[Singel]

Hello everyone in the forum

My husband (Dutch) and I (Singaporean) arrived from the Netherlands on tourist visa in June 2004, after selling our house and given up our jobs. We do not have relatives or friends in NZ and this is how our adventure starts........ :P

Rented a place in Mt. Wellington on the 4th day of arrival
Hubby got a job offer in July 2004
Submitted EOI in July 2004
Got WTR in August 2004
Bought the house (from plan) in August 2004
Container from Holland arrived in October 2004
I got a job offer in November 2004
PR approved in November 2004
Moved to the newly-built house in December 2004

Glad that I have found this forum and look forward to share my experience :smile

[Diny]

Hi Singel ... welcome to the forum.

Diny

[Bubbles]

A busy first few months then Singel.

Welcome to you

John

[jan]

Welcome to our 'Possy'

Jan xx

[lindajax]

Hi Singel,
glad you found us !
Linda x

[ISan]

Hi Singel

Welcome to the forum. I see you used to live in the same town in the Netherlands as me (small world) :mrgreen:

What line of work are you and your husband in?

Regards,
Ingrid

[debnjohn]

Welcome Singel.
you and your husband seem very well organised. You seemed to have (successfully) taken quite a scary route to PR. Well done!
It will be nice to hear how you are getting on.
John.

[pandanleave]

Hi Singel

Hope things are great with you and husband!

Me too a fellow Singaporean and going to NZ around April to May05. Currently waiting for PR or WTR. Got a job offer though already. NZIS holding up with the status. :? *sign*

I believe the Singaporean Network is pretty good in Auckland? Are you in it?

[Singel]

Debnjohn, you are right. Indeed, we took the scary route. We have done a lot of research day and night for a couple of months thru' internet, before we embark on this precarious journey.

There are 3 factors that lead to this risky decision:
1) We do not have the patient to go through the process of getting the PR while living in Holland - we feel that being in NZ, will get things done very quickly :exit
2) Myself, having experience in emigrating to UK and Holland, might help - feeling less daunting when handling the immigration process and paperwork :roll:
3) I got a Master degree from the UK and have been working as a HR practitioner in Singapore, UK and the Netherlands. In my line of work, I often recruit engineers from overseas and also arranging employees to work overseas. All these involve understanding and managing the immigration process. :P


By the way, my husband is an embedded software designer.

Isan, we will be going back to Eindhoven next month for 2 weeks because my parents-in-law are celebrating their Golden Jubilee - 50th Wedding Anniversary. We could meet up with you when we are there. :cheers

Pandanleave, I have joined the Singapore Club in Auckland. We could meet up when you are here :cheers

I would like to share our job searching experience :P
My husband wrote to a few IT recruitment agencies for jobs, however, there is not much progress except meeting with the recruitment consultants. One day, we decided to walk around the industrial area that is opposite our rented place and my husband spotted a company that provide embedded software services (billboard at the entrance of the building). So he send his CV out on that same day by post. Guess what ?
The next day, the Managing Director of that company called my husband for an interview and then the job offer :nice1
I find the postal service in NZ is very efficient.

After our container arrived and I have cleared and arranged all the household stuff, I began job searching by internet. However, I was turned down because I am not a PR and also do not have NZ experience. Feeling frustrated and depressed because most of the companies used employment agencies and there are no chance for me to apply directly to the company. Therefore, I decided to change my job searching strategy by going for temporary jobs in order to "gain" NZ experience. I register with one employment agency and got temporary assignments. At the same time, I go through the NZ Herald daily, carefully and religiously - scanning through all the big and small advertisements. I spotted one company advertised for Administrator for their sales office and I quickly submit my CV to them. The Director of the company contacted me for a few rounds of interview and finally the job offer :nice1

Other information that is helpful in job searching :
1) Get your testimonial in writing from your ex-employers if possible. Luckily my husband and I have prepared for this type of requirement.
2) Tailor your CV in NZ-style and here is the website : http://www.frogrecruitment.co.nz/tips_for_success.asp#item4

I have to stop now and please feel free to send a PM to me.

Talk to you all again and have a wonderful weekends wherever you are. ;)

[dmr]

Hi Singel,

Welcome to this forum and Thanks for sharing your information.

Good Luck to you and your husband.

Hope you keep informing about your NZ experiences.

Thanks
dmr

[pandanleave]

Singal

Thanks for sharing your experience. :clap You are very well travelled. Hope to catch up with you soon at the Singapore Club.

Take care.

[ISan]

Hi Singel,

Wow, you have been in the same line of work as me! I too have been dealing with getting people to and from the Netherlands as an HR Relocation Consultant. I would love to meet with you in Eindhoven to pick your brain about your work experiences. You can PM me if you want. :nice1

Ingrid

[Miffy]

Hi Singel

Welcome and thanks for the hints and useful tips on job searching over in NZ :smile

Miffy
x