[SuzanneKendrik]

Hello,

I am a NZer and the Recruitment Manager for IBM in New Zealand. I was looking at this site with interest in regard to advertising on it as we are so short of applicants.

For us, the ability to do the job is far more important than if you have tertiary qualificiations. So if for examply you are an expert at SAP, Maximo, Java, Project Management but had no degree we would still be very interested.

https://jobs3.netmedia1.com/cp/search_results.jsp
will take you to all of the jobs that we have in NZ now.

A few comments from a NZ recruiter that might help.

-It is much easier to work with people who are already here. in NZ Clearly they are committed to coming to NZ! Also the long timeframes for people to migrate usually don't work for us. You would have to have a very rare skill set for us to be prepared to wait for you.

-A visit to secure a job is a great idea. We would set up a meeting with you if you have skills we potentially need. We keep a Talent Pool of people that have the skills we want and when a job comes up, we always contact them first.

-Many large companies recruit directly now and don't use agencies. At IBM we try and use agencies as little as possible. You will have far more chance with us if you approach us directly. We only go to agencies if we have exhausted our search ourselves. Do your own research and then approach the companies directly that hire people like you. Try and find a person to deal with inside the company.

-Regarding NZ experience - it depends on what you do. If a network and contacts is integral to your job then NZ experience is part of the job - sales. If the job is very people facing and your accent is very hard to understand for NZers this would be an issue for us. But if you are a software developer we would not factor this in at all.

-Don't try and make a career change when you come here. Coming to a new country is enough.

-We can only hire you if you are the best candidate and have the skills we need.

- Make yourself stand out - I look at about 25 Cv's a day.

[Alan]

Great post, however I feel the need to make the following point. There are a large amount of migrants that would happily come on a work visa and do so quickly, but many employers appear unwilling to help bring the people in.

I have been told by many HR people within companies in NZ that getting a reasonable number of high quality candidates to interview is not a common occurrence in the current climate of low unemployment. Unless NZ employees embrace good quality migrants more readily, how will the NZ economy make the next leap forwards?

I would be keen to hear your views Suzanne?

[gil]

Interesting reading Suzanne, thanks for posting your candid views.
I would slightly dissent with one of your points: Don't try and make a career change when you come here. Coming to a new country is enough.

My husband took the opportunity to do exactly that when we arrived here and has made the transition brilliantly. (Chartered Surveyor to Financial Analyst).
For my part, I decided to stay in the same field as I had been in in the UK, as I felt I did not want a huge learning curve along with settling the family of four kids into a new country. This has worked brilliantly for me, as you are right, settling into a new life the other side of the world is hard enough anyway!

I think it's down to the individual approach, and provided there is sufficient grounding/stability in the family/domestic setting, a change of career can certainly be managed successfully.

Gil

[adelyn]

Hi,

I had few interviews with HR, department managers and the last one was the General Manager. They responsed possitively and said I got the job offer. But waited for more then a week, the HR still yet to email or call me discuss about the salary, relocation package etc.

I work as an ERP consultant, looking forward to migrate to NZ.

Adelyn

[JandM]

Suzanne, thanks for the helpful posting.

[Beetle]

Hi Suzanne,

Thanks for the very useful information provided. I'm sure it will help the applicants looking for job offers in the ICT sector.

/Beetle

[PaoLe]

I work for IBM in SW IOT (Madrid, Spain) as an Executive Assistant, but here this position is outsourced. I don't know if IBM hire directly Assistants in New Zealand and how to contact somebody in HR in Wellington. So, if somebody can help... :-)

Best regards :-)

[thewoodies]

Thanks for information i wll get my OH to read it - im not sure if its relavant he is a computer electronics engineer?

We arrive in Auckland January - even some temporary work would be good to start with?

[JandL]

https://jobs3.netmedia1.com/cp/ << The original link was session based. Try this one.

[Kirst&Kev]

Suzanne,

Thanks for the tips - will get my OH to look at it. Just one question: will IBM be represented at the NZ Expo in Oct in London?
We have sold our house and are hoping to be in NZ by Nov 08.

Kirstie