What will it be like to be part of the FIRST WAVE of incoming job seekers after borders open again?

The moment when borders open will be unique in the history of the NZ economy. That is when the best and most proactive employers who have the most needs for talent will meet their equivalent on the other side – that is the most proactive job seekers who have the right talent and motivation worth waiting for.

So here is the situation, NZ needs the exact same skills now as we needed before Covid with a few notable exceptions: travel agents for example.

The Kiwis who have returned to NZ did not satisfy demand for needed skills. Many of them didn’t return to the workforce as employees but they set up their own business. In any case, most of the returning Kiwis were in other roles: hospitality for example.

What is most in demand: Nearly all trades workers, engineers and teacher roles are needed badly, so long as the qualifications and experiences are solid. For trades workers, it is possible still to have great experience and no formal trades qualifications and still get work, but the process to find it requires a more intense strategy. Not a problem for the right skills. I have many recent examples of this.

Other than the above-mentioned, nearly all roles are welcome in NZ as long as the foreign applicant is obviously “head and shoulders” above local applicants. This sounds like a scary thing right? How can you be far better than all local applicants? Well, the pool of local applicants is often very small. If your formal qualifications are solid and work experiences are exemplary, you may have a fit into niche professional roles like Change Management or Technical Sales.

COMMON QUESTIONS:

Has the structure of NZ job demand changed since Covid? I don’t believe so, other than for a few roles. The structural change might be 10% at most.

Has demand fallen away in NZ since Covid? Demand is stronger and more desperate on front line roles. The need is often very urgent. Business opportunities are passing by a lot faster than qualified applicants are coming available. The response from local employers is to decline business and cherry pick the best use of their time on higher margin projects. Many businesses are booked months in advance. This is the reality in most trades roles right now.

Is this a great time to be marketing? For trades – yes. For teachers – not now but later. For engineers – often times, yes, it depends. The best source for information about the job market is always going to come from active hiring managers in your niche. People who are serious about coming to NZ will want do do that now and I can certainly get that process underway for you. I have done this for many years in every kind of role. They key always begins with your core skills. To start that journey of understanding, a first step is always your CV and then a chat.

When is the best time to get hired? Some of my Clients who are doing marketing this year during Covid are getting job offers, believe it or not. I know of 7 so far. But the majority are collecting contacts and scheduling meetings for the time when borders open. It takes time to set up well and then it takes consistency to get consistent results. I can help you through this process until you are comfortable. I suggest preparing for the border announcement to the maximum of your ability if you are serious about your future in New Zealand.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of contacting employers right now? The advantages are knowledge, contacts, scheduled meeting arrangements, confidence and planning abilities. Being ready for the first wave of immigrants to get into NZ is a very advantageous position that will never be seen again in a person’s lifetime. When borders open, it will be a magical moment when the most proactive job hunters meet the most proactive hiring managers. The best of both sides will be a match made in heaven for both sides, generally speaking. And both sides have been waiting so long for this to happen. There are no disadvantages except for those who are not 100% committed to NZ. If not committed fully, then it may be a waste of time to start, especially if you change your mind later and decide on a different country.

What is the best way to prepare for the border announcement? Every skill set is different every job interview is different, every role is different. Preparing for your goals is key so if you are committed and if you want to know how you can best prepare, I need to start with your CV at tate@employmentforimmigration.nz and I will respond within a day