Chicken & Egg- Work Visa & Job Offer!

ewiggins · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 17

I seem to be missing something....to get a job offer, you need a Work Visa....to get a Work Visa you need a job offer...how does it work? I'm a Uk resident desperately trying to move to NZ to live with my Kiwi partner. I'm a professional with a degree and 1 years experience, yet when I lived there for 9 months last year, I couldn't apply for most positions I was interested in because they all required a Work Visa already aquired. So can anyone help me and suggest how I go about it? I plan to holiday there for a month or so this year. How can I get interviews knowing the employee will require a Work Visa?

HELP!!

JCM · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2004 5:23 pm Post subject:

Hi ewiggins,

I'm sorry if I'm asking the obvious but, just to get the ball rolling, is your occupation on the OSL or POL?

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/Work/#Lists+of+Occupational+Shortages

ewiggins · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 17

My partner lives in the Bay of Plenty, and after consulting the website you included it appears my occupation isn't on either OSL or POL. I'am an environmental consultant/engineer. Although my job includes some civil engineering components (on the OSL) my degree is a Bsc. Hons in Earth Sciences, not Civil Engineering. Is it a lost cause?

Jamie Smith

The problem here is with the employers, and job agencies, wanting the easier route. You do not need a permit to be given a job, but you need a permit to take the offer and start work.

You need the job offer to get the permit, but SMC might allow you to get here without the job offer if you have enough points etc etc.

Confused?

Employers often don't want the hassle of having to wait for months or take the risk of refusing other people who CAN start work next week in the hope that the slightly better foreign applicant makes it through the process.

Fault is with Government and Employer groups for not educating employers about how to recruit a migrant if they need to or want to consider non-kiwi applicants.

Try asking the employer if the visa issue is the only reason, and if it is ask him to help get the most qualified person he can find into his staff by working with you to help you. If there are other issues besides visa status, ie you're ahead of the others but not by much, you'll have to turn on the charm!

Keep at it, it's also tricky getting the better jobs as a kiwi!

ewiggins · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 17

Hi Jamie,

Thanks for your feedback, it's good to know that it's not me and others experience the same hassles! To progress things before I head out to NZ for my 'holiday' in a couple of months or so, can you suggest any agencies that deal with my line of work ie. geotechnical/environmental consultants?

Also, JCM asked whether my occupation is on the OSL or POL, which incidently I don't think is. Do you think this is going to hold me back finding a job?

Tate6 · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:57 am Post subject:

Here is an email I received after inquiring about immigration issues. Sorry, don't remember which site, as I have been to so many!! Nutcase

Grey · I Like It Here Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 74

hi tate, yeah, you can't apply for a work visa/permit without having a job offer. The work 'visa' it what you apply for if out of the country, basically to allow entry to NZ, a work 'permit' is if you are already in the country. If you go on a work 'visa' then on entry you will be given the work 'permit'....regardless of all this you do need a job offer... Sad

....so if necessary go over as a visitor like they said, find work, then apply for a work permit. (need to make sure you will qualify & have the necessary documents..)

Carpenter/wood machinist is on the OSL, for some areas at least so don't know why they said it wasn't. Being on the shortage list just means it's easier to get a permit and you don't need any proof the employer can't find a local. If not on the list it is still possible, just means a bit more paperwork from the employer.

JCM · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:53 am Post subject:

Hi again ewiggens,

Not being on the pol or osl means that your employer has to demonstrate that they couldn't get a New Zealander to do the job. Many employers cannot be bothered with this but some (often larger co.'s) will happily do this.

You could begin by contacting a few scientific/technical job agencies. (I haven't dealt with any of these people personally but I think they all may be interested in someone in your line of work.)

http://www.scitechrecruit.co.nz/home.lasso

http://www.tad.co.nz/

http://www.crsrecruit.co.nz/

http://www.techstaff.co.nz/

http://www.lawsonwilliams.co.nz/

MichelleW · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 8:06 am Post subject:

JCM,
Do you know if there might be any tradesperson job agencies? I know it's not likely but thought I would ask.My husband also has many years experience in sheetmetal and we have found some ads in the paper but see that skill isn't on the shortages list and wonder how difficult it may be for him to get a job by calling ads in the paper.But if nothing else thats what we'll do and hopefully find someone who will do the extra paperwork.

Thanks,
Michelle

JCM · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 8:20 am Post subject:

Hi Michelle,

Try Tradestaff - although most of their jobs are temporary. The page I've linked to is for sheetmetal jobs that could be permanent.

http://www.tradestaff.co.nz/index.cfm/Vacancies/Albany.html

As for calling advertisers in the paper - go for it. You might get ten 'no's' but you might also find someone who will want you and will be willing to do the paperwork. There really are labour shortages here, so, with luck, you'll find someone who's willing to go the extra mile with paperwork and offer you a job.

MichelleW · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 9:16 am Post subject:

Thank you So much JCM!!!

Michelle

Tate6 · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:02 am Post subject:

Hey Grey-
Thanks so much for the clarification!

And the fact that the carpenter/wood machinist is on the OSL is better as the extra paperwork for employers would be just one more possible obstacle. One more question. Once you are there and have a work permit, as the laywer stated:

Grey · I Like It Here Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 74

veronica · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 12:06 pm Post subject:

when I read the stuff from the LTBV consultants it all sounds so difficult. Confused

(but then, thats their job) but we did the plan ourselves and still got the visa so it is obviously possible. Has anyone else out there done this or are we in the minority.
It doesn't have to be a big business you have run here in the UK, just that you have a good idea of sound business practices and can offer NZ something. you have to give it a try, Veronica

ewiggins · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 17

Hiya JCM,

Those websites you gave me were really good. A couple of vacancies are available right now. My question is though, for various reasons (commitments etc.) it is unlikely that I could consider a permenant move to NZ until August at the very earliest. As I think I mentioned, I plan to holiday for there for a month or so probably in May/June.

I obviously don't want to hand in my notice at my current company until I have something concrete. So to get to the point, when is best to start approaching agencies or applying for jobs? Confused

Do I begin whilst I'm in the UK making it clear I could be available for interview during my holiday in May? Will an employer be prepared to wait weeks until then?....I think not!

I do think waiting 'til I'm actually out there is a bit risky in case there's just nothing happening at that time. How about phone interviews??

Sorry for all the questions but I can't emphasise how good it is to have this foram to air all queries and views! Any feedback would be hugely appreciated! fingers crossed

Emma

Not being on the pol or osl means that your employer has to demonstrate that they couldn't get a New Zealander to do the job. Many employers cannot be bothered with this but some (often larger co.'s) will happily do this.

You could begin by contacting a few scientific/technical job agencies. (I haven't dealt with any of these people personally but I think they all may be interested in someone in your line of work.)

http://www.scitechrecruit.co.nz/home.lasso

http://www.tad.co.nz/

http://www.crsrecruit.co.nz/

http://www.techstaff.co.nz/

http://www.lawsonwilliams.co.nz/[/quote]