[Rammer]

hiyall,

Has any one else had 'problems' applying for jobs posted by Hudson in wellington on seekIT's site?

I have applied for two now and each time I just got pointed towards NZIS and the standard reply - get a visa - How Impersonal. :no

furthermore, the return address 'Applications.Wellington@hudson.com' is INVALID - how anoying. :no

This particular job I applied for was a perfect match for me, my CV proved it.
I fully explained my position in a cover letter - like my visa is in progress, and the lot got binned.

so, i took the libity in sweeping their site & found loads of Email adresses for them in wellie. and sent a reply - a nice reply.....

Hope I hav'nt annoyed any1 :eek

Rammer

[markkellaway]

Hi Ramer,

I have had dealings with Hudson in Christchurch and found them very helpful, although I found the "real" email address of someone there and emailed them directly. Sounds to me as if your message got filterd by a receptionist or the like. :yes

Mark. :P

[Rammer]

My thoughts exacly

I have found 2 real people email addresses, and send it to them.

[neilw71]

Hudson are one of the recruiters who generally will not deal with you until you physically arrive in the country with visas in place.

I have found, as you say, if you get past the "general" email address, where as soon as they see you are not in NZ already and send you the standard reply, and direct an enquiry to a specific recruiter, you get a better response!

Neil

[clg]

I have worked with Hudson some and I got the standard, let us know when you have the legal right to work here response. When I had an actaul trip planned they got much more interested. I have found this to genrally be the case with most employers, they want you to be there. I kept hearing this but I have now seen first hand that this is the case.

I have recently been in touch with some new people who may be willing to do the whole thing over the phone BUT this is a niche area with specialized skills and they are having a very hard time getting people.

Chris

[Rimbo]

My experience is this.

tried for 18 months with employers and agencies, Hudson included.

Like you was annoyed at an automated response. I'm afraid your gonna have to get used to it :? You will find most agencies the same.

Told them when i arrive. same again :(

Arrived and informed them; response;
"Yeah, let us know when you are in Chch!" :?

and so on.......

It's costing alot of money to be here, but i have to keep plugging away. i eventually caught up with someone from hudson and had a good meeting with them. Very helpful, sincere and understanding. I have yet to hear a follow up. Sometimes though you find an employer that just wants you.

So far i belive the trip is worth it. When you arrive, they'll realise your serious.


keep at it and don't despair, :nice1

John.

[miep]

Hi all,

Even if you're living here with the right to work Hudson or any other recruiter still doesn't seem to do much for you. It all depends on the person you happen to talk to. All in all we find they're pretty useless.

Still, you need them so its worthwhile to chummy up to them. I'm in the proces of looking for another job right now as my current contract is close to finishing. I'll let you all know when and how I find another job (she says hopefully!)

Cheers, Miep :cool

[Moorf]

Even a recruiter at Brannigans (agency here in Chch) recommended that Woz went direct to employers... seems employers aren't prepared to pay the huge fees that the recruitment agencies charge :?

[shagen]

I will be in NZ next month and the first to give me an interview was Hudson in Wellington. I found them very warm and friendly over the phone even though I do not have a right to work in NZ yet.

I too tried the email and got standard replies. I then took the risk of calling one of the consultants and I am now scheduled to meet him first thing when I arrive!

Shagen

[Rammer]

Hoorah :P

I have had a positive response from other than the standard reply from hudson how, who are interested in meeting me, after finaly geting them to review my CV !!!

Thanks for you replys folks - any 1 fancy a trip to NZ early April?

Ian

[Rimbo]

I'll probably still be here pal!

but they don't do Chips, Babies yed, pey wet un gravy like home though!

John

[Rammer]

LOL John...

when are you actualy planning on returning? I think your wife (Suzy) mentioned mid march. Have you plans to extend this still further?

Be great to meet up in welly.

Ian

[Rimbo]

The truth is, i don't know.
My flight is booked for the 21st March, was originaly 24th Feb but i extended my stay.
If I'm still without a job offer and I still think there is good chance of being succseful, then I'll stay on longer.
I may recieve said elusive job offer and have an immediate start, we are also prepared for that eventuality.
Difficult to be away from the loved ones for so long, but, i have seen some good massage parlours here. :laugh

Are you concentrating your efforts in Welly?

PM me if you want to discuss owt or get any info.

John

[Mike & Nicola]

Rimbo, how have you found the availabilty of jobs in relation to number of jobs advertised (eg seek etc..) and those actually readily available on the ground.

Best of luck, bet that back is killing you! :mrgreen:

Mike

[Rimbo]

Mmmm, good one.

In truth, since getting here i have not had time to look for jobs on T;internet etc. I had several contacts to make and basically spent the first 3 weeks driving around to each of them and trying to arrange meetings with them. this is very difficult to achieve, even when your on NZ soil.

Now that i'm (supposedly) staying in one place i will have more time to do a seacrh using seek or Jobstuff.

What i will say is this;
NZ currently has the lowest unemployment in the developed world, its economy seems to be growing very well. this coupled with the on going demand for immigrants due to a skills shortage, whatever your profession...... I was going to include my over exited opinion, but would rather not in case i tempt fate and return home in a months time jobless. I'm sure you get the idea!

I will let you know in due course regarding your question.

I can give you a list of agencies though that don't respond applications or phone calls though.
;)
John

[adamsat]

Hi,

I'm over in Christchurch at the moment (only for 8 days) and just had a very depressing meeting with Brannigans (I couldn't call it an interview).

It took ten minutes to tell me it was nice to meet but they can't really help me until I'm living here full time, this is even though we have PR and a definate time frame to move. I've had this interview booked for two months! lets hope the others are a bit more useful. Got another one this afternoon and two more tomorrow, one of which is Hudson. Hudson actually went as far as to give me a full telephone interview from the UK as soon as they learn't that I was going to be over here, so here's hoping for a more postive experience.

Wish me luck

Andy

[Moorf]

I can sympathise with you.. Brannigans was useless for Woz too.. he basically told him to go direct to employers!! Hmmm.. are you seeing Heidi at Elan?? She is good :nice1

[adamsat]

I'm seeing Michelle at Elan tomorrow moring. I've also got appointments with Advanced Personnel and Hudson.

Still apart from the job hunting everything is going great (I've got over my short bout of depression now!) and I am really impressed with Christchurch so far.

[Moorf]

Would be great to meet up, unfortunately I have a bad neck and both cars are off the road :( but hopefully we'll be mobile by tomorrow....

[adamsat]

yes, I'm sorry to hear about neck, Veronica said you had some problems recently.

It's been a strange walking around Christchurch today, as I'm in my suit and tie rather than tourist gear (there didn't seem any point going back and changing between meetings), I must have been stopped a dozen times and asked directions.

Things have progress pretty rapidly in the last hour, as I now have a interview lined up for Thursday with a company arranged by Crown recruitment, and another possible for next Monday or Tuesday were I applied direct to the company from the UK. (I've had an email asking me when I'm available for interview next week so it sounds hopeful).

The every stage of the process seems to be one long rollercoaster, first with the residency application, then the house sale, job hunting. I guess it won't be any different when it comes to finding somewhere to live.

I know it will be worth it though.

[Rimbo]

Chin up,

It's easy to get depressed over these issues, i'm having the same probs, but the very next day someone is interested in me or what i've got to say. Then the world is fine again. I can't remember my interview with Brannigans, i did see them though.

:hopeso to us both.

John

[adamsat]

Not much of a different story this afternoon either. :no This one (Advanced Personnel) did take slightly longer, must have been at least 12 minutes. Gave me a list of job web sites (which I already have) and told me I am in the wrong part of the country for what I do and I should be looking in Auckland or Wellington.

The thing that strikes me most is how narrowly focused most recruitment companies are. They see BT as my employer and think I can only work for a telecoms company, no matter how many times I tell them my skills are transferable to other industries.

Looks like North island here we come :nice1

[Moorf]

It does appear that in the IT field Chch is better for software development jobs.. and support / tech / hardware jobs are found in Welly / Auckland where the big corporate HQ's are based.

Just in my experience, not a professional view...

[adamsat]

That does seem to be the view I'm getting.

Still I'm a stubborn b***** and won't be giving up on Christchurch just yet

[Moorf]

Andy... are you on the Real Contacts list for the Canterbury Software Cluster.. lots of IT jobs on there.. if not, I'll get Woz to send you an invite and you can view his contact list...

Moorf

[Rammer]

Moorf

could I see the list to? :P

[Moorf]

Woz is happy to let anyone on the forum join his contact list... please email him on warren@practicalsoftwaresolutions.net and he'll sort you out from there :nice1

It is suitable for IT bods only.

[Rammer]

Moorf,

Thanks for this, I have droped him a line... its in the wire..

Ian

[adamsat]

Saw two more agencies today, and the message was a bit more positive.
Both thought I would get something once I was over here full time, it's just with my skills I'm not going to get an employer offer me a job and hold it open while I sort out the move.

Going back to the original topice about Hudson, they were the last agency I had a meeting with today and were by far the most thorough. They did mention though that they get a high volume of overseas applications and these tend to get a standard reply unless they have very scarce skills. .NET and Citrix developers were mentioned as being in demand at the moment.

[Nicola]

.NET and Citrix developers were mentioned as being in demand at the moment.

Way hay hope .NET stays in demand for this September.

[Moorf]

Yep .NET very much in demand, Woz using it, had to swat up though!

[Rammer]

Yeah, hope it stays in demand :P

I had to migrate in my job from VB6 to .NET.... been studying .NET since Sept04 - more ore less every night :roll: to get certified and get the exams done. Got 3 booked over March / April. That MCSD is now finaly in sight... :nice1

Ian

[adamsat]

Just had my first chat with a real employer rather than a agency. Couldn't call it an interview as it was a bit informal. I felt a bit of fool sitting there in my suit and tie while the guy I was meeting was in his summer shirt and jeans.

Seemed to go ok although the fact that I've been out of front line tech work for a long time and I'm going to be out of the country when they want someone is going to be a bit of a stumbling block. Think I made all the right noises about really wanting the job and being willing to be here sooner it they offered me something.

I can't anything coming of it, but it was good experience for next time.

[Hannah-NL]

Hubby is in IT as well uhm lets see what his function is now... Operations Manager, is what I find as title. (He's a Novell CNE/CNA)
I can just see him going through this in a while, we were in touch with a guy from Brannigans at a NZ promotion here in Amsterdam last october. He told us then too they can't do much if we're not already there, since employers will not consider "soon to be there" enough for them to start anything up. They were positive there would be enough work for him if we would actually get there and they keep emailing us to ask where we are in the immigration proces.
So if anyone sees a job like that, please PM me, lol ;)

[Moorf]

Hannah - get hubby to email Woz warren@practicalsoftwaresolutions.net and he can add him to our Realcontact list :nice1

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Moorf (and Woz)! I showed him your reply, he's now grinning.
Well I like networking! :P
.

[adamsat]

I've just extended my stay for a couple of days because I have a real interview :uhoh

Needless to say no agency played any part in this, it's not in telecoms but is looking for the business improvement and project management skills I have.

Interview is next hursday at 10:30, apparnetly the guy is flying over from Aus to hold the interviews, so they couldn't seem me before my original flight back was planned.

:hopeso

[Hannah-NL]

Good luck Andy! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you
And one more week over there sure won't hurt you.
Was it easy to extend your stay/flight?
:hopeso Hannah - NL

[adamsat]

No it was really easy to extend my flight, which was a bit of a surprise as I had got a very cheap fair. Just called the Emirate office in Christchurch and it was all done it a few minutes.

As for the accomodation it was loads and loads of red tape (or should that be red wine?) :laugh

[Rammer]

Congrats Andy. :cheers

Let us know how it all goes. :P

Ian

[adamsat]

Thanks but hold on to the congrats, it's only an interview after all!

I've just spent the best part of the day in Christchurch Library brushing up on my Six Sigma, Change Management and Benchmarking (library is really good by the way).

As a lunch break, and to get some excercise after sitting down so much I took a walk up the Cathedral Tower - if that was in the UK they would never let you anywhere near it withour a signing a health and safety disclaimer! the last two flights of "stairs" are virtually ladders. Ok for me but some of "greys" on the coach tour had a few problems.

The longer I stay here the more I like this place!

[Rammer]

Six Sigma, how do you begin to learn this stuff? :uhoh

[adamsat]

Just as an update as I'm back in the UK now.
The interview with Tyco went OK, but I think the fact I was leaving for home that evening and could only say that I would be back as quickly as possible (or sooner if they wanted to offer me the job) didn't go down too well. I was the first of 4 being interview and was told I should hear in a week or two, but I'm not holding my breath.

Most difficult question was "What are your salary expectations?" I went with the range the agencies told me to aim for and I could tell from his reaction I was underselling myself.

Overall though the trip was well worth it. If anyone had said to me before I went that I would manage to get two interviews and the offer of a third in the 8 days I was over I would have been happy. I also learn't a lot about the job market and Christchurch itself that will be useful when we get there for good.

On that subject, we've had an offer on the house! A couple viewed yesterday at about 5pm, they were the first since we dropped the price. They called the agents almost immediately and made an offer. After a bit of haggling they agreed to the pay the full asking price. Alos they don't have a chain, so it's going to be just a straight purchase of our house, so :hopeso

[Hannah-NL]

Welcome back Andy, good news on the house :nice1
I hope you will be able to sell soon!
So what are the ranges like in IT, have you found out?
And another question, are the ranges the same for all professions or do they have different ones for each?
For instance range 8 is that good? (And would you know how much that is?)

[adamsat]

I haven't seen numbered ranges, but when I met with Hudson they had some salary survey data and advised 75K-110K for a project manager with my experience, -10% for being in Christchurch.

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Andy! We were right on target then.

(I love this forum, you get the answer to all your questions) :nice1

[Moorf]

For info - programmers in Chch c. $60k - $80k depending on experience and prog language (.NET in demand).

[miep]

Good news!
Hudson IT just got me a job as a business analyst for 82k pa.
It took a while for them to get interested but they are doing a good job for me now.
It makes a big difference being here and having local work experience though, even if it was only for a couple of months.
The moral of the story being; Just take any reasonable job and find something better after a while if you feel you need to.

Good luck to all of you :nice1

:cheers Miep

[kiwidollie]

Congratulations Miep.

:cheers

[foolsgold99]

I found hudson quite helpful, although I got my job directly.

I looked up Computer Consultancy Companies in the Auckland Yellow pages, sent off some cvs and got a job without too much bother.

I do IT infrastrucuture work.

I've taken a salary at $60k which is a bit less than I'd like. The job is also a bit less senior than I'm on now. But I figure I can move jobs for more money after a couple of months if I don't like it, or am struggling for cash.

[SoCal Gal]

Yay Miep! What a good few days this has been! And yes, let me second the "take a job, get your foot in the door, then get a better one" train of thought, that is what EVERY one I have met that has migrated to NZ has done. Go for it!

[adamsat]

Well done Miep on getting a job, I found Hudson the most positive of the agencies I met in Christchurch. I've come to a decision to just get to Christchurch find something and then take it from there. If nothing comes up after a few months I'll head north.
The house sale looks to be going ok so far so we could be there in time for the Lions tour!