The Definitive Engineers Guide to Moving Your Career and Family to New Zealand Read this guide and you will discover: • 13 Costly Myths Stopping People Making The Move To New Zealand • The 11 Biggest Mistakes People Can Make When Moving To New Zealand • The 8 Dangers Of Working With The Wrong Recruiter • 3 Mistakes People Make About New Zealand Recruiters • 8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions To Ask New Zealand Based Recruiters To Make Sure You Are Working With The Best • 12 Reasons Why You Should Move To New Zealand • Directory Of Useful Information • 4 Steps To Finding Out If New Zealand Is A Viable Option For You And Your Family
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
The Definitive Engineers Guide to Moving Your Career and Family to New Zealand “There is nothing to fear but fear itself”
13 Costly Myths Stopping People Making The Move to New Zealand 1.
It is too difficult to get a VISA
It is difficult to get a VISA for Australia or Canada, so people incorrectly assume that it is difficult to get a VISA for New Zealand as well. The NZ Immigration process can be very friendly for the right person especially for engineering & construction specialists.
2.
It will cost too much to move there
Moving countries can be expensive – however in some (or usually most) cases you can gain assistance from your potential employer who will put together a relocation package to assist you. Compare the cost of moving to a less expensive lifestyle to the cost of staying in the UK and you will probably be far better off.
3.
It is too far away from home
It is approximately a 24 hour journey time to New Zealand; you can be back in the UK for any reason the next day. New Kiwi’s usually find that the benefits of living in New Zealand far outweigh any distance issues as you quickly settle into your new life.
4.
I will be leaving all of my friends and family behind
True, although phone calls can be as little as 0.7p per minute and you will very quickly make new friends who share your values. As for your UK family – they will probably have the best holidays of their lives when they come to visit. The internet also makes staying in contact across the globe easy using videophone Skype, Facebook, and other services.
5.
The kids will be leaving all their friends and family behind
True, but usually the kids are the easiest of the family to settle as they make new friends very quickly. Again they have the phone and Skype to stay in touch with the UK and to get them through the early stages. Your children above anyone else in the family will just love their new outdoor lifestyle.
6.
The education system is not as good as the UK
Not true, the education system in New Zealand is ranked as one of the best education systems in the world (4th best in the world - 2011 Mercer Global Ranking) and individual school information can very easily be checked out on the internet. Many schools also use UK qualifications such as Cambridge.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
7.
The education system is not recognised internationally
This is untrue again. New Zealanders are highly sought after in a range of international locations. Australia and the UK are the two largest markets for Kiwi’s although the USA and Middle East are equally keen to employ our best.
8.
I will not earn enough in New Zealand to keep the same living standards
This again is untrue. Although if you convert your NZ$ salary into £ you may feel that you are earning less, but it is all relative. The actual cost of living in a beautiful country where you can walk or drive to the beach without traffic jams or paying to park or whichever activity takes your fancy – far outweighs having a few extra pounds to spend on an indoor activity in the UK. The quality of life your family will be able to afford cannot be bought in most parts of the UK.
9.
I won’t be able to get a job in New Zealand
If you hold a professional position in the UK, there is every likelihood that you will be able to secure a similar position in New Zealand. This is because we have a skill shortage in New Zealand as our professionals are constantly poached to travel overseas!
10.
The family will make no friends
This depends entirely on your attitude. If you come to New Zealand and are truly prepared to give it a go and fit in, you will find Kiwi’s are some of the most hospitable people in the world. We have all heard of people migrating to New Zealand and not fitting in. This is only the case if you come here and start telling the Kiwi’s that they are doing it all wrong. In that case they will be right in asking why you came here in the first place!
11.
I don’t like dealing with recruiters
It is well known that the recruitment industry in the UK is a cut-throat industry where nobody seems to win. In New Zealand, most recruiters are highly professional long termers who know the market and the clients and will provide you with the highest levels of service. The best recruiters work on your behalf in a consultative manner and aim to secure you the best available role with the right company in the right location. This is because New Zealand is a much smaller market and you can’t afford to get a bad reputation – ever – something that everyone needs to remember whichever industry they work within.
12.
New Zealand is a backward country with no technology
Untrue - several of New Zealand’s most successful industries are in computer technologies (e.g. Weta Workshops 3D realistic graphics as seen in the Lord of the Rings films). In many ways New Zealand leads the world in technology, although we have a much more laid back approach to most things. When the heat is on, Kiwi’s will usually end up on top.
13.
The same role in Australia pays a lot more than New Zealand
On first appearances, this may well look the case. But consider this... Would you move from your home town to London for what appears to be more money? If so why do you think they pay more money in London? Any Kiwi leaving New Zealand to ‘jump the ditch’ looks for their NZ salary plus 40% plus the exchange rate - i.e. If you were earning NZ$100k you would be seeking around AUS $140k. Remember, the main reason the Australian companies offer a higher incentive to move there is because the working conditions are harder and the cost of living is higher.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
“A decision made in fear is always the wrong decision” - Tony Robbins
The 11 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Moving to New Zealand 1.
Get the wrong job - It is important that you match your skills and ambitions and personality
with the right role with the right company in the right location.
2.
Expect to be treated like an expat - There are many British people in New Zealand and they
tend to integrate with the easy going culture very easily.
3.
Accept a job on too low a salary - It is important to do your homework and make sure you
know what you want and the market rates for your field before you accept a role.
4.
Did not talk it through fully with the family and they were not fully on board resulting in you getting blamed when it went wrong! - It is important you discuss the
decision with your family thoroughly before you make contact with potential employers in NZ.
5.
Accept a job in a very small town that will not provide the opportunities that you were expecting - If you are not fully prepared for the location in which you accepted
a role this is probably because you have been misinformed by either the company (if you went direct) or a poor recruiter. Your lifestyle will vary dramatically depending on where you end up so do your homework and match the lifestyle with the location you want in New Zealand.
6.
Accept a job with the wrong company with a poor reputation in the market, who do not look after their staff - Again, you will avoid this if you deal with a
recruiter who is viewed as an industry specialist and who knows your market (see the questions in the appendix for assessing recruiters).
7.
Use too many recruiters - A professional football player only has one agent to look after his
affairs - your career is just as important so it is best to select the best person to represent you so they understand you and your needs closely and work solely on your behalf.
8a.
Accept a job with a similar job title to your current one - only to find that it is a very different role in NZ - Again – there is no replacement for local specialist knowledge.
You need to avoid being sold a line by potential employers.
8b.
Accept a job with the right title that was very different in New Zealand and nobody was able to advise me as I went direct - As above in 8a.
9.
Not fully understanding the migration process and applying for the wrong VISA, putting the family’s future on hold while you wait - Use a recruitment firm that
specialises in assisting British people move into New Zealand. They will be able to point you in the right direction to ensure a smooth passage.
10.
To presume that New Zealand is just like the UK - In many ways the culture is similar but
there will be surprising differences. Be flexible and ready to adapt - that is half the fun!
11.
To accept the wrong role only to find that your career has been put back several years - Once again a quality recruiter will be able to advise you
accurately so you have a good understanding of your employment options.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
It is important that you receive a balanced view of New Zealand so that you are aware of some of the potential dangers of coming to New Zealand. Once you know what these issues are, you can seek out the right knowledge to eliminate the dangers. The key to success is to have a great team working on your side but you need to select your recruiter carefully.
The 8 Dangers Of Working With The Wrong Recruitment Consultant
1.
Some recruiters will send your CV out to clients without ever speaking to you; this actually breaks the Privacy Act. The likely outcome is that your CV will not be presented in the best possible way to the clients - Limiting the number of companies
that will potentially interview you. Each company should be individually approached by phone – not just sent your CV. This means you may miss out on the roles that best suit you.
2.
Some recruiters will just try to place you to get a fee rather than know the market well enough to discuss all of the potential employers who may be interested in your CV - This also means you may miss out on the roles that best suit you..
3.
Some recruiters do not have your best interest at heart and will convince you to take a lower paying job or miss-inform you about a job just to get the placement - Your
goal and the goal of your recruiter MUST be to get you the best job in the best location for your career, lifestyle preferences and family needs. Do not accept anything less than 100% commitment from your recruiter to achieve this goal.
4.
Some recruiters do not have your best interest at heart and will convince you to take a position in a poor location just to get a placement - Once again the recruiter must be
working with your best interests at heart or you will not get the best options available to you.
5.
Some recruiters will not understand your background and therefore may not be able to secure you that all important interview or not submit your CV to the correct companies - If they do not take the time to understand you, your family,
and your individual needs then how can they help you get where you want to be?
6.
There are recruiters out there with a bad reputation and many potential employers will not read CV’s from them - These recruiters will tell you that they can help
you, but will not represent you strongly (because in a small country like New Zealand reputations are everything).
7.
Some recruiters know nothing about migrating to New Zealand and the challenges this can pose if you’re not careful - The only option is to use an experienced recruiter with
an extensive track record of bringing people into New Zealand. That way you can be assured that your family has the best team on your side.
8.
Some companies involved in helping people get to New Zealand actually charge a fee - No recruiter should ever charge a candidate a fee! Companies that offer a ‘job search’
service for a fee usually end up contacting specialist recruiters as the specialist recruiters hold the in-depth relationships with the clients.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
These are not difficult to overcome as long as you are aware of them.
3 Mistakes People Make About Recruitment Agencies 1.
Most recruiters are like used car salesmen!
This is untrue. In New Zealand, most recruiters do a fine job because reputations are very important in New Zealand, but like anything you have to research carefully to find the right person to speak with and interview them as much as they interview you!
2.
Believing your recruiter when they say New Zealand is perfect!
The truth is New Zealand is great but not perfect, if anyone tells you we don’t have our fair share of problems they’re not being completely honest with you and not focusing on your needs. You need to gain a balanced view of New Zealand before you arrive so that you and your family are not disappointed from the start.
3.
Believing false promises from your recruiter.
Recruitment is competitive and sometimes some recruiters will oversell a job to secure a candidate. Unfortunately it usually ends in disappointment for all concerned and a lot of wasted time. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions to Ask Recruiters to Make Sure You Are Working With The Best “Fotune favours the bold” Selecting the best recruitment firm to work with you can be as easy as knowing what questions to ask and knowing what answers to look for. The difference between having the best players on your team and average players in any area of life can make all the difference to your family’s happiness in New Zealand. 8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions to Select your Recruitment Partner
Company X Company Y Company Z
1. How many people have you personally been responsible for relocating to New Zealand? 2. Would you please explain the depth of relationships you personally hold with your clients? 3. Are you allowed to speak to line managers or just HR? 4. Can you explain your personal knowledge of the industry you work within? 5. Are you a specialist within your field? 6. How well do you understand my role technically? 7. Which companies are you not allowed to send CV’s to? 8. How quickly does the process work? What is your process?
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
12 Reasons Why You Want To Give Your Family The Gift Of A Life In Paradise “You only get one shot at this game... life is not a dress rehearsal” 1.
Beaches - from all of the three biggest cities you can be on the clean sandy beaches in less
than 15 minutes.
2.
Safety - New Zealand is one of the safest places in the world to live, even the Government is
rated as one of the least corrupt!
3.
Space - 4 million people in a country bigger than the UK. Freedom, less stress and bustle and
with the sun on your back (just remember the sun block)!
4.
Weather - Christmas dinner on the beach, make sure to wear sun screen and put some shade
over the Xmas Pudding, and ice to chill the wine and beer.
5.
Commuting - It is unusual to have to travel more than 20 minutes to work. Parking is usually
outside where you work and traffic is getting busier in some parts but nothing like the UK. Work hard and then leave work and go straight to the beach or a park with the kids.
6.
Skiing - What you don’t ski yet? Well you will soon (or at least snowboard!). The fields are
within easy access from all the main cities and the snow is clean and crisp.
7.
Kids - Let your kids grow up in sunshine and safety!
8.
Outdoors - Spectacular scenery, you are free to roam without the fear of poisonous snakes
& spiders and discover world class countryside. They did not shoot the Lord of the Rings in New Zealand for nothing!
9.
Culture - Work to live, not live to work.
10.
Sport - Kayaking/Skiing/Rugby/Golf/Sailing/Cricket/Ironman/Surfing - whatever you like to
play or watch this is a sports mad culture where it is safe and quite possible to go to any sporting event.
11.
Health - Live the healthiest outdoor lifestyle; give your kids something to do that is more
exciting (and better for them) than TV and computer games!
12.
Auckland - Is consistently voted as one of the best five cities in the world to live and according
to some it is New Zealand’s third best city!
Amazing facts about New Zealand • NZ has more golf courses per capita than any other country. • NZ was the first country in the world to allow women to vote. • NZ has the highest car ownership in the world. • NZ has no dangerous snakes, spiders, crocodiles, sharks, or jellyfish. • NZ is over 1000 miles from Australia. • 22% of New Zealanders were born overseas.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
Directory of Useful Websites and Books For Information and Further Research New Zealand Immigration
General Information
www.immigration.govt.nz www.bunac.org
Education
www.emigratenz.org/LivingInNewZealand.html www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/cat/C50 www.move2nz.co.nz
www.ero.govt.nz www.minedu.govt.nz
www.nz.com www.tourism.net.nz
Tourism Websites - for generic city information
Technical Professional Recruitment www.catalystjobs.co.nz
Generic city Information Auckland
www.aucklandnz.com www.aucklandtourism.co.nz www.aucklandcity.govt.nz www.arc.govt.nz
Christchurch
www.christchurch.org.nz www.ccc.govt.nz
Dunedin
www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/newcomer
Hamilton
www.hamilton.co.nz
Tauranga
www.tauranga.govt.nz
Wellington
www.wellingtonnz.com www.wellington.govt.nz
Amazing facts about New Zealand • NZ is home to the world’s smallest dolphin - Hectors Dolphin. • NZ is home to the world’s rarest Sea Lion - Hookers Sea Lion. • NZ is home to the world’s largests parrot - the flightless Kakapo. • NZ is home to the world’s oldest and longest life-span reptile - the Tuatara (living over 100 years and originating 225 million years ago). • NZ is home to the world’s heaviest insect - the Weta (bigger than sparrows). • NZ is home to the world’s smallest bats in the world - only 10 grams.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
4 Steps to Finding Out If New Zealand Is A Viable Option For You and Your Family 1.
Make a commitment to act
‘Nothing happens until something moves’ is the title of a book by Robert Ringer and he is right. If things are not as good as you want them to be then get serious about finding out if New Zealand could be feasible for you.
2.
List your objectives
Here is the most important step. Unless you know what you want you will never know where to find it.
3.
Ask Questions
The right answers lie behind asking the right questions of the right people.
4.
If you are a suitable candidate and you know New Zealand can give you what you want for your career and family then take a deep breath, be bold, and do it!
There is no class system in New Zealand, if you are a good person then you will be respected and you will succeed. We sincerely hope we get to see you when you get here.
Amazing facts about New Zealand • Kiwi Sir Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay were the first to conquer Mt Everest. • Auckland’s Sky Tower is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere (just 4m taller than the Eiffel Tower). • New Zealand has the longest place name in the world:‘Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu’
• There is no tree on Auckland’s “One Tree Hill” • 90 mile beach is actually only 65 miles long! • New Zealand has deserts, glaciers, rain forests, alpine, & geothermal regions. • The Cropp River region received 18.4m of rain in 1997.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
Appendix: OK... So how does Catalyst Recruitment Stack Up Against the 8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions to Selecting a Recruitment Partner
8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions to Select your Recruitment Partner
Catalyst Company X Recruitment
Company Y
1. How many people have you personally been responsible for relocating to New Zealand?
More and more people are coming from the UK and more recruiters are getting involved. Having successfully moved over 300 families from the UK since 1996 we understand the process, many don’t!
2. Would you please explain the depth of relationships you personally hold with your clients?
New Zealand is a small place and relationships are absolutely key to being successful. We’ve been working with our clients since 1996 and know them inside out. When you can take them to the rugby and support opposing sides and still do business afterwards you know you’ve got a good relationship.
3. Are you allowed to speak to line managers or just HR?
If you can speak to the line managers you can get a real feel for a department or division within a company and pass that onto your candidates. Initially our clients were reluctant to let us have that access but over the years since 1996 we’ve gained their trust and can now speak openly about their particular needs and styles of leadership.
4. Can you explain your personal knowledge of the industry you work within?
15 years of recruitment industry knowledge and 5 years of Civil Engineering Experience is a surprising amount. A lot happens in the industry and a good recruiter knows what work is coming up as well as the people who are involved. Of course we don’t know everything but we do have the relationships to find out!
5. Are you a specialist within your field? Yes is the quick answer. If you don’t work with a specialist you risk missing opportunities that may be perfect for you. Also, only a specialist would have access to the right people in an organisation, a general recruiter won’t get past the door!
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
8 ‘No Nonsense’ Power Questions to Select your Recruitment Partner
Catalyst Company 2 Recruitment
Company 3
How well do you understant my role technically?
As with question 5 it’s imperative to speak with a specialist. At the end of the day we are recruiters and so we won’t know your job inside out. However having interviewed the right candidates and speaking with our clients continuously since 1996 we can discuss in some detail what you want and where you are likely to be successful.
6. Which companies are you not allowed to send CV’s to?
No recruiter can work with everyone in New Zealand and give a good service. For whatever reason there will be a few companies we don’t deal with and that’s fine, a good company will tell you who they are. What they definitely will have though is a list of companies they do work with that they know very well and have great relationships with, all the better for securing you the right role.
7. How quickly does the process work? What is your process? It’s difficult to say how long the process should take; it can depend on the time of year, the type of work you want etc. Once we have spoken to you and gone through all you needs regarding New Zealand we will immediately get your CV out to our clients. From then there is close communication to take you step by step through interviews, immigration etc until you arrive in New Zealand. Of course it doesn’t stop when you arrive either as we’ve got to take you for a beer!
Amazing facts about New Zealand • New Zealand has more Scottish pipe bands than Scotland! • Dunedin’s Baldwin Street is the steepest street in the world. • Wellington is the most Southerly capital in the world. • Gisbourne is the first city in the world to see the sun rise each day.
Thank you for taking time to read this summary report based on an interview with Andy Hopkins & Phil Ponder at Catalyst Recruitment.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/
Who are Catalyst? Andy and Phil both moved to New Zealand in search of a better life. For them the experience has been such a good decision that they now spend their days making the process easy for other adventurous people who want to make the same journey.
Andy Hopkins was a Civil Engineer working on the M1 Widening Project in 1996, when he decided to move to New Zealand to play a season of rugby. He loved his first 6 months so much that he decided to stay and is now married to a Kiwi with a daughter born in February 2007 and a son in December 2009. Since his arrival in New Zealand, Andy has been recruiting in the Technical Disciplines since 1996. “When I was first considering the idea I guess I was a little scared - it’s a daunting decision as all my friends were moving to Australia, but after a few months I knew I was in the best place in the world as the quality of life for my family is incredible”
Phil Ponder came to New Zealand in 2000 as a school teacher however he made a career change and started recruiting in 2001. Phil is also married to Kiwi with a daughter born in January 2011. He specialises in placing construction and civil contracting professionals. “I was living in Sheffield when we decided to move, we were living in a cardboard box on the side of the street. Little did we know what we were missing when we came to New Zealand, we now have a two storied cardboard box with all day sun”
Mireille Verdonkschot (pronounced “Miray”) moved to New Zealand from the Netherlands with her family at the age of eight so knows first hand what it is like moving to a new country. Mireille focuses on recruitment with Engineering Consultants in the technical professional disciplines. “I will always look back fondly on my childhood. My parents had a dream of providing their children with a better life. The move to New Zealand provided me and my siblings opportunities and experiences that would never have been possible in the Netherlands“
Fran came to New Zealand from the UK in 2010 on a Working Holiday VISA after completing a degree in Marine Biology & Oceanography. Fran specialises in placing Engineering Consultants in the Water & Waste Water sectors. “Moving to New Zealand happened very fast for me and my partner; we were living and working the New Zealand life before our feet had even touched the ground. Looking back I would say that it was the best decision for me and my future and I am certainly not looking to return back to the UK any time soon”
Andy, Phil, Mireille, and Fran are leading experts in international sourcing and recruiting technical professionals for Consulting Engineers, Civil Contractors, Local Government, Government Agencies and Utility companies.
Phone: +64 (0) 9 307 6111 UK freephone: 0808 234 3587 IRE freephone: 1800 551 316
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz http://www.catalystjobs.co.nz http://catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/