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CV and terminology advice? Marine Carpentry/Joiner from USA


Nixt
3rd November 2009, 10:39 AM
Hello all,

First, some context: My wife and I are mid-way in the immigration paperwork, (EOI selected and invited - waiting for last bits of paper from the US government before we submit the final application for residency). She is the primary applicant, and we had points at 135, and she's in a special interest field. *But*, no job offer for her yet. That now leaves me to get crackin'!

I'm a marine cabinetmaker/joiner. Have been in the refit industry in Fort Lauderdale for over a decade, prior to that I was in home remodeling for a decade. So, lots of experience. *But* (another but...) the USA has no formal trade certification- no qualification at all. So my CV (and any offer) must depend on my experience.

Resumé styles vary here in the States - tradesmen typically have single-sheet basics, while other "professional" fields can use 2 page resumés. I have read that in NZ a typical CV should be longer and more explanatory, sometimes up to three or four pages.

So, to my questions-

1) Does the 4-page CV apply to my trade, or should I keep it to one page as I do here?

2) Can anyone point me at a US/NZ translation for typical building terms? (eg: What NZ calls "timber" the USA calls "wood", and "timber frame" in the US means "large mortise-and-tenon beamwork".)

Thanks in advance!

-Drew

JandM
3rd November 2009, 11:52 AM
Hello, and welcome to the forum. :)

mylesdw
3rd November 2009, 01:43 PM
Hello all,
2) Can anyone point me at a US/NZ translation for typical building terms? (eg: What NZ calls "timber" the USA calls "wood", and "timber frame" in the US means "large mortise-and-tenon beamwork".)


If you don't find a terms guide we might be able to help out with translations.

Wood is what you burn on the fire, timber is what you build stuff from. Not sure if you're right about the second one: timber framed just means framed using timber, as opposed to steel or some other material. You certainly won't find mortise and tenon joints in a modern kiwi build. The guys who throw them up are called hammer-hands...

GrumpyGoat
3rd November 2009, 05:03 PM
Here (http://www.dbh.govt.nz/blc-building-act)is a good place to start.

mgf
3rd November 2009, 06:31 PM
Welcome to the forum my fellow Yank. My brother lives in New Symrna. What part of NZ are you looking at?

Ana&Steve
3rd November 2009, 06:36 PM
Hi, I am in the same field but I am still in school and working and I only have 2 years under my belt. I will eventually be looking for upholstery and restoration jobs in NZ. I've explored these sites below; by following some of the links you may find some of what you're looking for.
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/i10010.htm
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Product+Lookup/1220.0~2006~Chapter~UNIT+GROUP+3941+Cabinetmakers
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Product+Lookup/1220.0~2006~Chapter~UNIT+GROUP+3933+Upholsterers

Gran
3rd November 2009, 06:45 PM
"Boat builders nz" seems to bring up a lot of companies in Google, may be a help.


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