If you are planning to emigrate to New Zealand, one of the most important things to focus on first will be getting a job. It can sometimes be challenging to get a job as a newcomer in an unfamiliar country, so you will need to put a little more effort in to make sure that it happens. Here are some important things to know that will help you out during your job search.
Start Looking before You Arrive
It can be difficult to conduct a job search when you have not arrived in the country yet, but it is important to start looking for a position before you arrive. You can search online and email your CV to potential employers and by the time you arrive in New Zealand you may have already set up a few interviews.
Big Cities are Not Always the Best
When it comes to finding work you might assume that the larger the city the more opportunities you will find, but this isn’t necessarily true. Smaller rural areas can often have more opportunities in certain areas, according to an investigation by the New Zealand Herald.
Some of the smaller regions that were found to be calling out for workers included Northland, Hawkes Bay, Nelson, Southland, Taranaki, the West Coast, Gisborne and Marlborough. There are opportunities throughout these regions for many different types of jobs, including nurses, chefs, civil engineers, automotive electricians, building contractors and chemical engineers.
So, when it comes to seeking out jobs you should not only look in the larger cities, but in the smaller rural regions as well. When it comes to finding jobs in New Zealand for UK citizens it is best to keep an open mind and be flexible about where you want to relocate to.
Creating a New Zealand Style CV
In New Zealand when you apply for a job you will be expected to submit a CV, which is short for “Curriculum Vitae”. It should contain your personal contact details as well as a short letter than introduces yourself and briefly summarizes what you would bring to the company. It should also include a list of your work experience details and your skills, as well as any qualifications that are relevant to the job.
The CV should be kept short to around 1-4 pages and you should be putting your best skills first – the skills that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. Make sure that you always check over your CV carefully to ensure that there are no spelling and grammar mistake. Click here to find more information about creating a New Zealand style CV.
More New Zealand Job Search Tips
Here are a few more helpful tips to keep in mind when you are searching for a job in New Zealand:
- Don’t get too impatient, sometimes it can take weeks to find a job in New Zealand so don’t give up or get discouraged.
- When you write your covering letter make it clear which working visa you will be obtaining and your current status in the immigration process.
- Send a letter of application to all recruitment agencies in the region that you want to settle in, as they can sometimes match you up with great jobs.
- If possible, provide a New Zealand postal address in your CV when applying for jobs.
- Let your potential employers know that you are available for Skype or phone interviews before you arrive in New Zealand, or face to face interviews when you arrive.
- You cannot always expect to get a job with the same salary or more than you had overseas. You might have a lack of local knowledge and perhaps you need to take a step back in order to advance further in your career, so wait one year and see how it goes.
- Don’t apply online more than 12 weeks before you arrive, as this might be too early for employers to make a decision and they might not be interested.
- Don’t expect everything in the job search process to be the same as at home – things will be different and you will need to be flexible to adapt.
Keep these tips in mind for a successful job search in New Zealand, so that you can find your ideal job in your beautiful new home.