Has anyone 'just done it'?

chrissie · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:44 pm Post subject: Has anyone 'just done it'?

Hi again!
We are still in the process of selling the house and aiming for Jul/Aug to get out there and start looking for work. Hubby still mad keen and optimistic. However, the nearer the time comes, the more nervous I am becoming and I am experiencing quite a few 'wobbles'....
Is there anyone here who has already done it? Just sold up here and gone over there without a job to go to? I would be really interested to hear from anyone who has managed it or know of people that have been successful (or have any horror stories for that matter...). Just looking for a reassuring hug I guess.....(or a good talking to!!). Eek

Thanks everyone
Chrissie

jodie · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:31 pm Post subject:

Hi Chrissie,

I know exactly how you feel at the mo - you and your hubby are doing exactly what me and my partner are doing - selling up everything here and going out to NZ with nothing certain to go to! (God, sounds really stupid when you say it like that, doesn't it!!) Hmmm

But everyone I've spoken to at emigration shows, recruitment agencies and visa application agencies/relocation agents etc have all been really positive about doing things this way - and all say that we should be successful cos we're both in IT and these skills are in demand over there at the moment. What do you guys do?

But at the end of the day, if it doesn't work out for whatever reason (

) then we'll have2 come back to the UK and start again - OK, it'll be difficult to get to where we are now again, but we'd have had a hell of a year over in NZ and enjoyed ourselves. (We're going over on a year long working holiday visa initially.) We can try and apply again 'properly' from here and having a year in NZ is surely going to help in the application....

Anyways - where are you planning to go? We're concentrating on the North Island and we'll go wherever a job offer takes us. (That ups the chances of getting a job to begin with, surely!) Our flat sale is going through at the mo - we're hoping to exchange at the end of May and then book our flights etc. and get the final things sorted. (Don't want2 do any of that before we exchange - bit too much like tempting fate I reckon... Eek

)

Good luck with it all and if you want2 chat through things, let me know! Just remember - It's the start of a new adventure!

Jodie
Nice One

karltsmith · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 1:45 am Post subject:

JUST DO IT! Nice One

We did have a job to come to but under GSC we were planing tto come out and risk everything and yes we would still have done it!

Why?
Hmmm

Because some times you just have to ignore the red tape nd trust in your gut instinct and like so many of us on the forum you want to follow you dreams and would give yourself a hard time at some future date for not having the guts to do it! cool

Sometimes you just have to help yourself and make your own luck and if that means jumping on a plane and getting here to be available to be inteviewed by potential employers then that is a situation you are almost forced to do given the current selection criteria. Sad

In one years time if you've been offered a job you will have more points and will have improved your postion in the pool! Razz

In 1987 I first came to NZ...no job...just a flight ticket...and I had the time of my life and after a struggle I got PR. This lapsed when I returned to the UK and met my future/current wife. We always said one day we would make NZ our home and 12 years later we are doing just that! Clapping

Don't loose sight of your dreams! I know its scary :eek

and sometimes you will think you are mad Nutcase

But it will all be worth it in the end

...you can trust me ... Wink

I'm a brummie Rolling Eyes

(and a chemist Nutcase

) !!!

dan-ish · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 2:04 am Post subject: Go for it.

karltsmith · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 2:07 am Post subject:

Of course I married her ....she was just too good to pass up mate! Married 10 years last week! Razz

wilson182 · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 7:19 am Post subject:

Hi Guys

We are flying out on Sunday night. We have good friends on both the North and South Island who are more than happy to help us out. We will spend a couple of weeks travelling around, then go for the job hunting. If successfull, it will be a case of renting the house out over here for a while (til the points come down) and going for it. If it doesnt work we will have had a good holiday, and will have at least tried it out.

karltsmith · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 8:32 am Post subject:

Godd luck Wilson! I hope the 182 doesn't refer to your age...if so you're sunk! Laughing

Best wishes

Karl Nice One

PS if you get to AKL give me a call I'll pm you with my contact info!

wilson182 · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 9:12 am Post subject:

Thanks Karl

Duly noted.

It isnt our age, ( or even our combined age)(or even our waistlines Laughing

) but sometimes it feels like it.

We have friends in West Auckland, but we are not sure if we will make it that far. But if things work out how we would like,we might be able to take a raincheck.

Wilson

chrissie · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:55 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone!!
We WILL do it, and it WILL all work out fine!!
Onwards and upwards........ fingers crossed

Chrissie

Dave & Sandra · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 10:08 pm Post subject:

I've got a contact in Wellington who may be able to help with your job hunting, she has contacts with recruitment agencies. Unfortunately, she can only assist if you are settling in the Wellington area. As Dave has a job in Palmerston North she can't give us official help with PR. Sad

She is American with a Scottish husband and has been really helpful to us with advice.

Below is an e-mail she sent me with her contact details.

Hi Sandra

Just so you do know what I do, I run a government pilot programme for the Wellington Region. We are the regional economic development agency for the region and our role is to help companies grow. My role is migrant attraction and settlement. I work with employers and recruitment agencies who have skills shortages and try to help locate people overseas to fit the needs. Once a migrant arrives I try to assist in their settlement. My job is funded by the different city councils in our region, , that is why I just serve Wellington.
But if you need advice,etc don't hesitate to contact me, I just can't help officially.

Cheers

Shawn Gilhooley
Immigration Project Manager
Positively Wellington Business
Level 9, AA Centre, 342 - 352 Lambton Quay
PO Box 10-347, Wellington, New Zealand
Ph. 64-4-4942556, Fax. 64-4-4942569
shawn@smartwellington.co.nz
http://www.smartwellington.com [/i][/i][/i]

Graham Barnes · Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 3:33 am Post subject:

Just a thought...but does Auckland have a similar agency?
But maybe they won't because many immigrats settle there anyway and so they are not looking to encourage any more!?

Graham

chrissie · Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 6:00 am Post subject:

Hi Sandra
Wow!! Thanks SO much. We actually are looking at Wellington would you believe. When my husband went over on a very brief visit last year he went to Aukland and Wellington, and he said he really liked Wellington and that there are quite a few telecoms companies in that area. He's a project manager (not the IT side of things, more the mobile network rollouts). We will definitely get in touch with your friend there. Again, a VERY BIG thank you, you don't know how much I appreciate it!!!
Chrissie

Tate6 · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 3:32 am Post subject:

So glad to hear there are others who are wondering if they are crazy to be considering such an uncertain adventure! My husband is more practical and is still not certain about us just selling everything and him quitting a job he has worked for 14 years and has great benefits and good pay. He is not quite the "dreamer" I am. Of course, with 4 children, you do have to weigh everything several times. Uhoh

We have some connections for possible jobs in Auckland and Christchurch. And another possibility in Nelson, which is our first choice for location. But even if we had to settle in Auckland temporarily and I take the job there, it gets us into NZ and a work permit. Then hubby could look for work in Nelson or check out position in Christchurch. I can see these things so clearly Yes

and he just has no imagination!!

I just cannot convince him that many people have just gone there and had it turn out fine. The kids are all for this.

Our first thought was to sell our house and go out there. But now, maybe we could get the house all ready to list and go out for a couple weeks and see what happens. That way hubby has not quit his job and we have not sold the house. Although his job will probably only let him take 2-3 weeks vacation. And he just got promoted to supervisor-he works in a large wood mill. Sorry to be thinking aloud, but it helps sometimes! Nutcase

If it were up to me alone, I would be there by now!! Wink

So I will keep giving him excerpts from all of your stories of those of you who have made it! Nice One

Good luck to you all and I hope to see you there!
Clink

Terry

martwend · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 7:15 pm Post subject:

Hi!

We have been here for 8 weeks now and we love it. The kids have settled well at school and we have no plans to return to the UK. Clapping

However, we came out to a job that was arranged before we sold our house and committed ourselves to living here. I have met people who came out with no job to go to having been assured that it would be easy to find one and 6 months on they are still looking. One family is on the brink of returning to the UK because they cannot afford to be unemployed any longer. That lady is a nurse! and her husband is in hospitality. I know of another family in a similar situation.

I have also met other recent immigrants from the UK who did find work on spec and it can all work out but I think anyone coming out here without a job arranged in advance needs to understand that it is not always easy to get work and that it does not work out for everyone. Maybe you have to consider whether you would move to the opposite end of the UK without a job or a house arranged before moving here. Confused

Sorry to put a downer on anyone's enthusiasm because we do love it here and it is a great lifestyle but not if you are racing through a life time's savings and your only option is an expensive flight back to the UK.

Wendy Razz

Timbo · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 7:00 am Post subject:

Hi all. We would just love to jump on the first available plane in our dreams. Gut instinct says all WILL be well. But, here is the catch. Because of my background, it seems that the only real option for a visa is the Long term busines visa. This will mean buying or starting a business in NZ. To me it is obvious that doing this would be much simpler if we were actually IN NZ. Does anyone know if this would be practical. I>E could we just go there, buy a franchised business for instance, and apply for the visa from within? fingers crossed