Wellington IT People Newsletter

[leggy2]

The Wellies Newsletter Dec 05

WELLington It ExpatS = The Wellies!

Kia Ora and welcome!

I put the question on a couple of forums some time ago about starting a newsletter specifically for Wellington-based IT people. Currently there is a large demand for IT people in Wellington and throughout New Zealand, and I thought that it might help to build an active community so we can pass info about agencies or companies in this area, and help each other settle in as it is more than likely we will run into each other sooner or later.

So I have created The Wellies (see above)!

For now I am just building a list of recruitment agencies, job websites and general info. When we get a few more people however I would like to start an informal monthly meeting in Wellington where we can have a mid-week beer, go play golf, get the inside track on projects or jobs, announce and get to know new IT people in the area etc. I intend on the newsletter being open to all areas of IT ? technical, sales, management, networks etc.

If you would like to receive the newsletter and are seriously interested in being a part of the Expat IT community in Wellington then drop me a PM with:-

your name, age, job skills & certifications, a bit about yourself (interests, sports, background etc) and your email.

Any comments, suggestions and nuggets of useful info will be welcomed and included in the next newsletter. (No spam will be sent- there?s enough of it already out there).

Couple of points - this is not a job service and any requests for jobs or contacts won?t be answered, so please use the websites and recruitment agents. I am running this as a free voluntary group and am not connected to any company ? I am looking for unbiased honest info to help you IT expats build your networks.

Also I really do want to build an active community of people so as well as contributing your experiences and helping those on their way, real value ultimately comes from introducing others to this group and meeting up with us when you eventually get to Welly!

cheers
Tom LeGrice
Infinity Solutions, Wellington

_______________________________

Jobs & Interviews
Did you get a job or interview while at home or while visiting NZ? How long did it take? Did you need to get residency first? These type of questions have been the most asked questions from IT people seeking to establish themselves in Wellington. It is tricky because jobs and interviews depend on a lot of different factors such as the type and length of job contract, the skills needed and whether they are in high demand in NZ, your past experience and qualifications etc etc.
However it does seem clear that in general -unless you are extremely highly skilled or going for a job which you are the only candidate- the best way to get an IT job in NZ is by being there, in front of prospective employers.
Some people have noted that the higher up the role the longer the interview process usually takes ? likewise for lower level roles the shorter it takes, however it seems that employers still want to meet you face to face. This is especially true with government contracts (which there are lots of in Wellington).
Many people come over here on the visitors visa, get a job offer, go home, then get the Work to Residency or a Temporary Work Permit while the Skilled Migrant application goes through.
It is possible to get offered roles by going to ?emigrates expos? in your home country ? Oliver says he has gained interviews this way.
Probably some good advice is to phone up some recruitment agents or even the companies direct, keep an eye on Seek.co.nz for likely jobs, and line up as many interviews as you can prior to getting to NZ.

Recruitment Agents
I have put comments next to the ones I have dealt with personally. There are lots more agencies- look on SEEK and most will have an advert on there. Obviously these are my unique views etc- if you have dealt with any of them or one I havn?t listed let me know your short comments please?

Real Recruitment ? excellent agents especially Carol-Ann Hickmore. Have high level management roles at major companies, inc Vodafone.
www.therealthing.co.nz

Pinnacle ? excellent agents esp Ross Turner. Do the recruiting for Microsoft throughout NZ. Also have access to Telecom and Gen-I high level roles.
www.pinnaclerecruit.co.nz

QidR ? I have no experience of these although they seem to be mainly technical IT based. Mikel says they are ?professional and have nice contacts? and has had a good experience.
www.qidr.co.nz

Neil Andrews & Associates ? no experience of these but they won the 2005 Recruiters Award.
www.recruit.co.nz

Hudson ? had a few friends get short-term contracts through these but they apparently take a massive cut of your wages.Their low level staff also are said to be not very experienced.
www.hudson.co.nz

Sapphire Technologies ? lots and lots of contract positions. I spoke to their people in Auckland and they seem a pretty professional lot. Owned by the Select recruitment group.
www.sapphirenz.com

AbsoluteIT ? focus on permanent positions
www.absoluteit.co.nz

Global Career Link ? government contracts for skills shortages.
www.globalcareerlink.com

Candle ? specialise in a lot of the major telecoms and networking positions, Unisys supplier, TelstaClear supplier.
www.candle.co.nz

Duncan & Ryan Associates
www.duncanryan.co.nz

Veross

[SteveyC]

Good plan mate. Would be a good start for newly arrived folks to Wellington I'm sure.

Nice one.

[Pulsarblu]

Cool, Leggy2, I have mail you my details before so I look forward to the newsletter with excitment. Thanks for the great effort!

Pulsarblu

thanks leggy2. think i'll be sending you some details, hopefully soon.

its Wellington bound for me hopefully and IT is my game ( as well as the beer-drinking and golf ) :icon_wink: hopefully i will get lots of useful info from your great idea.

many thanks.

[stndrd]

Thanks for the great info, I'll be sending a PM to you later.


-thanks,
Brian Davis

[leggy2]

Kia Ora,
Just a quickie to say that the Jan 06 newsletter is out now. It is much the same as above so havnt posted it again but has got a full members list of potential Wellington IT bods.

So if you are in IT, and in or coming to Wellington drop me a PM and I will add you to the list.

cheers
Tom

[jamesthecarman]

Also I really do want to build an active community of people so as well as contributing your experiences and helping those on their way, real value ultimately comes from introducing others to this group and meeting up with us when you eventually get to Welly!

I'm coming to Welly in late Feb. I'd love to meet up, have a bbq, etc. I've PM'ed you my details.

Thanks for putting the "Wellies" together...."dude" ;)

Hi guys - well it has been a while but I have got the second issue of the newsletter done - I have set it up on Google groups - if you want access just send me a PM and I will add you. See above for the general content.

Main thing is that I have set up the inaugural social meeting - 17th May, 6pm , in the Dog and Bone pub on Lambton Quay. All expat IT industry people welcome!! I think it will only be around 10-15 people so far but from small acorns do mighty oaks grow!!

Hopefully it will be a great meeting and provide us IT bods with another business and social network to use.

hope you are all well and flying lots of kites in windy welly!
cheers
Tom