[Natalieb]

Hi

We were thinking of using an agent to help with our residency and get a job offer. Can anybody recommend any good ones?

Thanks Natalie

[Caroline and Dave]

Hi Natalie,
You may find this interesting www.jobfastrack.co.nz/jobindex.php
We are using an agency. I will pm you with details later as I am just on my way out.

Kindest regards

Dave and Caroline

[Natalieb]

Thats great thanks Caroline, look forward to geeting the info.

Natalie

[Ana&Steve]

Here's the guy recommended to us; he's based out of Welly (one of the Hutts, can't remember which) but I know for a fact he's helped clients in Auckland, so region shouldn't be an issue. :)

Howard Levarko
levarko@ihug.co.nz

Ana

[Hannah]

If you can, I'd say avoid agents like polonium 210. I know i'm not alone on this one (many on this forum probably joined, like me, to find out how to put an application together themselves). Please please have a think about it and consider DIY'ing. You will save lots of money (and lots of heartache, as some people on this forum have been let down by agents).

The agents can tell you what to look for, but they can't find it for you. The ITA pack tells you pretty much what you need to submit so if you avoid paying someone to tell you the obvious then go for it.

Just a look under this section of the forum will show evidence of lots of questions around what to submit, where to find it, etc. Maybe have a look through the EOI question sheet and think to yourself - if i had to prove that, how would i do it. Four years work experience can be proven by providing a letter to your employer. Your partnership can be provided by a marriage cert, kids birth certs, household bills, bank statements etc. Sometimes you need to be creative in getting hold of certain information, or deciding what to use when the more obvious info is missing - but someone on this forum can help you with that i'm sure.

Have a think before you jump into using an agent.....this forum is like a free agent!!!!! Of course you need to do what's right for you, and it depends of course on your circumstances/finances.

good luck, hannah

[jo-and-jeff]

I would echo Hannah's words.

I encourage you to think very hard before using an agent, if you are doing so because you think (or because they have told you) that they can get you a job. Agents generally have no more influence with employers here than you do.

There are some comments in this Forum from people whose agent did help them get jobs -- but I strongly suspect that the fields in which those people worked and their own qualifications would have gotten them a job if they'd approached the employers themselves.

There are a lot of comments in this Forum from people who say they used an agent who assured them that they could probably get them a job, but when unable to do so, merely pointed to the contract and said "Hey, we never guaranteed you that we would be able to get you a job."

Some prospective migrants are lucky enough to be in a profession -- and have the type of qualifications -- where employers are willing to offer them a job based on their CV without them first visiting here and without them having PR or WTR.

But the vast majority of employers here won't talk to you unless you're actually here (it indicates how serious you are; they hear from people all the time who say they want to move to New Zealand, but never do anything about it). And many of those, unfortunately, aren't willing to offer jobs to people without PR or WTR because they're afraid those people will not be able to make it through the rigorous Immigration process.

Jo

[Natalieb]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

We have been applying for jobs to try and get out of the pool. I was thinking if we had to spend £3000 to get a job offer, thats only what we would loose going over to NZ and being out of work for a few months, if you know what I mean.

We have had loads of employers asking us to contact them when we arrive in the country, no-one is interested until we are on NZ soil.

We just dont know what else to do. We thought of a Work Permit but that means we would have to earn $45,000 for two years and in our trade (chef) the average salary is $35,000. :roll

You never know we might win the lottery 2night and we would be on the next flight,

Natalie

[veronica]

if its a straightforward application with no serious complications I would suggest you forget the agent and do it yourself. There is a lot of knowledge and resources on here that can be tapped and there are several people who have had bad experiences with agents. Not saying that they haven't got a place in the scheme of things just that it is very possible to do it yourself.
We were told by agents in the UK that it was next to impossible to get ourselves a LTBV and the only chance of success was to use them, but we did it ourselves and were accepted.
Read a bit more and ask a few more questions on here before deciding. good luck.