[Hannah-NL]

Last night hubby had a job interview by phone. :eek
Now we had read about those, but never thought he would ever get one! :laugh
Anyway it was a very exciting idea and we were eager waiting for the call at 9.30 PM our time,
as their email stated that was when they would call.
At 10 PM we decided to check out the email again, nope the time said 9.30..
I went to check out the NZ times again...
hmmm they were wrong, daylight savings ended the night before, they must have miscalculated,
so the time they would call us was actually 11.30 PM! :eek
Ok , 1,5 hour later we were ready for the call, only to have to wait till 12 midnite.
By that time hubby started to get a little bit impatient as you can imagine...

The actual interview seemed to go right, lots of normal questions,
about the job and all that, what we had done so far , what our plans were,
when we wanted to come to NZ (as fast as possible of course)
In the end they asked for two references and they might want to do a practical test, for work I presume?

So how does this all sound, normal, positive?
I have no idea, and am afraid to be too positive,
even afraid to post on here, feel it might mean bad luck :no
Anyone else who had a phone interview and wants to share either here or PM me?
Thanks! :nice1

[Babette & Andy]

Wow Hannah :clap Bet you guys found it difficult to get to sleep after all that. No experience of telephone intv, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who will have some stories to share.
Keeping :hopeso for a positive outcome for you guys. Toi Toi!!
Babette

[debnjohn]

No advice Hannah (sorry, not got to interview stage yet), but CONGRATULATIONS anyway! :clap
John.

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Babette! Yes we didnt get much sleep last nite and I must say after we got that interview arranged last week, it was 3 AM that night as well! *yawn*
I hope there's more people on here that had one and want to share their experiences.
Please dont keep your fingers crossed to tight, you might get a cramp ;)

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks John, we didnt expect one coming either, so be warned :P

[miep]

Hoi Hannah-nl,

The fact that they asked for references is usually a very good sign, they generally only do that if they want to continue to the next stage.
My OH had a phone interview before we came out here (4 yrs ago), the recruiter wanted to know more about him before they introduced him to their clients and when we came out here they had 3 good interviews lined up for him all resulting in job offers.
The practical test could be anything, I've had to do presentations to the interview panel, write a project plan etc. The presentation is the most common I believe. They generally give you the subject they want the presentation on and some company info the day before and you do the presentation (10-15 mins) as part of the interview.
The job I just got offered was only an interview and meeting some of the people I would work with.

There doesn't seem to be a standard way of doing things except for the reference checks, they ALWAYS do that.

Veel succes!

Miep

[Kim39]

I am one who has had a phone interview and an offer from it. Now i don't know what your OH does so i can't really give to much of an opinion on how the result might turn out, but from my experience i think its a case of fingers crossed and hope for the best.

With me, the phone interview was conducted on a Friday night and i had to phone the HR manager at his home address. After arming myself with a dozen questions or so and having a map of NZ by my side ready to see where the company had depots(am HGV driver) so able to judge where i could end up should an offer come.

Interview isn't what i was expecting, in fact it lasted no more than 4 minutes and i didn't get the chance to ask the questions. I would have called it an informal chat and not an interview really. Why? probably because the nature of my job didn't really require a formal interview. I had to send a driving assessment from current employer and that sufficed the employer.

Just keep those fingers crossed and who know's what the outcome will be, but don't rest on your laurels, keep your options open and keep searching for more opportunities in the meantime.

Sorry i couldn't be more specific.

Kim

[ToadFish]

Hi Hannah,

I had telephone interviews last month for a job. All were done around 8 or 9 pm CET which was great - I found they were very helpful in doing it that early. Here's my experience in a bit more detail:

First interview was a telephone 'chat' with the manager for him to tell me more about the position but it turned into an interview. He wanted to know mainly about past experience etc.

Next was a short panel interview by phone a week later with the same guy and two colleagues. That was a more formal and structured interview, but only lasting 30 minutes.

Then they followed up on references a couple of days later. They had told me they wanted to make a decision quickly given the project situation so my referees were contacted via email and asked to respond in a couple of days max. The job offer followed via email exactly 1 week after the panel interview, with another arrangement to discuss the package by telephone the next day.

By the way, the sector I applied to (Civil Engineering) has a mega skills shortage and are very very desperate for people. Which influences their options for recruitment methods.

Good luck!

[ISan]

No idea if you should feel positive since I don't have any experience with phone interviews, but I'll keep my fingers crossed anyway :hopeso

Veel succes!

Ingrid

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks for all this info and encouragement Miep, Kim, Toadfish and ISan. :cheers

We have a feeling this is positive too, that they asked for references.
It was already a 45 minute phone interview with three members of the staff of that company. So I guess hubby skipped the first stage of introduction perhaps?

They had been emailing back and forth (through the recruitment agency) a few times about the job and all that before they invited him for the phone interview and seemed very keen on getting him into this process.

It's going so fast and I think that's what is making us a bit nerrrvouss ;)
Hubby is in IT, a job on one of those shortages lists, I keep forgetting the name, so I guess his job is really in demand, time will tell, hopefully :hopeso

Thanks again for the good luck and "succes" wishes :yes

[Jennie & Rob]

:nice1

Just last week the same thing happened to me. I was expecting a 10 minute tel interview, and found myself in a full interview with 6 interviewers, which lasted 1.5 hrs! They too have asked for references and I have a video conference interview coming up.

What is so strange, is 12 months ago agencies did not want to talk to me or put me forward to their clients. Now it feels like everyone wants us - makes a change :P

I'm also in IT, and all my friends and family have no idea what I do for a living either.

We are moving to Wellington, what area are you guys looking to make home? (doesn't that just sound the best!)

Good luck with the next stage.

Cheers,


Rob & Jennie

[Hannah]

Hi Hannah,
Excellent news - have you heard anything yet? (sorry if you have put that elsewhere, I'm on pay as you go internet so i browse selectively!!!!)
Hannah

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Jennie and other Hannah, have not heard anything besides that they were pleased with the references reactions and that there's one other (inside) candidate, but this one isn't as qualified, so please keep your :hopeso!
It's the long (very long) Easter weekend there too now, so we're eagerly awaiting tuesday.
Oh and we're planning on Christchurch now :P

[Babette & Andy]

Hoi Hannah - Vrolijk Pasen!
Hope you're able to enjoy Easter, think of it as a last springtime surrounded by beautifull bulb fields (next to your windmill ofcourse :mrgreen: ) Keeping :hopeso for you guys.
Let us know what happens. My hubby is in IT too (Project Mgr), and Christchurch is our 1st choice too. So we may get to meet once we're all out there :nice1
Take it easy.
Babette

[Hannah-NL]

Still no news, do I sound a little bit impatient? ;)

We used the Easter weekend to get more stuff cleaned out of the kids rooms and some last finishing touches on the house. Like the bathroom ceiling, a bit fell down after hubby added some nice white color to it :eek So at last he will be busy with redoing maybe the whole darn ceiling now! We have a estate agent coming over on thursday to give us a free estimate on the house. Saw an ad in the paper, so thought lets go for it. :angel

[Lesly]

Hoi Hannah!
Just to let you know that Michel (hubby) is now working with the employer he had a phone interview with. After the interview they asked him when he would arrive in New Zealand, to be able to meet in person. The day after arrival he had an appointment with them, and 2 weeks later he signed the contract!!

So it is possible!! Good luck :nice1

Lesly

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Lesly just got an email from the recruitment agency thats our middle-person, they too are awaiting the employer's next move.
I really hope it can be done and if not we will move on as planned, going for the EOI after we finally get that NZQA quals assessment back! :roll:

[Hannah-NL]

How many times a day am I allowed to vent in here, or should I get a room? ;)

Still no news :uhoh

[Hannah-NL]

Well the weekend is near, already started in NZ and it's also the first of april,
so that means if they would consider hubby for that job, it would take another month.
He negotiated with HR here already about the notice time,
and now the possible NZ employer hasnt come back since ... that interview...
Maybe they went on an extended Easter holiday?
Or is this an example of being "laid back"? We dont know , and are having a hard time being this patient...

[Babette & Andy]

Oh Hannah - time sure seems to drag when you're waiting for important news :wah Hope it's just an innocent delay, and that you hear a positive reply from NZ some time next week.

Hang in there, keep the faith and try to enjoy the first signs of spring.

Have a nice weekend.
Babette :cheers

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks for the encouragement Babette. I really don't want to whine too much, but I needed to vent. I'll try to concentrate on the pretty flowers in my garden, which I will leave behind, but hopefully soon can start to grow some more in a NZ garden some time laters this year ;)

[Hannah-NL]

Seeking your advise:
Is it a normal procedure to let people wait this long? (3 weeks)

We have this application running through a recruitment agency..
So we cant contact the employer in person about this.
Do we just need to practise more patience?

[Jennie & Rob]

Hi Hannah
Rob was offered the job he had his telephone interview with after they decided a video conference was too much hassle.
It then took another 7 days to get the job offer by international registered post/courier and he then had to sign it all and return it. This was all started through an agency so it took a little while too.
Hang in there - there should be some news soon. (The Easter break was agonising for us too!)
Jennie

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Jennie! Well it seems they must have heard me, this morning we found an email from the recruitment agency that the employer asked them to set up a paper and pencil test. Would be some sort of exam I think? Does anyone have any experience with those?
Let's hope they contact us soon... :cool

[Babette & Andy]

Hang in there Hannah & hubby!! Sending some positive vibes your way and hope things will speed up a bit for you guys now.

You're patience is definately tested to the maximum with this migration process, but it will be so worth it in the end :nice1

Hope you're having a nice weekend.

Babette

[Hannah-NL]

Well the paper and pencil test was today, the hubby is not really optimistic about it, but then again he was not about the phone interview either and that turned out good... I'm having cramps now about all this, all the waiting on other stuff I can do pretty well, but with this it's really hard... :uhoh
Still no news from NZQA either and they received our papers beginning of march...I really need a few kilo's of patience :?

[femke]

Hang in there Hannah, we too moved from holland, and i have to say people are much more layed back here. My husband is dutch, loves it here, but finds it sooo different from holland.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Moira

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Moira...

Just sittings here with a very pessimistic hubby who thinks he blew the test.
I really hope the result will come quickly, and we can get past this point either in a negative or hopefully in a positive way.
I already told him if he did well and passed I would kick him in the butt, cause his mood has almost been unbearable since wednesday!
He's normally a very even tempered guy, I hate to see him like this :(
Don't tell him I posted that about the kick here please ;)

[andersonclan]

Hannah

Men - they're all the same - just like over grown boys really. I'm sure everything will be fine - let us know when you hear and keep smiling!

Margaret

[Hannah-NL]

Still hanging, I'm starting to feel like Tarzan on a cold day...

[Hannah-NL]

Some sad news, the job offer went to an intern candidate after all :no
So we'll move on ... waiting for the NZQA that is...

[Moorf]

Obviously wasn't meant to be hon... keep at it, that job is out there somewhere... if there's anything we can do to help the search u know where we are.

Moorf

[Babette & Andy]

He verdorie Hannah, that's really pants :no Keep at it though, there are likely to be many more opportunities for him just waiting to be discovered. Good hunting :nice1
Babette

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Moorf and Babette! We'll keep plugging along...

So if any of you soon to be there, almost Kiwi's, see a job offer for a hard working
Executive Advisor, Senior Network Manager, Senior Novell Engineer...

Please gives us a ring (PM)? ;)

[Singel]

Hello Hannah

My OH is also in the IT and he had experienced this type of situation before, so we know how you feel. He gave up on recruitment agencies, applied job directly to one company and got the job offer.

Try these companies : http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2564

:cheers

[Hannah-NL]

Thanks Singel, I sent the link on to hubby, any help is greatly appreciated.