“We are settling in. It was quite an adjustment from the rand to the dollar but we are getting used to it. The kids are loving it here and they feel so free. We love the rugby here. We went to a few matches already and are looking forward to the big game in July when South Africa is playing here.
“It was a pleasure to work with you and you went the extra mile with us. Your work definitely paid off and we are grateful for that. We love the beauty of this place.”
~Wilton Pieterse~
Isn’t it remarkable how our greatest achievements often come from our greatest challenges? From Albert Einstein to Michael Jordan, it seems that the most successful people in our world agree that failure + persistence = eventual success.
Recently I have been studying the ancient practice of Dream Yoga, which dates back to at least the 8th century in India. I wondered if we could adapt and simplify its teachings to address the challenges faced by modern migrants.
Let’s explore some key principles of Dream Yoga that might prove helpful:
Awareness of the present is all we really have. The past exists as a memory and the future is merely a projection. By cultivating awareness of the present, we can gain clarity and navigate our challenges more effectively.
Objective detachment reduces the influence of emotions and enables us to adapt more quickly to change. This is relevant for job seekers who are faced with too many rejection letters by potential employers. By disengaging from emotional responses to rejection, one can maintain equilibrium and focus on the lessons of moving forward in the search.
Setting clear intentions and visualising goals is another helpful practice and it applies to our modern world quite well. By taking the time to clarify your job preferences and setting concrete goals, you increase your chances of achieving them.
By staying grounded in one’s own sense of self and cultivating a deep sense of presence, job-seekers can navigate the changes and obstacles with greater resilience.
Question reality, because most beliefs are subjective. What is the reality behind the challenge? For example, if an employer rejects you after an interview, this can be an opportunity to seek advice. Surprisingly, local employers often offer helpful advice and even may provide contact information of their direct competitors who may be hiring. This perspective reminds us that many beliefs and perceptions are not what we might think and can be re-examined.
Even Einstein said it. Most achievers in sports also agree.
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
– Michael Jordan
Consider what lessons your challenges are trying to teach you. They may be the key to your personal growth and ultimate success.
Why I wrote this. I wanted to write something helpful to people who feel demoralised by the job search. It is easy to feel demoralised and then when the mood is down progress is slower and results can be even worse. We humans need to be in a positive state of mind if we want to be at our best performance, getting good results. What is also true and I see it from time to time, job seekers don’t know how well they are doing. For example, if you get a job interview, you are already a winner. You are 1 step away from getting the gold medal. Getting a job interview is like getting silver at the olympics, nothing to feel bad about. Getting short-listed is like winning bronze, this is a great space to be in, so don’t quit. Gold will come. Keep doing what works and celebrate the small victories along the way.
CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORIES
Are you struggling to find a job in today’s labour market? You’re not alone. Job hunting can be a difficult and time-consuming process, and it can be discouraging when you don’t get a job offer right away. But don’t worry, there’s a way to make the process less daunting: continuous improvement.
According to a 2015 study* it takes an average of six weeks to get an interview, and even longer to get an offer. For foreign migrants, the average numbers may be 20% higher if preparation is done really well. That’s a long time to wait, but it’s important to remember that getting a job takes time. It’s a process, not an event. If you’re feeling down because you haven’t received an offer yet, take a moment to notice the progress you’ve made.
The concept of continuous progress is one that many organisations use to guide their goals, using terms such as kaizen, lean management and change management. These approaches emphasise making small improvements over time that lead to big changes in the long run. You can apply the same principles to your job search by celebrating the small wins along the way.
Breaking big jumps down into smaller steps also allows you to see where the problems are. For example, if you’re having trouble getting interviews, ask yourself if you need to get through the AI vetting system to a real person, or if you’re getting real responses, maybe the challenge is with communication about your strengths or perhaps your job targets aren’t matched well enough yet? Breaking down your goals into smaller steps can help you identify and address these barriers.
In conclusion, continuous improvement is a powerful tool that can be applied to your job search. By breaking the process down into small steps and celebrating the progress along the way, you can stay motivated and positive even in the face of rejection. Remember that getting a job takes time, but by making steady progress you can focus on improving each step of the way. In time, you’ll get there faster and with greater confidence. Good luck with your job search!
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* The study I mentioned can be found in a report published by Glassdoor titled “Why Is Hiring Taking Longer?” The report is based on data from millions of job applications, 344,250 interview reviews from hiring events across industries and company sizes in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia. The report can be found at the following link: https://research-content.glassdoor.com/app/uploads/sites/2/2015/06/why-is-hiring-taking-longer.pdf
NEED HELP?
For helpful advice in about a day, send your CV and a short description of your status to tate@employmentforimmigration.nz.
It takes effort and time but the results are worth it.
This case study demonstrates how even the most complex and high value profiles can be hired online if the application process is done to a high standard.
Gidion’s smooth entry into New Zealand: Gidion excelled as a health and safety manager for a global mining company, overseeing 42,000 employees at 18 sites in six countries. His type of profile requires a complex team fit. The compliance and competency checks for such position and such industry normally requires a lengthy vetting process and face-to-face interviews. We decided to go for the online job searching process, with a fallback option for face-to-face interviews if required. Our planning paid off. Gidion secured a position with a national construction company in New Zealand.
At the end of the day, the clients will always define success for a business. If you want best-in-class support and an effective programme that delivers 80 times more responses from employers, you found the right place!
Qualifications requirements often prevent emigration decisions. Without qualifications, many roles are not available to people. However, there is a hack that can be used if you are a top performer in your industry. Top performers have a unique demand profile from the viewpoint of employers. If this is you, give me your CV and let’s have a chat. tate@employmentforimmigration.nz
“I will say out of the four companies that interviewed me, the process was successful. And I can confidently say it was successful because of the sessions that you took me through.”
Gidion Munyaradzi
Health, Safety and Environmental Manager
Getting hired online abroad used to be mostly reserved for easy hiring decisions. Top level guys like Gidion normally have to come into NZ and do physical interviews. However, when the system is robust and when people are ready to drive change, anything is possible.
Gidion went from leading cultural change for Anglo American in 18 plants affecting 42k staff in 6 African countries to working for a New Zealand national company througout our country based on his successful online interviews.
Due to pupular demand, anyone is welcome to my workshop “How to Create Fast, Free and Almost Perfect Cover Letters Using Artificial Intelligence”.
Does that sound complex? It isn’t.
Save time, create coverletters that are already integrated with the contents of your CV and the job advertisement. That isn’t the end of the story because you also need to “make the content your own”. I will show you that step as well.
Useful for any role, any country, any company. There is no fee. All job seekers are welcome this Friday at 8:15AM New Zealand time, which is 9:15PM this Thursday Central African Time. Just register for free to see the time in your own time zone.
Register early to keep your place. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUocOqrqDwsGdAT0qD0fuuSZTSCLgtKBp_m
Please be aware of the template rejection letters. They all say the same thing. Due to the high volume of spam CVs from overseas, employers usually respond with templates to all foreigners who don’t make the shortlist.
These templates are sent out hundreds or even thousands of times a month, depending on the size of the company and its volume of foreign applicants. There is usually only one version, suggesting things like “must have work rights” or “must have local Kiwi experience”.
Most job seekers have received template rejection letters. They usually in your inbox after you apply for a job with nice words and a promise to “keep your CV on file in case a suitable position becomes available”. I doubt they even read your CV.
This is how employers manage the problem of too many spam CVs. To avoid this dead end, job seekers need to get personal responses typed out from employers if they want to get job interviews.
A personal response from an employer will not be a long letter. They have no time for that. They usually give you a few short sentences and a question or two. Without this, you have not really received feedback from your application. You can usually ignore standard rejection letters and assume that there has been no response.
Over many years I have been studying how often foreigners receive personalise responses from hiring managers. I estimate this rate is about 2%. In contrast, my clients get 80% personalised responses from their recruitment efforts because we do things differently. I have to verify the profile first and then I can get started.
Do you have any rejection letter experiences to share?
Employment for Immigration to New Zealand, Australia and Beyond 