Skills over Points

Neil and Jane · Testing The Water Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 6

Please help ! There have been a few posts but has anyone got any definative answers.

Wife and I are 35 and want to live and work in NZ, I am a senior Marketing manager have been in the industry for 15 yrs (but no University eductaion all on the job training and experience) and my wife is a Senior Mac Artworker (again no Uni education but very good at what she does).

We get nowhere on the points system but I work with many uni eductaed people and they are certianly no better at their jobs than me (don't pay you £50k a year if you can't do your job).

We awant to go out and look at WTR and it seems that you can just turn up in the country look for a job and then get a work visa, we want to be productive part of the community and take what money we have from the UK to NZ so not a burden on the country.

Anyone give me some steer as I am starting to get depressed about the lack of options and also why experience is not a valid way into the country.

HELP !!!!!!!!! Give me something to cling onto.

I am sick of the UK and want a life back.

Moorf · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:24 pm Post subject:

Hi,

I am a marketing consultant, background in agencies as Account Director on major accts until we set up our own company, and we can't get in on my job as limited opportunities, no points for marketing etc - yes, I agree, I too have no degree but plenty of industry experience, worked my way up through the ranks (in fact, I found the best teams in marketing are those without jumped up grads!!! wait for the fall-out on that comment Uhoh

).

So, as hubby is in IT we are off using his experience. We are both 36 and also fed up with the UK.. I think your best bet is to just go there and look for work - you're probably all to aware that quals in marketing don't count half as much as experience, experience, experience - plus a get up and go attitude, flexibility and hard work! I am sure that you will find something although be prepared to drop down a peg or two (some light relief too!) and start over again....

Just my thoughts!

Helen & Warren
Off in 7 weeks Razz

Lee&Nicky · I Like It Here Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 70

Neil & Jane,

Are you absolutely sure you don't get above 100 points on the SMC? Although in a different profession, I too have no degree etc and assumed that I would get nowhere on the points, but I may have 105 without a job offer, 155 with a job offer (ie enough based on current benchmark). I do have a qualification gained during my career which does give me 50 points, so that may be the decisive factor between your situation and mine. Are you a member of a professional institute relevant to your job?experience (eg memeber of Institue of Marketing)? If you are, this may give you points towards the SMC route, although you would probably need to get such membership checked and approved by the NZQA.

I am in the same situation worked my way up to fairly senior levels with large accountancy firms, no degree. I used to think it was a huge irony that part of my job involved recruiting graduates and I would be frequently dismissing candidates for not having a first class degree from a reputable university. It is also amazing how many people in my business just assume everyone has the "traditional" academic background (ie good degree, qualified accountant). When I tell them I don't have that background I usually get one of two reactions - either a "good on ya, tell me more" or "you are a freak and charlatan and I don't know what to say to you now so please go away and don't embarrass me further". I'm old enough and wise enough now to just to let roll off me.

Anyway, if the points tally is a no no, and other routes (eg investor) are also out of the question then you probably are looking at just going out there and trying your luck on the job front. All you can do is know the risks involved and keep any potential downsides to a minimum - but you probably have to face the fact that you may have to take more risks than other immigrants.

Lee

PS I don't hate the UK as such, but I am completely fed up with the way of life and quality of life here. I really don't fancy bringing my children up in the "grab all you can and sod everyone else" culture that is now the way of life in this country.

Neil and Jane · Testing The Water Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 6

Thanks Helen, are you going on hubby's Points with EOI or just a job offer and have you reaserched Job market for Marketing (any good recruitment consultants).

Neil

Moorf · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:03 am Post subject:

Neil - we are flying out on 21st Sept with no job offers and, currently, no selection from EOI although we do have 120 points so MAY be selected in next few months if they go that low.

We gained points for experience, being on the priority occupation list and for looking for work outside of Auckland.

We have concentrated on researching the IT market as this will be our "way in" - we currently run our own consultancy and would like to revert back to this after a few years working for others in NZ. I am considering dropping out of marketing altogether and would like to own a bookshop!! BUT - that will depend on how we manage with just hubby's salary (they are not good there... we are used to c. £100k a yr income and suspect we shall be down to c. £30k in Chch!! Eek

)

Plus, from personal experience and reading the same from others on this site, you are very unlikely to be offered a job without being on the ground in NZ (a few exceptions with trade jobs I notice)... most (if not all!) recruitment agencies will say "see you when you get here".

We are renting out property here in Sussex having sold our main house in Scotland - basically we just bit the bullet and started the ball rolling back in April and are 8 weeks from beginning our journey - what's the worst that can happen? We come back here and start looking at Canada!! Laughing

Duncan · Testing The Water Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 1

Hi

I am planning to move to Christchurch in December, as far as job hunting goes, I am going to use an agency called newjobz,(see www.newjobz.co.nz) they specialise in finding employment for potential immigrants before leaving your home country. This way you dont need to leave your current job and take the gamble of trying to find work when arriving in NZ. hope this helps

captainxmas · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 2:51 am Post subject:

Moorf

This might be a particularly daft question, but why aren't you guys applying on LTBV and migrating your consultancy?

Apologies if this has been covered already.

CC

Azazel · I Like It Here Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 64

coastcat · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 5:18 am Post subject: Re: Skills over Points

Moorf · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 7:46 am Post subject:

Hmm interesting coastcat - I was under the impression that marketing didn't come under the creative industries cluster.... we know that "software development" does... does that mean we can get extra points??????

Re LTBV - not keen on the re-assessment, employing someone else etc etc plus we are looking to move out of this field eventually so we are finding it easier to go the job route - LTBV was our first approach but we didn't feel, in our case, it was the best route

Re Auckland - yes, I should have written that better, if job offer outside Auckland then bonus points apply.... Yes

coastcat · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:48 am Post subject:

Moorf · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:58 am Post subject:

Hmmm good question!

Interesting thread going on missing points too... we're due an extra 10 which would see us through! Confused

Dave & Sandra · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 10:48 am Post subject:

Hey Moorf

Now you know - you've just become a 'future NZ guru' Clapping

Moorf · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:39 pm Post subject:

Argh - just realised that - just as we are getting "wobbly" about the move too.... Hmmm

Rimbo · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:54 am Post subject:

Sounds a bit like us. We too are banging our heads against a wall. Both been employed many years doing skilled work but no uni quals or even industry accreditations.
We too are thinking about biting the bullet like Moorf & Woz but we have an 8 year old son in the equation.
WTR is the next route i may try and i have been keenly looking into this forum to pick up tips and advice, and there are some good ones too.
Can you get a month or so off work and go over on your own to look for work?
This may mean leaving the wife at home, but it may be safer for you to do some recky work (and test the local beer while you can make the most of it Nutcase

) if you don't want to take the plunge and sell up home with no where in particular to go.

Does anyone know about tempory work visa's? I've just looked at some of the rules regarding those, this may be another option after finding a job.
i suppose you have already studied this
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktoresidence/caniworkinnz/whatisrequired/default.htm

John