Job/Visa/Permit/Money and IT job ?'s & Project Plans!!!!

flasponge

Greetings all,

I am currently on my way to fortifying and executing my plan to relocate to NZ. My reasons are various however my drive to successfully implement this is strong and forthright. I posted a while back (http://emigratenz.org/community/viewtopic.php?t=569&highlight=) with some abstract questions regarding the approach to get a work visa/permit in terms of the sequence of steps…e.g. visa then job offer then permit ect ect.

I will be visiting the Auckland area in late August for a reconnaissance mission as I call it in which I will be doing housing investigations, and other logistical planning (travel, services, and neighborhoods). I am only going to AKL for 7 days so my window is small (can’t take too much vacation here in the US) to get the required data and that is really why I am trying to network with other like minded individuals thru forums such as this.

So here are some question I though some here could provide insight to:

I am in IT, specifically a software engineer with large scale enterprise development experience. I consider myself extremely proficient (that means production experience) with .Net, J2EE, Oracle, SQL Server (and other RDMS system), Web Services and many other enterprise technologies. I am currently working for NASA and making 70K per year. Based on such experience (8+ years) and of course a 4 year college degree…what can I expect from the job market in NZ? E.g:

1. Will it take me longer than 1 month to find a job?
2. Can I expect to make over 50K NZ a year with experience such as mine?
3. Are many employers willing to sponsor? (that’s what they call it here in US, that’s why many Indians come easily to US)
4. Can I get a job offer fairly easy while on visitor pass and then (2) get the work visa and hence permit in under 3 months? For instance if I received a job offer on 1/1/05 how long would it take to get the Visa/Permit stuff taken care of? (Assuming all docs in order of course)
5. Is it a good idea to mass broadcast my resume to potential employers in the month prior to my move? This would be intended to get my name out there and to provide me direct follow-up paths when I get there?
6. Has anyone worked with an IT recruiting agency (called headhunters here) to help with search and visa/permit questions? (I am looking a immig consultants to)

Now on the housing front, are the purchasing requirements similar to the US in the sense that if a home is 200,000 it is normal for banks to require 10% down and no less? Do all NZ lenders have a benchmark for down payment requirement? Plus I can buy a home once I have employment even though I am only working via a 2yr permit?

Money questions: (basics: wife, 2 kid= 2-3 bdrm house, 1 to 2 cars, 1 child in school)
1. For those that have mad the move, what cash-on-hand would you recommend including contingency to get back to country of origin if things go wrong?
2. How much did you spend just on immigration costs?
3. How much did you spend on major relocation objectives: housing, transportation, acquisition of essential initial good, professional service expenditures (e.g. lawyer)?
4. I am planning on having 65K NZD at my disposal? I have a wife and 2 kids, would that be enough to sustain my family and I comfortably for 3 months?
5. Is a $200,000NZD home a nice home in a safe neighborhood in Auck area?

Well that’s just some questions to start (sorry for so many!). I am developing a detailed project plan in MSProject that will be outlining all the tasks , sub task dependencies and a schedule (specific to me) that will outline my ultimate schedule and plan for achieving a goal of having a job and being fully relocated to NZ from here in Florida USA by the end of November. Is that to ambitious? I will be posting it for everyone review shortly.

I will talk to you all soon…and if anyone wants to chat please IM me…and if you work in software development I would especially like to get your advice and friendship 

Thanks
Jason Doyle
PLEASE Email and IM me:
Yahoo IM and email: flasponge1@yahoo,
AOL IM: flasponge
MSN IM: flasponge@hotmail.com

Raeven · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:06 am Post subject:

Hi, flasponge,

As a longer-term user of this message board, I can attest to the fact that the answers to virtually all your questions are already here. Utilize that search function -- with which I'm certain you're quite proficient! -- sit back with a cup of coffee and READ.

It's all here!

Best of luck to you in your relocation pursuits.

Rae

Timbo · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:12 am Post subject:

Hi Jason. Rae is spot on, all of your answers will be here somewhere.
The only point I can pick up on is that $200,000 may not get you much in Auckland as it is the most expensive place in NZ.
Try having a look at

www.open2view.com

Good luck

coastcat · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 7:38 am Post subject:

This IT salary survey should give you an idea of income, although not necessarily of demand:

http://www.salaryzone.co.nz/salzone/candle/it/default-nz.jsp

I've got to print out some of the data from that survey. That'll serve as a not-so-gentle nudge to my husband to work on his database admin qualifications! It's the only way he'll be able to afford the shiny new Subaru WRX STi he wants... Rolling Eyes

sesame · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:59 pm Post subject:

Hi, Flasponge!

my husband is a software developer as well (all that java, j2ee stuff ... - sorry, chinese to me! Nutcase

) ... he LOVES it! wish i could give you advice or info - but we won't be out to nz until next spring/summer - but i can tell by your post that you won't have ANY problems finding a job .... part of me wonders though .... if knowing all this cutting edge technology will well, catch on there soon? my husband needs a stimulating environment - am i'm wondering if nz is 'there' yet .... computer technology wise ....

..it's too late to think clearly .... anyhow - we'll be in touch!!

sesame and walter~

Shy