How much will I earn in New Zealand

The New Zealand Employers and Manufacturers Association has published pay data from its most recent survey of New Zealand businesses. The survey covered 593 businesses and has data from 38,216 employees in 215 positions across 18 job sectors.

Basic Pay Rates for Selected Occupations
2009 Pay Compared with 2005 and 2007
Overtime and Shift Pay excluded

Job	Average Basic Wage (NZ$) 2005	Average Basic Wage (NZ$) 2007	Average Basic Wage (NZ$) 2009
Warehouse storeperson - unskilled	27,060	29,450	31,056
Warehouse storeperson - semi skilled	29,966	32,177	35,448
Receptionist	32,967	34,532	37,902
Fitter's Mate	32,691	35,440	39,884
Shop Salesperson - skilled	33,188	35,448	39,296
Caretaker /Custodian / Handyperson	34,817	36,596	40,344
Accounts Clerk	35,339	38,088	40,452
Driver - General Road Transport	34,016	38,214	40,379
Motor Mechanic - petrol	38,589	40,384	46,985
Sales Rep / Commercial Traveller	45,590	47,136	53,259
Motor Mechanic - diesel	41,172	47,555	54,686
Maintenance Fitter	47,945	48,008	55,492
Toolmaker	48,063	50,677	57,062
Staff Nurse/Registered Nurse	50,735	51,500	57,021
Secretary / PA to CEO	46,667	52,270	55,965
Human Resources/Personnel Officer	51,276	55,018	58,843
Registered Electrician	48,620	55,620	64,259
Analyst Prog /Comp Syst Engineer	61,229	66,066	72,145
Human Resources Manager	80,036	87,470	98,509
Information Systems Manager	88,295	95,720	104,871
Marketing /Bus. Dev Manager	93,729	101,322	108,571
General Manager - under 50 Employees	99,229	106,171	119,494
Financial Controller	99,222	109,317	127,427
General Manager - 50 - 199 Employees	127,395	132,845	147,839
Managing Director (50 - 199 employees)	156,188	181,794	190,331

Sample Cover Letter

Here's the cover letter that I used when I'm applying for a job. Please edit according to your field and circumstances. I start sending application even after the ITA and from there I've started to learn the key skills that NZ companies needs in relation to my background.

Hope this help...

P.s. please help me share this website to your friends and spread the gesture of kindness to everyone...God Bless.

Dear Matthew,

I am writing to express my interest to apply as CAD Draftsman in your organisation.  I believed that my   experience and expertise in the field of engineering matches your criteria and requirements.

I am currently waiting for my Work to Residence visa result and I am optimistic to receive in a month period. In connection with this, I am now seeking for a possible interview arrangement or employment offer to prospective company or employer in New Zealand.

For a brief background of my qualification, I obtained a Level 6 Diploma in Civil Engineering issued by New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) for my education and has 10+ years proven track record and technical expertise in civil/structural engineering from a reputable consulting and construction firm. I also have strong communication skills and works well in a team-led environment.

I attached herewith my CV for your review and consideration. Thank you for your time and I appreciate for your reply.

Very Truly Yours,

You name

Mobile No.

email: 

Wage gap across the ditch to increase

The trans-Tasman wage gap is likely to grow this year, a new survey has found.

The study of 250 Australian and 180 New Zealand businesses found that almost 80 per cent of Aussie employers planned to boost wages in line with inflation over the year.

Across the Tasman, just over half of Kiwi businesses would boost pay packets, according to the poll conducted by accounting firm Grant Thornton.

A partner at Grant Thornton New Zealand, Peter Sherwin, said the country "might be on the cusp of another brain drain".

"It is not a good sign to see the skilled younger people leave the country," he said.

Not only will this trigger a skills shortage in New Zealand, but the country will suffer as the result of reduced tax payments.

Mr Sherwin said the reluctance to increase New Zealand wages is a ripple effect of last year's tough economic climate.

"New Zealand went into recession, Australia didn't," he said.

"The impact of that is that there's been more pain and suffering in New Zealand businesses than in Australia through reduced sales and therefore profitability."

Big businesses are moving their headquarters to Australia, forcing highly skilled Kiwis to cross the ditch and take the "greatest financial carrots dangled in front of them".

"A number of higher paying jobs that we used to have have migrated," Mr Sherwin said.

"The last thing New Zealand wants now is to have our recovery stalled by a shortage of talent."

By Nicky Park, 9News 

'Premature Ageing' Hitting Workforce

Monday, 15 February 2010 - 9:08pm

Wellington, Feb 15 NZPA - New Zealand's workforce is being hit by "premature ageing" and needs to boost its numbers, says a Waikato University researcher.

An expert in regional demography, Professor Natalie Jackson, said New Zealand was losing people aged 20 to 40 -- mainly due to emigration -- which was driving up the median age of the population.

"Crunch time is approaching with the number of retirees set to boom and fewer and fewer young people coming into the labour market," she said.

"The issues are huge because New Zealand is parked right next to Australia, which has an older population than New Zealand, and is like a vacuum sucking in Kiwi migrants."

Europe's population had stopped growing, and that region was interested in skilled young people from New Zealand.

"We can't necessarily count on filling the gap with skilled migrants given the fierce international competition to attract these people," Prof Jackson said.

New Zealand needed to get more women into the workforce, she said.

A former president of the Australian Population Association, Prof Jackson has spent the past 15 years in Australian universities researching the regional impacts of population ageing, and differences between indigenous and non-indigenous people in Australia and New Zealand.

She has acted as a consultant on ageing populations and said that Tasmania had also been losing young people, like New Zealand, which caused an "applecore shape" in the population's age groups -- thinned out in the middle.

"This has huge economic implications because it's the young people who buy the houses and take out first mortgages, they're the ones who have the children and they're the ones who buy the whiteware," said Prof Jackson, who heads the university's centre for population studies.

The university wants to create a national institute of demographic and economic analysis over the next two years, and Prof Jackson said she also wanted to develop research known as feminist demography -- which views the family as an entity producing the future labour force and taxpayers.

"With fewer young people around to replace ageing baby boomers in the labour market, we're going to need all hands on deck," she said. "It's the family that generates these future workers and taxpayers. We need to...see more investment in the family."

How to create successful CV

How to Create a Successful CV

In today’s competitive job market, you only have thirty seconds to impress a potential employer with your CV.

With many employers now receiving hundreds of applications for each advertised vacancy, how do you know what they are really looking for and how can you make your CV stand out from the crowd?

Simple, professional layout

Your Curriculum Vitae is your marketing pitch and should be presented in a professional, business like format. As with any marketing document, it is important to ensure that the reader can absorb the key points quickly – the quicker they engage, the more likely they are to buy. CVs should be no more than three pages; layout should be simple, concise and easy to read.

Importance of the first page

If the first page of your CV does not capture the attention of an employer, you will not be shortlisted for interview. An employer needs to be able to make an immediate decision as to whether you have the appropriate skills and qualifications to perform the role. Including a profile at the top of your CV, is an effective means of matching your background to employer specification and ensuring that the employer knows that you have all of the essential ingredients to be successful in this job.

Highlight your achievements

CVs should be drafted in an achievement driven format. Employers should be listed in reverse chronological order, with more weight given to your most recent roles. Under each position, briefly outline your responsibilities but place the focus on what you have achieved in each role. If possible, quantify your achievements as this creates a strong impact e.g. “through the introduction of robust controls and procedures, I reduced the debtor days outstanding from 50 to 40 days in the first six months of 2009.”

If you are struggling to identify your achievements, try to focus on what made you a valued employee. Were you adept at streamlining processes and procedures or did you find a more efficient way to do something? Were you given the post of “super user” on your IT system and given the responsibility of training staff? This adds personality to your CV and helps create a much stronger impact than simply listing duties and responsibilities.

Review regularly

Many people fall into the trap of simply adding to their CV each time they move job, resulting in CVs becoming too long and too much space being given to early roles. Review your CV on a regular basis. You may even need to consider adopting a different CV layout to take account of the new skills, qualifications and experience gained, to make sure that they are presented in the most effective light.

Edit

Like all good pieces of literature, a Curriculum Vitae needs to go through the hands of a strong editor. Less is more. Only the most relevant information should feature and this will be determined by the specific role you are applying to.

Conclusion

Writing your CV is an art not a science. But one thing is clear; you have to make a connection with an employer in seconds. By carefully choosing what appears on the opening page, placing emphasis on achievements and what made you a valued employee, you can engage the attention of an employer and create that vital strong first impression.

About the Author

Laura McGrath is the owner of Interview Techniques, a leading provider of interview coaching services. She has spent the last 15 years in staffing and recruitment and is a regular contributor with RecruitIreland.com and the Sunday Business Post.

Go to: www.interviewtechniques.ie

Email: info@interviewtechniques.ie

Some additional tips for tier assessment interview

How will you find work ?

Answers:
a. Huge list of agencies & companies
b. Information about career advice – CVs, interviews, job hunting tips
c. Updated my skills
d. Made a few contacts in NZ
e. Decided it is best to emigrate first, then look for a job in our preferred area


Have you tried to find work ?
Two options:
a. Find a job, submit CV, go for interview, start over again
b. Find lots of companies & prepare for an intensive job search on arrival
Reasons:
---Uncertainty of when we’d get to NZ
---PR
---House sale
---Didn’t want to mess employers about

We've chosen option (b), and could back it up with a list of companies etc.


What obstacles to finding work might you encounter ?

Answers:
a. This rather stumped me because I automatically prepare for other options, so I don't notice the obstacles
I guess you need to consider whether you might have obstacles in your career.


What will you do to make settling OK ?

Answers:
a. With kids and a dog we’ll meet lots of new people – we do that a lot !
b. Playgroup and toddler club for our kids
c. My wife has a mums & toddler/baby group who meet in each others houses
d. New friends from work


Have you got family or friends in NZ, that will actually provide support ?

Answers:
a. No family, but forum friends. I'm naming no names, but people on here were mentioned
b. It's real support that matters. So you need solid help, like a place to stay, or help with something.


What research have you done ?

Answers:
a. I think you can guess my answers to that


Do you know what the cost of living is ?

Answers:
a. My cost of living calculator
b. You need to know what salary you can expect, and what you could accept if necessary in order to be able to survive.


What will you do if you can't find work. The wrong answer is "I will only do xxx, and so I'll just give up !".

Answers:
a. Look in other parts of NZ
b. Look for anything to do with computers !
c. You need to show that you are not going to only accept the job you think you 'deserve'. Flexibility and drive to get 'something' is I think the answer.

1) How are you going to apply your skills in NZ?
2) What do you think are the difficulties you'll encounter in finding work in NZ?
3) What challenges have you faced in your work in your own country?
4) Why did you choose NZ over other countries?
5) What made you decide to go to NZ?
6) What do you know about the living costs/labour market/climate in NZ? what you could accept in order to be able to survive.


LIVING COSTS:
House rental $160-250/wk depending on location and size
Electricity: $100-150/mo
Dining out: $10-30
Coke 1.5 litres: $2
Groceries: $280–350/mo

CLIMATE
Summer: Dec – Feb
Autumn: Mar – May
Winter: June – August
Spring: Sept - November


In what region do you want to settle in? Why?

3 main IT centers:
Christchurch – flourishing IT industry, located in the South Island, less crowded
Wellington – 2nd to Auckland in availability of IT jobs



Auckland – numerous IT companies; most crowded city in NZ with a population of 1M
Wellington – 2nd to Auckland in availability of IT jobs

Do you have contacts in NZ? If you have friends, what kind? How close are you? How often do you communicate? What level of support can they extend to you? Do you have their contact nos.?

What have you done, will do to prepare yourself for a successful settlement in NZ?

-sent resumes to various companies & recruitment agencies:
Sabre

My 2nd Tier Assessment INTERVIEW

SKILLED MIGRANT - SECOND TIER ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW


Principal Applicant:
Secondary Applicant:
APPLICATION NUMBER:

A. Employment Prospects

Employment Prospects Questions for the principal applicant

Can you tell me briefly about your current employment, skills and experience?

I am currently employed with one of the famous company engaged in waste water treatment. Our projects covers Asia, Europe, USA and other parts of the world and we have offices in Belgium, Germany, Hongkong, Thailand and the Philippines. I am a Senior Civil Engineer which is directly reporting to Engineering Manager. My main responsibility is to prepare conceptual and preliminary civil layout according to PFD’s, P&ID & Proposal. I am also doing drafting works using Autocad for Civil Guidelines drawing & piping layout & Isometrics.

In general, I have a very good skill in both drafting & design works in Civil/Structural jobs.
It involves 2D & 3D drawings, Steel A.R.C. Detailing, Bar bending schedule, cad management, server administration and site supervision.

What is your preferred occupation in NZ?

CAD Technician / Draughtsperson

• What do you know about opportunities to get work in (principal applicant’s preferred occupation) in New Zealand?

Through internet & web sites

• What resources have you used in your research?

Internet and referral


• Are there any shortages of your skills in NZ?

Yes

• Have you applied for any jobs or contacted any recruitment agencies? If not, then why?

Yes, I actually started applying for jobs last 2 years ago when my EOI has been selected from the pool and until now I’m still sending applications to prospective company’s and agencies.

• Are you aware of any professional associations for your area of work?
(What is the name and have you contacted them)?

Yes, I am aware of professional association in NZ , the Institution of Professional Engineers I New Zealand (IPENZ), but I haven’t contacted them yet.

What is the salary ranges for your preferred occupation in NZ?

Average of NZD43,000 per year



• What barriers do you think you might encounter in getting a job?
I don’t have New Zealand working experience

• If not successful in finding work in your preferred occupation, what would you do?
I am willing to start as junior position as long as it is relevant qualifications.

Have you ever worked in a different location or taken up a new career in a different occupation? (OR if you have never worked outside of your expertise before and you have to take up a different career in NZ)

Yes I’ve worked in different locations.

• What challenges did you face?

The main challenges you will be facing when working to other country is the culture and lifestyle of certain country.

• How did you deal with those challenges?

You have to study and familiarize the culture of a country where you will work so that when you are there, you will not be surprised and you already prepared.

• Would you do anything differently next time?
Yes, because I’m willing to face challenges as long as it concerns my advancement

B. Preparedness of Partner/Family

Preparedness of Partner/Family Questions

(Question for principal and partner)

What plans do you have to help you and your children (where applicable) settle in New Zealand?

Firstly, we have saved some money to sustain our stay in NZ until I can find a job. Secondly, we already established some initial agreements with my friend with regards to accommodation when we arrived but our agent is also willing to assist us and lastly, I will enrol my children to English training programs so that they will easily adjust in NZ.

• Have you looked into any voluntary work and/or community activities in NZ? (eg. Childcare, school involvement, service organisations)
No



In-home care, care by a family member and professional childcare centre’s



Yes, age 5 to 16



Parent – Teacher school association
Church Activities

• Do you think you will find adjusting to NZ easy or difficult?

I think in the beginning is difficult to settle but as long as my family is with me, I’m sure I can handle challenges.



• What similarities do you see between Philippines and NZ?
Family Values

• What differences are you aware of in NZ?

Weather


• Do you think your adjustment will be relatively quick or will it take some time?

Definitely it’s not that quick but my motivation is to settle immediately.

• Have you discussed whether your whole family will travel to NZ at the same time?

Yes, we agreed that we will go to New Zealand all together.

• Are you and your partner going to look for paid employment?

Yes but she will prefer a part time jobs so that she can still look after our children.


(If partner indicates they intend to work in NZ please complete the following questions):

Employment prospects for the partner

Secretarial works

• What is your educational background? (degree conferred, name of institution and date obtained)

Secretarial course

• Can you summarize your work experiences in the last 10 years (if applicable)?

I started as mere clerk way back 1997 and climb up to administrative officer to present

How do you intend to use your skills and experience in New Zealand? (What jobs do you intend to pursue at this time?)

Part time secretarial or cashier jobs.

• What do you know about opportunities to get work in (partner’s preferred occupation) in New Zealand?
That there a lot of job opportunities in New Zealand

advertisement


Yes, through internet



No. I haven’t



Average of NZD32,000

• What barriers do you think you might encounter in getting a job?
I don’t have working experience in New Zealand

• If not successful in finding work in your preferred occupation, what would you do?
I am willing to work anything as long as I can help to my husband

Have you ever worked in a different location or taken up a new career in a different occupation?
No
• What challenges did you face?


• How did you deal with those challenges?


• Would you do anything differently next time?

C. Familiarity with New Zealand

Familiarity with New Zealand Questions

What has motivated you to consider migrating to New Zealand at this time?
The economic situation of the Philippines motivated me to migrate to New Zealand and most of all my family, I want to give them a good future.

• Have you ever been to New Zealand?
No

• How long did you spend there?
N/A

• Where did you visit in New Zealand?
N/A

• When did you start to think about migrating to NZ?

Year 2002, when our family friend settles in NZ. He gave us some good information about NZ and we became interested to migrate.

• What preparations have you completed towards migrating to NZ since then?
Seek for a consultant and submitted all the necessary requirements

• Have you thought about where you might live?

Anywhere in New Zealand as long as I can get a relevant work but I prefer to settle in Christchurch where my friend lives.

• What attracts you to that area, eg climate, lifestyle, contacts, education facilities?

According to my friend Christchurch is not yet crowded and they have a good university for my children. The construction industry just started to boom so I will find a lot of opportunities.

• What do you think will be the difficulties you might encounter in settling in NZ?

Maybe I will be slightly affected with the weather and culture, although it is almost similar, there is still adjustment to be made.

• What are those things that you think you will have to adjust to if you live in NZ?

Weather and culture

• Please tell me your top three priorities for settling in NZ
1. Job opportunities 2. Good Health services 3. Free Education

• Do you have family members in other countries?

My wife has relatives living in USA

• Have you considered migrating to these countries?
No




D. Linkages and Support
Linkages and Support
(must include but are not limited to)

What kind of support do you expect from family/friends in New Zealand?
(for family and friends, determine background e.g. relationship, date of migration to NZ, family status, etc..)

Family:
Friends:
Agent:

• Level of ongoing contact with family/friends over the last 3 years
None

• Information provided eg. job, housing, schools, living costs

Info provided by family/friends/agent? Yes / no
Rental cost: NZD200 TO NZD300 A WEEK
Schooling cost: SUBSIDIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT


• Initial accommodation provided/offered?
• Assistance to find permanent accommodation / employment / schools
• What do your family/friends in NZ do?
N/A

We would like to contact your family / friends in New Zealand. Can you give me their contact details?

P.S.
Please read my personal journey to New Zealand here.