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Thread ID: 98010 2009-03-07 09:54:00 F*** this recession. bob_doe_nz (92) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
754442 2009-03-07 11:38:00 Don't bother coming over to Australia either. Jobs are drying up real fast here too.

I have a Australian colleague. Not sure if this is accurate. He says, income minus cost, NZ is more. He also says, many of the kiwi's going to AU are the trades people.

For normal white collar desk jobs how is AU really like? 		Nomad (952)
754443 2009-03-07 11:44:00 Well if they cant be bothered replying to my emails, theyre hopeless IMO

I had permanent (6 yrs) and temp contracts (10-11 yrs), with 2 govt depts

Altho, after 6.5 yrs (when I had finished with the 1st employer), they re-employed me the next year.

Even tho some of the contracts were short (3 mths to around 18 mths) I was working 40 hrs + a week like everyone else. It felt more like temping than fulltime jobs.

Oh well, I'm not currently looking for a job now, due to medical reasons.

Probably wont be until 2013 		Speedy Gonzales (78)
754444 2009-03-07 17:13:00 You have to remember that agencies aren't working for you . You are the goods they sell to their client - if they don't think they can sell you for a particular job, they put you aside .

If you go to them with no expectations of getting any replies, you won't be disappointed .

There are a few good ones out there (they tend to be the smaller ones), but the majority are like used car salesmen . You can't trust them further than you can spit a dead rat .

And in my experience, they definitely advertise jobs they don't have, so they can get you in and on their books so they can then go to their clients and say "Look at all this talent we have on our books . Give us a contract to supply . "

Most of the contract roles I have had over the last 9-10 years have been word-of-mouth, through contacts made on the job .

However that doesn't make it an easy option for someone with little or no experience . Use your network of friends, their fathers/mothers, and their friends to get introductions .

All you need is one face-to-face interview with a potential employer to get a job - because you will be able to tell them what you're capable of, whereas an agency tends to just look at your CV and unless you interview well at the agency, there won't be too many opportunities to talk to an employer .

The problem is getting in front of an employer, because agencies are used to filter applicants out . . . 		johcar (6283)
754445 2009-03-07 18:03:00 Bob . . . come move down here to Napier with me and we can rent a house together . We can share the rent and work together, one way or another, hey?

I'm serious .

ps - I'm not gay!

:thumbs: 		Greg (193)
754446 2009-03-07 18:55:00 There is still a massive skills shortage in the IT industry - yes, plenty of people applying for jobs, but not enough people with the training or experience needed. That's why a lot of companies and govt departments spend a fortune on "consultants". I've spoken to a number of employers in the last 6 months, and they're all struggling to find grads who are up to their expectations.

With relative inexperience, you really need to go with the larger companies who can afford to take a risk with someone less experienced. Smaller companies prefer to get in lateral hires, so as they don't have the resources to train someone - and risk. Hopefully the 90-day trial period legislation will make employers more willing to take on less experienced workers, and give them chance to prove themselves.

Bob_doe_nz: What about registering with one of those temping/labouring places like Allied Workforce and so forth? Although it might not be work that you like, at least it'll be some income. 		somebody (208)
754447 2009-03-07 19:10:00 There is still a massive skills shortage in the IT industry -


In certain areas that is .

Bob_doe_nz: Sympathies - I know what thats like . Been there, done that . With depressing regularity .

Agencies are kind of a necessity in IT, at least in Auckland . Down here there are fairly non-existent .

Hang in there - something will come along eventually . It fells like never but it will .

Could send your CV to Orcon, they have loads of staff these days, its not too bad - I worked there once for a bit, before they moved to Takapuna .
And now they have different depts now - not just one bundled call centre .


As for the car thing, my son doesn't have a license - his partner has a car now but it limits his job search . Most in his area is Sth Akld, he lives West . So far he's always found one out West though, but I keep telling him he needs to be able to drive in Akld - public transport being such a joke . 		pctek (84)
754448 2009-03-07 20:23:00 If you don't have a license or a car,your future employer will be thinking why hasnt this person got off his arse and got a license. No car! employer will think the applicant is sponging rides off other people or is some sort of greenie rebel.
99.9% of jobs will require you go off in a vehicle and do something some time some where.
Would I hire some one in the office with no license, no way I may have to send him/her in the break down van to pick up a part from BNT for example.
My advice get a car license. 		prefect (6291)
754449 2009-03-07 20:43:00 For at least the past 20 years I haven't been required to do any driving in my job. I am licensed but hasn't been needed for the jobs I've been in past 20 years. Be open and up front about why you don't drive - and, of course, don't apply for any jobs that *demand* driving skills. Go for a large company - if they have 100 employees then they'll have enough drivers already - way more than they have cars (unless they're a car rental company!) coldot (6847)
754450 2009-03-07 20:48:00 There is still a massive skills shortage in the IT industry - yes, plenty of people applying for jobs, but not enough people with the training or experience needed . That's why a lot of companies and govt departments spend a fortune on "consultants" . I've spoken to a number of employers in the last 6 months, and they're all struggling to find grads who are up to their expectations .



Yup, I can say that in NZ they want a can do attitude and experience . Hence as a graduate from uni my first job was in a call centre and then temping admin . They don't take qualifications as highly in Asia .

Contractors yup that is how they can get experience unfortunately . Like data warehouse, ICT, specialised knowledge like taxation law etc . Sometimes they would just outsource research studies / reviews to the big consulting firms like KPMG / Pricewatercooper house / Deloitte . I think you should at least look at projects cos that is where many people are on contracts than perm roles, so some people may be on the continual lookout for perm roles and then resign, and projects don't really appeal to many people cos it can be more stressful than a normal BAU business as usual job . Since a person may be helping others and a do a bit of everything . . they may take a keen person on than by real experience .

I think a bit of planning is involved . Big or's may be more open in hiring people with less skills . You have to know the culture of the org via people words of mouth . Some may have higher turnover, some may have a younger group of employees who prefer younger workers, ie . , the team leaders may only be 30 or 35 . Some orgs may hire people with less experience and develop them up hence their salary bands can be lower than some other similar orgs to themselves . 		Nomad (952)
754451 2009-03-07 20:54:00 For at least the past 20 years I haven't been required to do any driving in my job. I am licensed but hasn't been needed for the jobs I've been in past 20 years. Be open and up front about why you don't drive - and, of course, don't apply for any jobs that *demand* driving skills. Go for a large company - if they have 100 employees then they'll have enough drivers already - way more than they have cars (unless they're a car rental company!)

Yup I never had to drive either. Yes, large companies have thigns like accountants, assistant accountants, senior person, normal person and junior person. They pay you less but they may want to develop you up.

I have know people who were team administrators, executive assistants, administration assistatns, project co ordinators, project administrators who had gotten better jobs in the same org or even in the same project ie., advisor analysts. I known a person who had a culineary background but was doing a uni course in international studies, and he got a job as a team administrator in one of the international policy studies unit. 		Nomad (952)
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