Possibly moving to New Zealand? Anyone done something like this?

So my current job along with my wife's blows. Mine in particular I am constantly disrespected and basically told my wife F it we need to do something. So we came up with a plan that if we don't find new jobs by X date we will put in notice and try find a job in New Zealand. Lol

We love it there and are going again in a few weeks for leisure. Has anyone else here had the "F you I can't work for you anymore" mentality and did something like this? I know New Zealand is a drastic option but since we are young with no kids or a house we figure we might as well give it a try while we can. I've been researching IT opportunities over there and it seems like it might be possible to find a job as they are in shortage.

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Comments

Zartanasaurus

Any particular reason why you chose New Zealand?

jdancer

You may want to read up on New Zealand employment sponsorship issues. From what I've read, it's kind of strict. You do have a employer in NZ with a job line up, right? I'm sure organizations out there don't want to get in trouble with the law.

loxleynew

Nope our main goal would be to go over on a 1 year work holiday visa then I will try find a job in IT as my field is on their "shortage" list. While we wait for that we can work part time temp jobs on that visa, but yes they are very strict on their employment so this would be a risky ordeal for sure..

The reason New Zealand mainly we are avid hikers/snowboarders and love the scenery there. You have seen the hobbit right?

Essendon

Australia! Only a short hop to Kiwiland too.

nosoup4u

I would love to move to middle earth, but from what I've heard it's pretty difficult to get sponsorship.

Essendon

I dont know how these shortage lists work, pastry making for example was on the list for 2-3 years or something. Strangely though, pastry makers lamented the lack of work on TV and local news. I can understand the lack of skilled miners, doctors and nurses but not IT. Numerous engineering fields are also on the list, when you ask someone already in the field they whinge about the lack of work.

FWIW, here's a link to our skills shortage list > Skilled Occupation Lists (Formerly Known as Form 1121i)

GAngel

I lived and worked there in 2010 before making the jump across the ditch. I went on the Working Holiday Visa (Took 1 day to get approved). Landed a job at one of the biggest companies in 3 days and had 3 offers to move permanently in Auck and Welly.

I was based in Auckland but I travelled the whole country multiple times. There is definately a skills shortage for Tech workers because they're all migrating to Australia for the higher pay (20% on average). I would never move back there even though the people are awesome life is just multitudes better in Australia. Wellington has the Gov sector jobs which are decent pay and Auckland has everything else all the other cities combined have a fraction of those two. When you convert the kiwi dollar to anything it's pretty much worthless and getting worse. The 14 hrs to LA is brutal.

If you're young and educated I'd suggest Aus. If you're near retirement age then NZ is a great place to do it. Auckland had the best year round weather I've ever seen and I've lived all over. Queenstown is also got to be one of the coolest places on earth.

MAC_Addy

I grew up in England and left when I was 21, one of my Uni friends moved from the UK to New Zealand. I think he has family there. I'm guessing it's much easier to get a visa if you have family that can sponsor you.

GT-Rob

I've been thinking of doing this lately. If you are under 35 you can get the 1 year holiday working visa that lets you work anywhere (at least for Canadians, not sure what the rules are for yanks). Can't have kids, and age was the only real requirement if I recall.

I've talked to a couple of recruiters and have been watching the job boards and there is no doubt they have a market. Doesn't look like you will make a fortune there but thats not the reason to go. Go for the experience, the adventure, and the job is just to fund it. I looked at it like a year vacation that I worked for a bit of. I might do the UK as well, similar requirements but they give a 2 year visa and its not quite as far

loxleynew

Yup! we are allowed to do the 1 year holiday work visa as a US citizen with no kids under age of 31. AUS would be cool but I have applied for some jobs there and they all say they don't hire overseas. I am not positive on the idea of just selling everything and going there in hopes of finding a job. I'd rather have one first before going.

GT-Rob

I think you would have better luck finding short term (3-6mon) contract jobs. Also, I would expect it would be easier after you have applied and been granted your VISA since you can say you are legally allowed to work (I think its not activated for a year? So the timer doesn't start until you enter the country). It wouldn't hurt to pretend like you have a "landing date", instead of "give me a job and ill come over". I'd also make sure to mention that english is your native language.

Im 29 this year, and my personal 'plan', if I do it, is a few months before I am 31 apply for the VISA and get it sorted out including an tax number, bank account, etc. Then talk to recruiters, they will be your best bet I think especially for contracts. Try to setup a job before I go, but worst case if I have enough liquid capital (10k+) available then fly to out and get some temporary residence. Then start applying to jobs like normal. Live cheap, and if you can't make something happen in a few months (which would be very odd) write it off as a vacation and come home.

The market looks good though. Again, money isn't huge, but for the size of the country there seems to be some good IT growth. I think if you are skilled and willing to live anywhere in the country you really shouldn't have a problem getting something. Again, treat it like a 1 year vacation and the work is just to break even. Ideally a couple 3 month contracts that you move around for would be awesome IMO.

Keep us updated with what you do. You only live once

GAngel

You won't get an overseas job offer from Aus or New Zealand in general. the minute you land in the country is a different story. If you've got a decent skill set work won't be a problem in any of the major cities. Landing dates don't matter they will want an Aus phone number and ideally your residence in Aus. One of the reasons for that is because if a recruiter calls you it's to set up an appointment for you to come to there office to register or go to a client site for interviews. jobs move fast and hiring is not 3-4 week processes.

The job market there works almost exclusively through the recruiting companies no such thing as dropping off resumes or calling the companies up. the recruiters also don't chase you you pretty much have to apply to each individual job even if they're all at the same recruiter unless otherwise stated. Melbourne, Sydney and Perth for IT work not the gold coast. Seek is the major job board for both countries and the only one you'll need. Tax file number is easy to sort out once you've landed, Bank accounts can be opened from overseas. commonwealth, westpac are prly the two with the most atm locations.

Renting in Melbourne and Sydney is very much like renting in NY cost wise that will eat up your budget. Rentals also don't quite work like N/A you'll have to see for yourself but any trendy area will have a half dozen offers on it the same day its listed. if you want an appartment you basically view it for 10 minutes then make an offer and hope. in melbourne living in the city (CBD remember the term you'll be using it alot) I was paying 2.5k for a 1bd. You generally won't find anything for less than $1.5k in melbourne unless you're outside of the CBD loops for public transit which is awesome in both cities (About $15 per day). The difference between Sydney and Melbourne is about 15% from rentals to salary to food costs. Melbourne winter is rain for 3 mths all the time and housing insulation sucks so you'll feel the cold even though its 5 degrees out. Drinking is a very big part of the social structure you'll see for yourself prepare for the shock. Desktop support entry level is about $20 an hr, mid level $30 Server guys $35 Senior server $45.

Hope this helps all info that would have helped me out before I moved. If you do decide to go and Melbourne is your destination PM me and I'll get you in contact with Melbourne recruiters who can help you out. You won't need help in Sydney.

loxleynew

GAngel thanks!

As far as AUS it's a possibility and if so we would do melbourne or sydney however we are still kind of set on NZ for a couple years. It sounds like either way we would have to save up some capitol (10k each) and then just move there and try find a job. Also get a visa first before going. My skillset is all on the server side of work so hopefully I wouldn't find a hard time getting a job. It's just the time wasting here saving up the money first to go =/

As for recruiters should I contact them here or only once I get there?

Essendon

Yeah contact recruiters when you get here mate, not much point in reaching them now. They'll just say - please contact us when you reach Australia. For a person new to Melbourne, I recommend living in or close to the city. South Yarra, St Kilda, Toorak, Fitzroy and Brunswick are the usual locations for people like yourself as they are a stone's throw to the city and have multiple modes of transportation to the city.

I am a server guy myself, lemme know too when you get here and I can hook you up with some recruiters here. My current and past companies are looking for server folks every now and again, I'd happily refer you on. The VCP is very hot with recruiters these days, keep in mind!

Good luck, I'm sure you'll love NZ. That country is paradise, without question (though the ground shakes most of the time, they say Christchurch has tremors almost every day).

GAngel

loxleynew wrote: »

GAngel thanks!

As far as AUS it's a possibility and if so we would do melbourne or sydney however we are still kind of set on NZ for a couple years. It sounds like either way we would have to save up some capitol (10k each) and then just move there and try find a job. Also get a visa first before going. My skillset is all on the server side of work so hopefully I wouldn't find a hard time getting a job. It's just the time wasting here saving up the money first to go =/

As for recruiters should I contact them here or only once I get there?

For NZ it all depends where you'd like to live. Finding a place was pretty straightforward in Auckland but they are also going through a bit of a low supply so it wont be cheap if you're planning to live in the CBD. The vast majority of jobs when I was there was on the desktop side in Auck and security + server in Wellington. But like the weather this changes all the time. NZ is begging for people the brain drain really is that big so unless you're a criminal you'll get your approval in days. Wellington housing seemed affordable but I know if you lived in certain areas getting to/from work is a nightmare with 2 lane roads. The wind blows sideways in wellington It also gets minor earthquakes constantly (not enough to do any damage). I would avoid christchurch like the plague after the last two earthquakes the place is a mess and everyone is trying to get out. The city is just built on unstable land nothing can really be done its just a waiting game for the next. EVERYTHING is expensive in NZ. If you do go there buy what books you need for a year or so before hand 3-4x the price.

GT-Rob

Also want to say thanks for the info, this is the kind of things that are not posted on the general immigration sites.

Would living in either AUS or NZ be a problem without a car? Im in Canada and unless you live downtown Toronto you basically HAVE to own a car here, everything is so spread out and the transit system is way behind. For something like Auckland, would you recommend living in the city or outside and commuting? What about for someone who only plans to work half the time, where would you want to live for say 3-6months of "leisure"? I've also heard the cost of "things" are expensive which is expected.

Im also leaning toward NZ simply because Im not going for the money but rather the holiday/life style. Ill be cycling competitively while there and only plan to work when the money runs out haha.

Essendon

Yeah, it's the same here in Melbourne. If your in the city or the inner 'burbs, you can do without a car, easily. If you live further away, you almost have to have a car. Also depends on the burb you live in. Some outer 'burbs arent well connected, say the ones out in the far west arent terrible with transport. In my suburb, there's a bus every 40 minutes, even in peak hour. I need to drive to work or drive to the nearest train station, jump on one of the express trains into the city (or CBD, Central Business District, as we call it here).

So if you are going to be renting, you may as well live in or close to the city and save on car rego, insurance and fuel costs. Car rego is $694/yr for a large sedan, insurance can vary according to the suburb your in (I pay $800/yr), and fuel costs about $80 a week if you drive into work (based on your house being 25 kms away). Living in the city/inner suburbs costs considerably more but the costs of maintaining a car help offset that. A popular suburb with travellers is St Kilda where you can expect a one bed apartment to be on rent for $2500 a month. In the middle suburbs you can expect to pay about $1000 a month for a similar size place while the outer suburbs you'd pay about $800. If you put the car costs in, it works out to be about the same. Besides in the city there are a LOT more options for eating and leisure. For a traveller, I recommend living in the city or around it.