[dipaul07]

Hi,
My family and I are really keen to move to New Zealand and I keep hearing that there are jobs for Welders but I cant find any on the internet and wondered if anybody who lives there or has a job to go to knows of the availability of this kind of work. Any help will be much appreciated.
thankyou
Paul :D

[wilson182]

Hi Paul
In general there is plenty of this type of work available. My hubby is a site welder, what type of welding do you do?? Where are you hoping to settle?? You may find that this is one trade (depending on your level) where you have to be here in order to secure a job offer, Are you planing a reccie at all??. Friends of ours managed to secure a job offer in the UK, but they were good friends with a friend of the boss, AND the boss was recruiting in the UK at the time.

[dipaul07]

Hi Wilson,
Thanks for posting a reply, I am a mig and stick Welder, We are not sure about where to live as it will be where the work is really, I worked as a welder for JCB for a few years but am now on construction sites as a Steal Fabricator/Welder. I have been in touch with an agency who say they deal with people in the UK, so next step is going to be to send a CV in see where it takes me..
Paul

[katandbob]

If you are a certified welder or Fab/welder then you will have no probs getting a job - in fact you'd get a choice, In Invercargill they even go as far as sticking huge placards outside their engineering firms advertising positions - My OH is a Sheetmetal worker but got a job after walking in off the street and talking to the boss - But if he wanted to he could leave and get any number of different jobs out there.... he is doing stainless work at the minute, but has worked on other things at his firm - you wouldnt be doing straight welding either - welders have to be multi skilled.

But he didnt get any job offers from the UK - But they all wanted him to pop in for an informal meeting when we arrived in NZ (we had visas via skilled migrant route)

What area were you looking to move to? its job night tomorrow in the paper.

Kat

[katandbob]

Hi Wilson,
Thanks for posting a reply, I am a mig and stick Welder, We are not sure about where to live as it will be where the work is really, I worked as a welder for JCB for a few years but am now on construction sites as a Steal Fabricator/Welder. I have been in touch with an agency who say they deal with people in the UK, so next step is going to be to send a CV in see where it takes me..
Paul

They have loads of Big machines here - and if you are working as a fab/welder then you should have no probs if you have papers to go with it - if not can you come out on a reccie - then apply for a work visa and then apply after the 3 mths?

let me know if your interested in southland - I'll send you some links, where are your from?

oh and welcome! :D

Kat

[dipaul07]

Hi kat,
Thanks for that, We are in Stoke-on-Trent and I would love the Southland and any info would be great. I have to dash now as I am off to work, I will post you another message tonight, thanks again
Paul

[wilson182]

I agree with Kat, Paul..... If you have the Certs/Work Exp details you will have no problems, and probably have your pick of areas. OH found that the site working practices can be different though, If I can tie him down we will send you a PM. Good Luck

[*Paul]

To add my $.02 is that you are not likely to find welding jobs on the internet, rather the newspaper or by directly contacting engineering or construction firms and simply asking. Note that many jobs on the internet tend to be IT or from recruiting or contract firms, people who know how to use this type of media. Understanding the potential of the internet is not highly evolved here yet.

[dipaul07]

Thanks guys for reading my post and leaving me comments its much appreciated thanks again
paul and Di

[katiejay]

I would welcome any links/contacts for welding jobs. We're heading out for our reccie in 6 weeks. We have one interview lined up so far in Christchurch. We're staying for a month - few days each end of the trip in Christchurch, and 3 weeks touring South Island in a motorhome. We're hoping to get more interviews when we get there, but as we're green as grass and have never visited NZ before, any contacts would really be appreciated.

We had a bit of a blow when we started our EOI, when we found out that Chris needs level 4 equivalent to get perm residency. He doesn't complete his level 4 exams 'till July, so we've had to delay the visa app. He's got 20 years' work experience as MIG/TIG and latterly 2 years FAB welding (all positions), but only since we started on the NZ emigration plan has he started getting the quals to back up the experience. He's passed every exam so far with distinction, so we're very hopeful the level 4 papers will be a formality.

Does anyone envisage this being a problem with employers? ie we're interviewing in March, but he won't be able to start the visa process till he gets his level 4 pass confirmed in August.

Feedback really welcome.
Katiex

[Caroline and Dave]

Hi Katie,
You may find this useful http://www.indexnz.com/Top?Business-and-Economy/Employment
Hope this helps

Dave and Caroline

[katiejay]

Fantastic link, thank you! This'll keep me busy for a while.....
Katie xx

[wilson182]

Hi Katie

Who is your interview with in Chch? (just being nosey). OH has his quals in City and Guilds and he took these and his work experience proof along with him. It may not cause you a problem, but some employers (especially in this line of work) are confused by the immigration process and may be reluctant to even offer him a job until everything is up together. Once you have his quals, it may suit you better to get a temporary work permit, so he can start work, and apply for PR from there. This is what we did, and by the time we were ready to apply for PR I only needed to include his work experience proof with his job etc to get enough points for the application, HOWEVER, at the time I applied (Dec 05) you could have a two year work permit without paying for medicals and we were in the last selection made at 100 points.

[katiejay]

Hi Wilson

We haven't been told the name of the company in Christchurch, but they make trucks! We've got to go and see the recruitment agency the day after we arrive and they'll then give us more details.

You're right about the temp work visa route. That's what we thought we'd do as I think it will be quicker than the PR route. I've not looked fully into the process of getting the working visa yet, but I presume we'll need the medicals and police checks and everything else, so that when we come to do the PR application in NZ it's pretty much finalised and shouldn't then take too long. Is that right?:confused:

Cheers
Katie xx

[wilson182]

Once you are here and working with work permits, applying for residency shouldnt take you too long at all. But, be carefull, I think you will have to have your medicals redone for PR...... Can someone correct me on this??