[Marsh]

Question to those of you in the IT field in NZ. How is the job market at the moment and how are you finding it? Currently i contract here in the UK - (not due to arrive in NZ till Feb) and was wondering what the contracting market is like over there?

Is it normal to get long term contracts or are they generaly rolling contracts? Reason i am asking is that if i am unable to get the ideal role i am considering that i may have to go the contract route as i have done over here to keep the dream alive.

Also can any of you recommend a good umbrella company or is it something not available as i am not sure about this as well.

Phew i think that covers it. Oh i have over 10 years in IT (the only thing i know to do :) ) and family and i as stated are due in Feb. Tickets bought, bank accounts opened a year ago, moving out of home in three weeks and in with inlaws to save money ( hey it will pay for the crate :D ) and it is slowly dawning on us that the end is near (in the UK anyway) and we will soon be on our way.

Thanks for listening and the help. :nice1

[KerryS]

I contract, and I've noticed a definite decline in the market over the last year. There are not as many contract roles out there, so choice is more limited. I generally move at the end of each project I work on, but I've just renewed my current contract for another year, rather than go back to the market to look for something else.
I have my own company that I contract through, but I know many others work as sole traders. I don't know anyone that uses an umbrella company - in fact I've not actually come across any personally.
Tax and gst is all pretty simple. And it's even easier if you get an accountant to do it for you.

I really enjoy contracting - far more than I did when actually being employed. I love the flexibility and the variety, and it means I don't get bored. Pay rates are pretty good, but of course you have to factor in that you don't get sick pay, holidays etc. neither of which really bothered me, as both are very low over here anyway and the better pay rates more than make up for that.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Yup, I can vouch for the fact the IT contract work is definitely hard to come by at present, definitely away from the three main cities. Same is true for permy roles.

As I tick off my fourth month of unemployment........

Seriously looking at what I can do that isn't IT now. Would be great to get out of it at long last. It's always been the income shortfall that's made it a virtually impossible choice before, but given my current situation now is probably a good time.

If you do go contracting then, as above, setup your own company and get an accountant. I did, for what it's worth.

:(

[ourquest]

OH works for what I think you refer to as an "umbrella company". It is actually a recruitment agency, and they pay her per hour for her time at the client. They only take about 10-15% of the total charge-out income which they get from the client. It seems that some companies will not advertise on the open market and only get their contractors from agencies so this is where the benefit lies, I suppose. OH is free to shop around for other contracts at an time with a reasonable notice clause built into the contract.
The market seems quite flat at the moment but this is certainly influenced by the languages you're proficient in.

[KerryS]

OH works for what I think you refer to as an "umbrella company". It is actually a recruitment agency, and they pay her per hour for her time at the client. They only take about 10-15% of the total charge-out income which they get from the client. It seems that some companies will not advertise on the open market and only get their contractors from agencies so this is where the benefit lies, I suppose. OH is free to shop around for other contracts at an time with a reasonable notice clause built into the contract.
The market seems quite flat at the moment but this is certainly influenced by the languages you're proficient in.

Are this agency paying her tax and gst too? I've never come across one that does that here in Auckland. Agencies here will find you the work, and pay you at an agreed rate, but you're still responsible for paying your own tax and gst.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

The agency I worked through (briefly) in Hamilton did that and paid my tax and GST. As a result they, effectively, were employing me as a PAYE bod and had to let me accrue sick pay too, which they paid me at contract end.

They are called Enterprise. I think they're in Auckland too. Mostly do office temp stuff, but have the odd IT role.

[ourquest]

Are this agency paying her tax and gst too?

No, that does remain her responsibility. The benefit is really only that the recruiter does the negotiating and might also be aware of positions that haven't yet been advertised.

[Marsh]

Phew.....there is a lot to take in and it seems that things are slowing down. I am still going to keep my ear to the ground.

[eternalkiwi]

Due to the structure of the NZ tax system few umbrella companies exist in NZ. One that I know of is CXC Global.

Depending on your circumstances working as a sole trader or through your own company, with the help of a good accountant, may provide similar benefits and less cost.

Shawn

[AdrianT]

Just out of interest (as I am in IT myself and just starting on this journey..) what are the current in-demand skills?

(my line is DB2 DBA which is a bit of a niche skill - and a little Sybase DBA)

[incredible hulse]

Just out of interest (as I am in IT myself and just starting on this journey..) what are the current in-demand skills?

(my line is DB2 DBA which is a bit of a niche skill - and a little Sybase DBA)
We're looking for db2 dbas (preferably on unix rather than windoze). Sybase (and oracle) also in use here.

[incredible hulse]

Phew.....there is a lot to take in and it seems that things are slowing down. I am still going to keep my ear to the ground.

Marsh - what line of IT are you in ? Some areas in NZ are very limited for work whereas anything based around windows, citrix, vm-ware seems in demand. Non technical roles such as PMs, and also SDM's, Change Mgr, etc are always in demand

[Marsh]

Marsh - what line of IT are you in ? Some areas in NZ are very limited for work whereas anything based around windows, citrix, vm-ware seems in demand. Non technical roles such as PMs, and also SDM's, Change Mgr, etc are always in demand

I have been lucky in that i have been involved in IT for over 10 years and have taken and had various roles all the way from 1st, 2nd, 3rd Line, System Administration etc.......done a bit of PM but no formal qualifications also have things live Lotus Notes certification and i am a CCA (Citrix Certified Administrator) and when by some miracle i have the time as i have 4 exams left i will be going for my CCEA (Citrix Certified Enterprise Administrator). So do you think i would be ok? :D

[AdrianT]

We're looking for db2 dbas (preferably on unix rather than windoze). Sybase (and oracle) also in use here.

PM sent

[incredible hulse]

I have been lucky in that i have been involved in IT for over 10 years and have taken and had various roles all the way from 1st, 2nd, 3rd Line, System Administration etc.......done a bit of PM but no formal qualifications also have things live Lotus Notes certification and i am a CCA (Citrix Certified Administrator) and when by some miracle i have the time as i have 4 exams left i will be going for my CCEA (Citrix Certified Enterprise Administrator). So do you think i would be ok? :D
Citrix is fairly popular from what I've seen - I know first hand Fujitsu are quite big on it.

[Marsh]

Well that is good news then. Well when the madness of arranging this move is over and we finally get there i think i need to get back to my books and get some studying done.

[jubjub]

I have been lucky in that i have been involved in IT for over 10 years and have taken and had various roles all the way from 1st, 2nd, 3rd Line, System Administration etc.......done a bit of PM but no formal qualifications also have things live Lotus Notes certification and i am a CCA (Citrix Certified Administrator) and when by some miracle i have the time as i have 4 exams left i will be going for my CCEA (Citrix Certified Enterprise Administrator). So do you think i would be ok? :D

Citrix is really big here, getting good staff is a major problem for a lot of companies. I'm a SDM for a integrator and getting staff that can front a project with a client is our number one problem.

certification is important, but the ability to talk about projects you've worked on is more important. Like most techincal interviews, at some point they're gonna stand you up in front of the whiteboard with a pen in your hand and ask you to draw a solution, you can either do it or you can't.

Don't know much about the contract market, but the perm market is still very strong as far as I can see.

sals husband.

[Marsh]

Well months ticking away, guess i will soon find out how things stand. Fingers crossed...going down to job expo next month in London so will see if i get anything there.

[PaoLe]

My OH is a Software Engineer. He has his BD (in Spain it lasts for 6 years :wah), he has more then 10 years of experience and he is currently working as a Software Project Manager.

Do you think that it will be difficult for him to find a job in Welly? We are still preparing all the paperwork for the full NZQA assesment (and then go for the EOI) and we are still trying (desesperately :roll) to sell our house.

If we sell the house, we are thinking about moving to NZ in March :exit

Best regards

[Zeeta]

Contracting needs residency, doesn't it? I'm just in the process of finding a new job in IT and some recruitment companies tell me that with a work permit I can't contract for some reason.