Comment by peterburkimsher | Hacker News Reader

Comment by peterburkimsher | Hacker News Reader

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peterburkimsher

I'm trying to get a job in New Zealand right now. In 2012 I was there on Working Holiday, and did a summer job writing control systems code for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare in Auckland.

By 2014 I'd visited a few more countries and shortlisted destinations: New Zealand (Skilled Migrant Category), Canada (Express Entry), or Australia (subclass 186).

Now I'm trying to apply, but most listings on Seek require already having the "right to live and work in this location". I need the job to get the work visa.

I sent many applications, without success. I updated my LinkedIn, rewrote my résumé several times based on conflicting advice, and asked a recruiter to help - but still no interviews. I posted several side projects here on Hacker News, but they didn't reach the front page. My current contract making microSD cards for OSE in Taiwan lasts until the end of the year, but I can leave earlier.

Please contact me if you have any idea about immigration-friendly employers, recruiters, websites - anything helps.

I'm a kiwi and did the reverse and moved to Scotland. I do know a number of people who were offered jobs in NZ while still abroad. Technical sales, developer, psychiatrist. That's just anecdotal, but it's definitely possible.

However my approach in moving to the UK was to actually show up to look for a job. Seems to me like it's very different having a faceless person send in a CV from the other side of the world, compared to them walking through your front door wearing a suit, shaking your hand and saying 'Hi, my name's Peter'. If you're right there in front of them they know you're serious, not just firing off random speculative applications. And human nature is that you form an opinion of someone within moments of meeting them, so if that opinion is positive you'll be treated very differently to an email sitting in their Inbox. If someone then asks 'Do you have a visa?' then you can explain that if they offer you the job then you will get the visa and have that conversion with them.

I understand that approach may be more difficult to commit to than applying remotely, due to current job, family, financial reasons - but it worked for me.

I tried that in Japan and the Netherlands while I was on my country-visiting tour. After a fruitless month in each, I moved on. The flights and living costs made it an expensive mistake. I'm not rich. The low cost of living in Kaohsiung means I've saved enough to pay for my visa fees, but that's over half my savings. Not to mention flights, food, accommodation while searching. All my previous jobs interviewed over Skype, although sometimes I was introduced by Facebook friends who I do know in real life.

Mentioning your citizenship might help, certain countries look for certain groups (e.g. they have a satellite team in ___ where you speak the language, bonus!).

It's really complicated to explain where I'm from. My passport is British. I was born in Switzerland. My parents live in France. (My dad worked at CERN, if you've been to Geneva you'll understand).

I went to university in the UK, exchange programme in Santa Barbara. I did summer jobs in LA, Switzerland, Taipei, Vancouver, Auckland, Korea, China, and India. I decided I like NZ and Canada the most. I need 3 years prior continuous relevant work experience to get the visa. So I came back to Taiwan to do that. Now I have the academic and work qualifications needed.

I really want to stay and settle down. I don't have a "home" to go back to. If I live with my parents, I'm unable to marry or have kids. Those kids would be stateless because I'm a citizen by descent and can't pass on citizenship. NZ's Skilled Migrant Category can get me Permanent Resident status in 2 years (the fastest). That's my plan, but I need a job to help me do that.

That's rough!

Why wouldn't your kids would get your wife's citizenship in most countries? Also your (future?) wife's country probably has marriage visas and what not.

My girlfriend is Taiwanese. Yes, kids could be Taiwanese, but I can't. Taiwan doesn't allow dual citizenship, and also has conscription (I'm a conscientious objector).

I know a mother and son from church here. She went to NYC, met a Chinese man, got married, had a kid. Moved to Canada. He went on a business trip and cheated, they divorced. Without him, she lost her Canadian residency. The kid had 4 passports (US, Canada, China, Taiwan - dual citizenship is allowed under 18) but he couldn't live with his mum unless they moved to Taiwan.

Aged 15, all his education in English, suddenly expected to study at a local Taiwanese school. Last I knew they were trying to move to Germany.

Taiwanese (and Canadian) permanent residency aren't permanent, because if I leave for more than a couple of years I lose it. NZ PR is permanent. (Or 4 years to Canadian citizenship).

As a UK citizen you should be able to work in NZ for up to 23 months if you are aged <=30 on a working holiday visa. You might be able to find a temp job that way and transition to permanent.

I already did in 2012, and I can't have a second Working Holiday visa there.

The other two options are more hopeful - Canada will allow me a second working holiday (my first was before the rules changed in 2012), and I didn't work in Australia before. But the Aussie visa only lets me work for one employer for 6 months max. NZ needs 3 years continuous relevant work experience, and I really don't want to break the "continuous" part I have now.

Then just apply for Working Holiday in Canada again.

You were already successful to find skilled job before, so you will be able to get it again. And being physically here with open work permit makes things much easier.

Then you can apply for Young Professional which is very little hassle for your employer and you will get 2nd year easily.

And during this 2 years you would apply for Express Entry as soon as you are eligible. You apply for FSW for which you should be eligible already or for CEC when you have 1 year experience in Canada. If you don't have enough points for EE then there are other programs like PNP.

It would be really bad luck if you couldn't get, or be in the process of getting permanent residency during that time. When you have job in IT, it's quite straightforward to get PR.

Also, when looking for job, never mention word "sponsoring". When recruiter asks you about your visa you will say that you have WH for a year, already lined up YP for 2nd year and applying for PR as soon you are employed. Visas are not a problem here.

You've tried Vend, Xero, Auror etc? Look for the big local companies who have global offices.

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