Working in New Zealand

[Bevmac]

Dont really know where to post this so my apology's if its in the wrong place.

Anyway i dont know if any of you remember Peter who posted a few things on the forum and asked some questions, (lived in the same town as me in the FS) he was selling up and went to NZ with his wife to follow.

Anyway he found a job (dont think the pay was that good from what i can gather) anyway he was there for about 2 months and came back, i found out last night what he had to say about working in New Zealand and wanted others views!!

He said if you are a South African or Zimbabwean working in NZ you are treated badly and used as cheap labour!

Has anyone else found this as i havent seen anyone post anything like this before?

Please can you let us know of your experiences wrt working in NZ and how you find your working situations?

[jafa77]

what? cheap labour?

I know many South Africans in NZ and 99% of them are highly valued and regarded employees of their respective companies.

At the school I teach at there are 2 South African Deputy Headmasters, and many other South Africans in senior leadership positions, coaches and teachers. Probably more than 30 and this is at a highly respected school on the North Shore.

Maybe they just didnt like him or he wasnt up to scratch?? Its all about attitude and fitting in and some Saffers dont do that very well......and perhaps then they are better off back in SA!

[mandyh]

We have not experienced that in any way either.  They like the SA's here as we work harder than the average Kiwi who I have found to be down right lazy in the work environment.

I second what Brad said, a lot goes according to your attitude and what you make of life here.  Don't expect to be put into a high powered position.  Be quite prepared to start and work your way up.

[Alta van zyl]

Don't know what happened to my post.  But what I wanted to say, was that I don't think there is any cheap labour here, maybe less work, due to the financial crisis the world is in as companies don't employ easily when they don't know what's happening.  What I do know is immigration is getting tougher, as there is major policy changes taking place next year, according to my friend Donna who is an immigration officer.  Don't ask what, I don't know and she will tell me when she can

[Happy Expat]

Ditto to all above

[jafa77]

excellent reply, Mertz!

Far too many Saffers think NZ owes them something! NZ owes you NOTHING.

Work hard, keep your head down and prove yourself and you will win the respect of the Kiwis.

[Parra]

Agree with all of the above!

I have been looking for a job now for two weeks non-stop and will be returning to SA in another two weeks.

If it so happens that I do not secure employment I can think of 100 reasons or excuses as to why I did not receive an job offer to tell the folks back home.

Truth is this:
If you allow enough time, do your homework, and is not scared of work (any work) you will get hired.

I am currently in Management and if I expect the Kiwis to hire me as a manager it aint gonna happen (without some luck involved). You have to start somewhere even if somewhere is the bottom of the food chain.  Hey it can only get better right?

just my thoughts

Stay positive!

[malindy]

Just my 2cents worth...

My hubby is a director of a large company at the moment.  We have also thought that there's no ways he'll be hired at a similar level in NZ, as he went over for 2 weeks beginning of the year, and saw this first hand. 
We have been applying left, rite and centre for jobs from the bottom of the food chain to the top.

Now here's the problem - All the lower jobs reply that he is too over-qualified, the top jobs always say that they've found someone with NZ experience, but 2 - 3 months later the same job at the same company with the same contact person is advertised again!!! 

Most of the companies have said to contact him the minute he's got PR.   
So me thinks that the NZ employers don't want to take the risk anymore of employing someone who is not dedicated to immigrating, and most of them don't want to go thru the red tape of hiring a foreigner instead of a NZ'er unless you can prove PR...

So once again - seems like one's homework must be done and cowboy style is becoming more and more dangerous and 'irresponsible' if one does not research, research, research...

Just my view...

[Parra]

I found that when applying for a Job you are over qualified for and you take the "over qualified" out of your cv (or just say it a different way) you get more replies.

[Awa]

I'm not sure why he got that idea either.  As most of you know I have just started working as a cleaner and even in this job which would be regarded as very low down in SA I am treated with the utmost respect.  The clients offer you coffee and sit and drink it with you while chatting about everything and what.    My employer, even though she knew that I took the job only because I needed something quick and will leave early in the new year if I can secure an office job, was very happy to hire me as she had experienced Saffers to be hard working and loyal.   The pay is the same as many an office job so where the 'cheap labour' comes in I don't know.  I knew when we came over that I would have to start at the bottom (and I'm really starting at the bottom!!) but I am willing to do this for some money to make my kids transition a bit easier as it will be Christmas soon.  If you are willing to work and have a positive attitude things do happen eventually. 

[jafa77]

thanks for the post! I think you have a fantastic attitude!

[Parra]

....and something tells me you will reach the top Jackie!!!

[Bevmac]

Im not entirely sure what Peter does for a living i only met him once, just know something to do with Engineering something or other? 

I havent taken anything of what he has said to heart, we have made our own decisions and we will be leaving SA and going to NZ in the new year thats a given.

We are willing to work hard from the bottom of the ladder or the top, wherever we manage to get employment my hubby is an electrician and isnt scared of hard work and getting on with whatever needs to be done.   

We are determined come what may to make a good life for ourselves and our two little boys!! 

Cant wait to get there to get started!!!! 

[El]

Thats the right attitude Bevmac!

[Smallfly]

Im not entirely sure what Peter does for a living i only met him once, just know something to do with Engineering something or other? 

I havent taken anything of what he has said to heart, we have made our own decisions and we will be leaving SA and going to NZ in the new year thats a given.

We are willing to work hard from the bottom of the ladder or the top, wherever we manage to get employment my hubby is an electrician and isnt scared of hard work and getting on with whatever needs to be done.   

We are determined come what may to make a good life for ourselves and our two little boys!! 

Cant wait to get there to get started!!!! 

Does hubby have a job offer ?

If not, gooi me a pm, I know of a few possibillities.

I have to agree with many of the replies,

hiers nie cheap labour wat die slote vir jou gaan grou en jou tools dra nie,

jy moet dit self doen !!!!

And the cost of living IS higher than what we were used to .

As far as cheap labour is concerned, you have to shop mate !!

I am on south island's west coast,

 and I am earning 50 % more than the best offer I had in Auckland.

It's not as populated as Ackl, but I like it like that.

The houses are not so good, but on the inside it's not as bad as it looks on the outside.

Japies ARE in demand, because we DO work harder than the average Kiwi,

BUT I've seen Japies being turned away even though they had the qualifications needed.

It may be because of their attitude at the interview, and a serious threat is refferences.

Make sure your refference will give you a good report, and is contactable !

These people DO contact them and it is probably the MOST important contributing factor

when you are declined for no aparrent reason.

Bottom line though, you cant blend into the scenery like in big SA companies and just

go along for the ride, you have to earn your living the hard way .

If you are a Lecky (electrician) make sure you've got EWRB's o.k. to get a practising license

before you come over, it usually takes a long time to get that,

 and your visa and moolah may not go that far.