[elleann]

Hi

I'm planning to go to NZ on a work permit (or if all else fails, on a visitor visa) in January next year. I have my NZ RN registration in place and have submitted my application for my annual practicing certificate.

Although I made contact with a few recruitment agencies at the start of the process, I decided to apply directly, seeing as there are so many nursing jobs being advertised on TradeMe, Seek and various other job boards. So for the last couple of weeks, I've been sending off applications (via email or directly online). But what is really worrying me is that I'm not getting any responses - or at least, only a few!

In particular, I've written several times to the C&C DHB (we want to live in Welly!), applying for several of their current vacancies (as advertised on their website) and apart from the standard AutoReply 'Thanks for your application, we'll be in touch soon!', I have not heard anything back from them at all!

I did get a response from two other places I wrote to - one promising to get back to me within the next week, and the other saying 'thanks and please contact us again in January!'

Has anyone had any experience in applying directly to DHBs? How did you go about it - email, phone, visit? And what was the response like to you, both short term and long term?

I thought there was such a huge demand for nurses that this would be a breeze, but now I am getting seriously stressed out about it. And just for the record, my resume is fine - over 25 years solid experience at all levels. Nothing dodgy. I'm very employable! ;)

Thanks!
Linda

[nickydwuk]

I applied through an agency and had no problems. I know others have applied directly and had no problems either. I'm sure some of them will be on later to share their experience.Just hang in there - they need you :)

[IanW99]

Well I can say that CCDHB do still need nurses, so I'm sure that you will be able to get a job with them.

Most nurses that we know who work for CCHDB got their jobs through one of the nursing recruitment agencies.

Is there any particular reason that you don't want to use an agency?

Ian

[elleann]

Hi Ian

I've heard and can see that C&C DHB are recruiting on an on-going basis, so it puzzles me that they seem to have ignored my email enquiring about jobs with them..... I sent it about a week ago to the nursingjobs@etc email address.

Agencies? Well, two things: the first may be stupid but I grew up with such a cost-saving mentality that I tend to think any employer would prefer hiring a candidate directly and thus avoid having to pay commission to a middle man.

Second - when I started looking at NZ earlier this year, I wrote to several agencies including one that ran an advert which offered relocation packages. The next thing I knew, they wrote back to say they've sent my CV off to at least 11 employers in Welly - without discussing this with me (and this was in August, prior to my getting registered). I was rather surprised, but thought they should know what they were doing. After a month had gone by with no response at all I asked them to recall my CV as I wanted to rather wait until I was registered and closer to the time of being able to go over, rather than letting my CV lie with all these potential employers getting stale, as it were .... right thing to do? Wrong thing? I don't know ....

So now I'm worried that these potential employers (and the agency would not give me the list of who all they were) might be ignoring my CV because either 1) they've seen it before and weren't interested, or 2) they won't reply to me directly because of previous contact from an agency ...:confused::uhoh

I didn't care for the agency much because apart from this, I was being handled by someone who was also the PA and who told me she was new to the process herself, YET when her supervisor wrote me in answer to a question, she said this girl was great and had a long record of successful placements ... and that dishonesty made me wary, suspicious etc and was another reason I terminated the relationship (there was NO signed agreement between us at any stage, no obligation at all!)

So that's why I started going the direct route now I'm registered. :(

[IanW99]

Hi Ian

I've heard and can see that C&C DHB are recruiting on an on-going basis, so it puzzles me that they seem to have ignored my email enquiring about jobs with them..... I sent it about a week ago to the nursingjobs@etc email address.

Agencies? Well, two things: the first may be stupid but I grew up with such a cost-saving mentality that I tend to think any employer would prefer hiring a candidate directly and thus avoid having to pay commission to a middle man.

Second - when I started looking at NZ earlier this year, I wrote to several agencies including one that ran an advert which offered relocation packages. The next thing I knew, they wrote back to say they've sent my CV off to at least 11 employers in Welly - without discussing this with me (and this was in August, prior to my getting registered). I was rather surprised, but thought they should know what they were doing. ...
(

Well, I will say that employers are not in a rush, so I wouldn't be suprised if it takes them a couple of weeks to respond.

You may well be correct that an employer would prefer to deal with you directly but in the case of the DHBs I doubt it would actually make much difference. They have to deal with the agencies anyway to get enough staff, so they certainly wouldn't hold it against you that you used an agency.

Which agency just sent out your CV, doesn't sound very professional.

Have you also checked out the Hutt Valley DHB?

Ian

[SNK05]

Hi Linda

I've used the agents Geneva Health and found them to be very professional. They rang me the day that I signed up to talk me through the process and discuss time scales, potential employers, areas etc. It was a little trickier for me too as I'm LD trained. They asked my permission prior to sending out my CV and ensured that all personal information was removed prior to sending i.e. address and contact details.

I searched the DHB sites and found vacancies on a couple of them, emailed Geneva and they liaised with the contacts, sent my CV, arranged suitable times for interviews etc. etc. They have continued to liaise since. Touching base with me regularly by phone or email, keeping the DHB informed of our PR application progress etc. They are also going to arrange the initial accomodation when we arrive. Like I say, they've been great!

I know some of the other nurses on the forum have gone through Tonix also. I've heard positive things about them too.

I'm sure you will be successful, and as others have said, NZ does need Nurses so I'm sure you'll have no trouble at all finding something! It may take a little time but try not to worry.

HTH

Sue
xx