Employment in New Zealand

So, you want to become an X?? Great, what next?? Thinking or dreaming about becoming X is ok but you know, just thinking and dreaming won’t be enough, you will have to do something more than that. This is where our two-step approach comes into the picture. The primary thing needed to become an X is to learn ‘how to become an X’ And the final step in learning how to become an X is To learn how to learn ‘how to become an X’. That’s it. It’s that simple. I’d say please go and learn it and keep doing it. Keep doing it, not once or twice…. Keep doing it till you get what you want. We are in 2017 and there are billions of resources available on the internet for learning anything and everything including job search. Blogs, articles, associations, experts, videos, webinars, eBooks. You just name it and these resources are all there on numerous social media platforms sharing their knowledge and expertise with you if you want. Remember, learn what’s ne

Migrants coming to New Zealand on various visas that authorise them to conditionally or unconditionally work have just one question on their minds. Will I get the job? A question, that is responsible for all their apprehensions, fears, insecurities and in many cases sleepless nights. However, I keep telling you the difference between ‘a’ job and ‘the’ job. Migrant job seekers are looking for ‘the’ job. It’s ‘the’ job that fetches them their further visas and helps them ultimately qualify for their NZ Permanent Residencies. “Will I get ‘the’ job?”, is the question. There is a lot riding on this question, there’s so much at stake. The answer to this question will decide whether they have succeeded in their pursuit for a better lifestyle for themselves and their families, whether their decision-to-relocate for an overall convenience has paid off and whether the time, emotions and money that they invested towards achieving an exceptional work-life balance was worth or n

We feel bad when recruiters don’t respond to us…..right? Especially when it’s no more a cold call. It’s a situation where you’ve already had the first interaction or a meeting or an email exchange or an introduction through a common contact and suddenly everything goes quiet!! There’s no response to your follow-ups and at times there’s no response even after committing that they will respond. We feel bad!! Come to think of it, aren’t we all culprits of a similar behaviour?? Knowingly or unknowingly, we all behave in the same way with others as we claim, recruiters behave with us. We don’t respond…. We just don’t respond!! Lack of time, lack of attention, lack of purpose or it could be as simple as lack of respect!! Reason can be anything or it’s just that we don’t know ‘how to say NO’. We opt for not responding. Is it good? Just some food for your thought!! I understand, no one is perfect and that includes me. I sometimes end up missing or delaying m

We have heard this phrase countless times in different shapes and forms, “Nothing plus Nothing equals Nothing”, “Nil and Naught are never sought”, “Zip and Duck Always Suck”, “Santa ke saath Banta? Babaji ka ghanta!” I am sorry the last one is in Hindi, it’s a wee bit naughty and it’s R18 but they all mean the same. If nothing is added with nothing the result will always be nothing, méiyǒu, rien , nichts , amugeosdo, kahore…. NOTHING! On the other hand, research shows we are attracted to people who look like us, behave like us, who have a similar personality type and we even tend to gravitate towards those who share our level of education. It’s true. You come to think of it what happens when you walk into a gym the very first time after you have decided to get into shape? Every step is a bit tentative, it’s so easy to get intimidated looking at those big bulky hulks pumping iron, sweating and grunting out loud. You look at their arms, legs and chest and you give a peek at y

Please email me your CV and I will get back to you!! Can you please apply through our website and someone from our team will get back to you!! Keep an eye on the job boards and please apply if you find something relevant!! We will keep your CV in our files and get back to you once we have something relevant for you!! I will share your CV with my whole team and get back to you if we have something relevant for you!! I am talking to some more candidates and hopefully, I’ll get back to you soon!! Have you heard any of these statements or anything similar from your recruiters?? 97% of the times, this means a ‘NO’!! “No, I am not interested in your profile.” Or “Please don’t waste your time, I am sure none of us in the office will be able to help you.” Or “I’m sorry but I don’t think you’re the best one we have.” Reason could be anything from your technical skills to your communication skills or from your experience to simply your attitude… but just get t

And so am I… In fact, all of us are assholes! Yup, I mean it. Now, before you start hurling aggressive comments towards me and pray that I rot in hell… hold your guns!! Let me try and explain what am I saying…ok? It so happened, that I met a job seeker couple of weeks back who felt recruiters are the lowest form of life on this face of the earth. They are a bunch of heartless dummies who are interested only in their commission. They don’t respond and they don’t feel the need to inform you about your rejection. They have no idea how it feels to get rejected, they are assholes. Understanding his frustration, I tried to reason with him for almost 30 minutes only to reach a conclusion that he felt even I am an asshole. (I mean, he didn’t say that out loud but I think I figured it out) He thought I was being defensive about how recruiters behave by justifying their actions. I didn’t support him and that was not what he was expecting or anticipating. I asked him some heavy hi

Students, when they arrive at the Auckland International Airport; what do they have? A big smile on their face, spark in their eyes, enthusiasm and determination to achieve their goals, butterflies in their stomach and a commitment to themselves that they will try to get a job as soon as possible and make sure they are not a burden to their parents back home and friends, if any, in New Zealand. Their attitude is nothing less than that of a total innocence and sincerity. Once here, they don’t take much time to make friends with the groups they stay with or with the guys they move around or the ones who are in their college. Soon they get introduced to this very special group of students/immigrants who are the ‘been-there-done-that’ kinds. They are a respected lot having solutions and or opinion on almost everything and are often addressed as ‘Seniors’. These so-called seniors always feel the uncontainable sense of responsibility in sharing their pearls of wisdom with the

Said no immigrant job seeker ever!! However, we all know that the transactions are taking place. Money is being DEMANDED, money is being OFFERED and money is being ACCEPTED in broad daylight and jobs are being SOLD. You know it, I know it and I am sure even the Government and the authorities know it, but the problem is you and I can’t prove it and I doubt if the Government has the intentions and resources to prove it as well. That said, we should expect some movement as this (2017) is the election year in New Zealand but employers who are involved in all this are so beautifully covered and have found exceptional ways to work around the laws, that they are almost untouchable. They are making a mockery of the system, abusing their privileges and laughing their way to their banks. Their books and records are perfect and yes, you guessed it right… the transactions ARE taking place!! Since no one can prove the foul play, hence it’s proved that they are doing nothing wrong! A

As a job seeker in NZ, you would’ve heard and experienced this statement countless times. “It’s not important what you know. What is important is, WHO you know!!” And I can bet, you know or have heard about someone who got the job just because he/she knew someone in the company. Many times you see someone less capable or deserving walking into the role over you and you feel, how did that happen and why is it happening to me?! We all like to think and believe that factors like competence, education, knowledge and experience should be the ideal determinants for a job seeker to secure their dream role but who said we live in an ideal world. It is disturbing to see yourself slogging through your job search doing your best with no or minimum results and losing that chance that you wanted so badly to someone else and as a result, you often feel resentful, bitter and sour. I am new in New Zealand and I don’t have any references, I don’t know anyone. Where ever I apply, I am aske