybe having a British address on the application.

Are other people finding this too?

[Moorf]

Heidi

It's something many immigrants come across - the lack of commitment from employers and agencies unless you're on NZ soil (apart from those jobs where there is such a shortage they'll offer you a job before you arrive etc).

Because of this we didn't look for jobs before we came. In fact, we took the first couple of months to get used to the surroundings, get over the initial culture jolt and chill out. After that it was full steam ahead job hunting and it was very easy to secure interviews once here. And remember, we were on visitors visas so we didn't even have the luxury of PR!

I can almost hear your tummies churning from here - I think I'd be more worried if you were too blase ;) - feel the fear and do it anyway :nice1

As Diny used to say - there's a departure lounge at every airport.

You know where we are if you need us.

Come on down Heidi and Rick.. it's your turn :raebanana :raebanana

Moorf
x

[The Dales]

Hi H & Rick

I have just come across your post - I know it was posted in October, but thought that some info I have my help you. Not too sure if you are already in NZ or are on your way??

My hubby and I arrived in NZ on 3rd Sept with PR but neither of us had jobs. We too came across from Wales (Bridgend in fact), with literally all of our worldy possessions with us in our cases!! We had sold our house and all contents besides. Many people (friends and family included) thought we were mad but we had been toying with the "NZ idea" for too long not to do something about it and what's life without adventure?? ;)

We both had jobs that were on the Skills Shortage list - hubby is a Multimedia Designer and I am a qualified teacher (although had real no intention of returning to teaching). We headed for Auckland as we found that there were more job prospects for him here. Not sure where you plan on settling??

Within the first week, hubby had been offered a job and within 6 weeks of him starting work I had been offered one too - both more or less in the fields that we wanted to work in. We both used seek.co.nz for most of job searching and the best advice IMO is to get hold of the names of the agencies that are advertising the positions. Once you have first name contacts with the agencies you will then be better placed in finding the right job for you - that worked for us anyway.

One thing to be aware of here is that some companies do want something for nothing, therefore, you have to know what you want in terms of job spec, salary, etc. based on the experience that you have. As long as what you are asking is realistic and you hold strong for that you will get what you want. There are some really good companies out there that will pay you what you deserve but there are some that will try and take you for a ride. (This happened with my first job but I am now moving on to the next one in the New Year!! 3 months in and already onto a 2nd job!)

Over here experience is the key, particularly if you have experience in the very competitive European/UK IT based industry - this experience is held very highly here in NZ as the NZ IT industry is far less competitive in comparison. Therefore, any experience that your OH has in that area must be highlighted in his CV. Not sure what you do?

Hope this information helps in some way with your decision - we too toyed with whether or not we were doing the right thing, something we are still doing nearly 4 months later! NZ is a fantastic place and there is a good life to be had here. We are not yet sure if we will stay here permanently but we know in our heart of hearts that we are glad that we made the move when we did. Life is too short to live with "What Ifs".

If you would like further information, just let us know.

Lianne and Ray