[lidax]

Hello all

New today :roll: . Have been reading lots of threads, and it's great to hear other people's stories.

Seemed to have missed this housing rush, friends emigrated to Canada and France, both only took 1 month to sell early last year. Feel like we've missed the boat.

Husband is in IT, not sold our house yet (had it on the market since last July). and can not realistically go out to NZ until we get shot of the millstone.

Would love to hear any views on how the patient are kiwi IT employers?

Thanks


Never say never...

[baboonworld]

I think there will be another housing boom - well at least a little boom.

I rang several estate agents to get my house valued and there is a 3 week wait!!!! Can't believe West Yorks is that popular!!!

[lidax]

Thanks for the optimism...

Did read somewhere that first half of year was going to be slow, and then pick up second half.

[Moorf]

Hi Lidax and Welcome

It really depends on a mix of your skill set, location and the employers attitude.

Firstly, you are more than likely going to have to come here for interviews etc anyway so by the time you have arranged those there's another month or so gone.

You do hear of some people having long lead times before they have to start work after receiving an offer (i.e. 3 months). Some, like Rimbo for instance, come over and when they find a job they start immediately and their family ties things up in the UK.

If you don't want to go the route of splitting the family up for a length of time then it's back to having to sell before you leave, but if that's the case, I'd wait until you have an offer and then start approaching employers and agencies to set up interviews etc. (although judging by others' stories on here, even getting an offer doesn't seem to mean you're going to actually sell :no )

Moorf

[Moorf]

Or how about renting out your house for six months if you are keen to get over here quickly?

[SharpBlade]

Hi there,

I am also an IT person (software development/maintenance). My family and I would like to move to Christchurch. 10 minutes ago, I had a chat with a recruitment company based in Christchurch. Even though they recognized my skills set is good, they said that the only way to get serious about finding a job is to be in Christchurch and to live there. It is a massive commitment/gamble when you have a big family (wife & 4 kids). The IT market is pretty slack in Christchurch and there are better opportunities in Auckland and Wellington. So, you have to have some cash reserve ready in case you are unable to get a job over a long period of time. If I was single, I would take the plunge without any doubt. I am starting to worry :uhoh

[veronica]

hi Sharpblade, Why don't you head for Wellington where there is more chance of a job and then look to moving to Chch once you get your feet on the ground here. I think that to start with you have to go where the work is first then look around at leisure later.

[Moorf]

Did you speak with Brannigans and Elan? Both were a bit, how do I put it, err, negative when Woz went to see them.

Brannigans even suggested he go to employers direct as alot of co's can't/won't fork out for the fees that recruitment agencies charge. :eek How does he stay in business!! :laugh

In the end Woz had all his interviews, bar one, by replying to newspaper ads and through RealContacts (networking area on the Canterbury Software Cluster website http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/ . Email/PM me if you want him to add you to his Contact list - lots of jobs listed. :nice1

Chch does seem okay for developer type positions whereas if you're in support or maintenance you'll find the jobs where the big co.'s are in Welly and Auckland. Christchurch City Council does list some IT jobs too on its relatively new vacancies site - http://www.bfound.net/login.aspx?Coid=131

Moorf

[sarahw]

It depends on how desperate they are for the skillset. A lot of companies won't entertain an interview/offer until you're on NZ soil. However, if you can afford the luxury I'd go out for a week/two of interviews & secure a position first. My partner is in construction so can't really give you any help on IT but he was allowed 3 months to move over by his company after we came out for interviews & his friend just got a job in Auckland & has been allowed 4 months before his start date (I know this is an area that NZ is quite short of but I wouldn't have thought it was the only industry where employers are willing to wait).

Only thing with the housing market is how long is a piece of string....?! We're in NZ & have left our house on the market in the UK - its been on since mid-November - have had 1 offer which nearly went to a sale but fell through at the last minute & 1 which they haven't sold their house yet & we're not willing to entertain until they have. My brother's house has been on the market (with a total of 9 offers - none turning into a sale) for a year now both in commuter belt in Surrey walking distance to train stations/good schools/shops etc... At the end of the day an employer will only wait so long so we just said 'what the heck if we lose a bit of money' & came over but were in a position financially to do so.

[Singel]

Welcome Lidax and SharpBlade :clap

Try sending your CV directly to these employers : http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2564

SUCCESS :nice1

:cheers

[SharpBlade]

Thanks everyone for your inputs. This forum is really great :clap

Veronica, we are set on Christchurch and I think we will stick to that location as I have 4 young children (6, 5, 3, 1.5). We are not going to move for the rest of our lifes chasing after the latest hot job market. That is the spirit anyway. Christchurch, on paper for the moment I know, looks like a good place for our family. It is definitely a far better job market than the west of Ireland.... and the weather has been so awful here in the last few weeks that last night I dreamt I was on a sunny NZ beach. I am a sporty person and I am just fed up to be stuck indoor because the weather is so bad.... I am drifting....

Moorf, yes I spoke with Brannigans... and to be honest they had the same kind of speach when I visited them at the London expo last October
;)

As you can imagine, my wife and myself are now discussing our move to NZ more and more regularly and I think we have both agreed that I will go the route suggested by Sarahw. I will spend at least one week in Christchurch in order to try to set up some interviews and to assess that Christchurch seems a good place. This is a costly exercise but I think it is worthwhile. I should wait for our ITA (if we are successful) before booking a flight to Christchurch. Don't you think?

[lidax]

Hi all,


Thank you to all for your replies. :nice1

Thanks for the info about possibility of employers waiting. Nice to know...
Think hubby will probably arrange week of interviews too when house finally goes..whenever that is...

It's great to hear from other people. Only joined the forum yesterday.

Chin up about the housing market, shame UK has this system where we can all be messed about so much...Understand your feelings about failed offers, our last house took 18 months to sell, the deal fell through on completion day, and then had to get another buyer. Deja vu , feel like we're going through it all again only without the offers!

regards to all



Never say never