[giraffe]

Hi
we are looking at moving to NZ via the job offer route. We've looked on websites and there seem to be quite a few adverts matching OH's skills. BUT we don't want to move out to NZ for about a year though as we've got stuff to sort in the UK.
My question is when do people think we should start applying for jobs if we don't want to move until 12 months time? my instinct is to wait 4 or 5 months before applying but my OH works in the construction industry (PM/building surveyor) and i've got a niggling worry that if worldwide recession kicks in then the job adverts might not be there in 6 months time. OH says he's already noticed a reduction in nos of jobs posted in the UK

any thoughts welcome
toodlepips

[blearyjane]

Hi - I can't really answer your question but we are in a similar situation. OH is in a contract until November and we too are wondering when to start looking. I am itching to start sending out the CV but we recognise that employers won't want to wait until December for him to start, so we are aiming to properly job hunt from about July.

[Plymgirl]

Again I do not have answers but the same question. We are waiting for our son to finish junior school and at the break between junior and high school make the move but when do we start sending C.V.s or job hunting. I thought I might wait until after going to the Expo in April and see what is needed and get more info and once that has happened. But in the mean time get all our paper work sorted out and then do it all in one foul swoop. But I do not know if this is right.
So if anyone knows different please advise.

[Alan]

I am looking at going out to NZ in March with the sole aim of getting job offers and finding out more about work etc. Assuming that I get offered something then I would expect my family and I to move at as soon as we can get the paperwork through and tie everything up here, with a possibility being that I move out ahead of them and they follow.

One other thing you may want to consider with regards to timing is the sale of your proerty here, as selling houses at certain time of the year i.e. winter months, around Xmas etc are notoriously difficult, hence why we want to do it sooner rather than later.

[benandclare]

When we started our "rollercoaster" ride we originally flagged up March 2008 as our intended date of departure with the proviso of if the right job in the right place came up we'd go for it.

Well it did and so here we are , been here 5 months :raebanana

Clare is a nurse and was the PA and found it very easy to agree a 3 month delay in starting job from the offer, i.e. offer in June started job in Sept.

This gave us plenty of time to sort out the paperwork , sell house etc etc. as regards the paperwork we were primed to go so our EOI flowed fairly easily.

we didnt want to leave UK till March 2008 to ensure we were around for my daughter going to Uni, my Mum's 90th, step grandsons birthday... I could go on there will always be a reason to delay if you want but at the end of the day as we have decided to move half way round the world there is always going to be stuff that we miss out on, it's one of the prices we have to pay to live in this gorgeous place :nice1

So I'd say if the right job comes up and start looking now, go for it :nice1

P.S On the schooling front remember that coming from the UK it's all back to front and that the school year starts in Feb and also everything shuts down for at least 3 weeks over Christmas