[D&J]

Just thought we would ask, how many members are planning their move or have already successfully made the move with out having a job offer?

We are due to arrive end of Jan 2009, neither my wife or have job offers but we do have residence Visa's granted under the skilled migrant catergory. I have had some contact with companies who will possible be prepared to see me nearer the time should there be any suitable vacancies.

Is anyone else in the same boat? or are we being very brave/stupid?

Thanks,
D&J:uhoh

[Moorf]

We came here on visitors visas with no jobs or interviews or work contacts... it worked out fine (OH in I.T, arrived in Chch). Success will all depend on when you arrive, what job you do, where you settle, your salary expectations etc etc.

[Timbo]

We did much the same as Moorf did, in that we came here with nothing to go to. We didnt have the safety net of those little blue stickers either.
Keep your minds open and you should be just fine. Most potential employers value the fact that you have already made the huge leap in coming to NZ to start with.
Good luck.

[Bunstar]

Hey D&J,

We were in the same boat as you when we moved over - residence visas but no job offers and nothing on the horizon.

About a week before we were due to fly over my OH managed to secure an interview for the week we arrived and then he managed to get an interview set up for the day after we arrived.

Anyway he got offered both jobs but we turned both of them down as by the time he was offered them we had fallen in love with Tauranga and the jobs were in New Plymouth and Wellington. We figured that although we had no jobs lined up in Tauranga when he turned the jobs down, we'd left good jobs in the UK to come 12,000 miles so we may as well try and get work in the town we liked most and then if we couldn't we'd reevaluate!! Some people would say we were mad but hey, you only live once and so why not make yourself as happy as you can!!!

It is very stressful giving up the security of two full time jobs and moving to the other side of the world without any work to fall back on but it's worth it in the end ;)

[M-Squared]

Hi D&J, do you know where you're heading for? What areas of work are you in? Coming with PR already, you're already in good stead. :) Just get some interviews lined up - communication is the key with companies / recruiters - make sure you keep them informed as to your itinerary and rent / buy a mobile as soon as you get here and let everyone know the number.

You'll be right. :nice1 :)

[thewoodies]

we are doing just that! No jobs just turning up with PR! Mad or brave? Or just desperate to give our kids a better future??? - time will tell :confused:

[Marsh]

Yes we are in the same boat, residency granted and due in February 2009. Have applied for a few jobs form here, no luck. I think the bottome line is they want you there, infact some of the jobs i have seen (i am in IT by the way) state that you should be in the country. So it is not just down to having residency, work permit etc. Some have been lucky and secured before going.

[Rosangela]

Yep, we are also in the same boat (PR visas granted). I'm heading first to Christchurch in November to look for a job and a place and husband and kids will follow suite in December.

My husband was in Christchurch last year and all people he met confirmed to him that it would be much easier to find a job once you are settled in NZ.

Where are you heading to?

[Mrs Pony]

no jobs here either... and can't wait to get over there!

[Hejwitch_uk]

we are doing just that! No jobs just turning up with PR! Mad or brave? Or just desperate to give our kids a better future??? - time will tell :confused:
Same here! :D

[seattle]

Also in the same boat. We submitted our ITA in the beginning of September (no job) and are trying to get to Christchurch by the end of January so our kids can start the new school year. My husband has been down a few times to check out the job "scene" and also determined that it would be easier to wait until we get there. Unfortunately the London NZIS wait times have increased and all of this U.S. economy stuff is making it even more stressful! Good luck to everybody!

[smitjo]

We are in the same boat too!! Arrived in NZ three weeks ago with PR visas but no jobs. Applied for a couple of jobs but haven't been actively looking as we wanted to get settled with our rental etc first. Furniture arrived yesterday, moved into rental on Monday so no excuse now - time to start looking! Good luck i'm sure you will be fine...just keep your options open and don't let people get you down, for some reason people like to give you the negatives!!!

[jandk]

We had blue stickers before we arrived so i left 3 months in advance of family , stayed with friends in AUK and looked for work (thats why i left the wife n kids in uk so i could roam) had Welly in mind after visiting a couple of years before but Tauranga called and landed 3 interviews through an agency on the 2nd day, i was offerd 2 of the jobs straight away and 15 months in im in job no.3 . More to do with the fact that if im going to travel halfway round the world im going to be happy in work. The OH landed work very quickly too ( after spending 4 months holidaying hmmff) so work is there for nearly all trades and proffessions.

[JayBee]

Yes - no jobs yet (it just sounds worse when you are telling your current work colleagues here!!)

[D&J]

Hello to you all, I was going to reply individually, but I have been at work and there has been so many replies so I will try and answer everyone in one go.

This may sound selfish but it's nice to hear that other's are 'in the same boat' judging by the replies it's going to have to be a very large boat!

We will arrive in AKL on the 29th of Jan. and stay for a few days with our friends. We have visited NZ twice and whilst on a camper van holiday last year we fell in love with the Bay of Plenty. We are heading to Tauranga, the Papamoa region and intend to settle here all being well.

I am 36yrs old and have 20yrs experience in the chemical industry in the UK. 7yrs as a research and development, quality control, laboratory technician, and 13yrs as a multi skilled production technician working on both batch and continuous production plant's.

My wife is 40yrs old and has 22yrs experience working as a HR and EHS administration coordinator, in the chemical industry.

I think as you say nearer the time and when we are actually in the country, job hunting will be more successful and hopefully we can set up some interviews for when we arrive. I have noticed a funny reaction from people when asked "so have you got a job" and the answer is no! but I think a lot of them don't understand the application process and guess that's is the only way of getting in.

We hope everything works out for all on the 'boat' I'm sure it will and who knows, we may be answering YES to that question from all the doubters before long.:bluebanana

D&J.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Yup, us too. Turned up with just PR and a suitcase (container to follow of course). Took about ten weeks to find a job for me, a little longer for OH. I have been out of work since as well, but still aint going back.

No regrets.

[kenfrapin]

My my my....
This forum keeps springing surprises on us!
We are not in the same 'boat' as such, maybe a lil worse off.
Karen n I, plan to make NZ our home. Wellington was option 1, given my 5 years exp in the IT Telecoms domain, but so many posts on Tauranga as well...so thinkin again
Seeking advice now....we r in our late 20s, have some ( emphasis on 'some') savings and no kids yet...so investin it all and making our move to NZ....no returning back after this....
The plan is for me to do my MBA and for Karen to join me and start work. Could any guy live with his naggin wife :-)
What would your advice be? Given most of you are senior to us in many ways...experienced,wiser,kids,savings, giving up settled jobs and homes?

What would you tell 2 youngsters who r dying to make NZ their home and a haven for their kids ( in time, of course ). We live and work in UK at the moment and plan to move mid 2009, as my course starts around that time....
Please...any sound advice or encouragement will help..UK is good but our heart lies in NZ....and we will move there....

Cheers
Ken