Talking about CVs and Cover Letters, I had come to the decision about
2 months back that this was a problem for me.

But I had paid a company to assist with immigration and job
placement - SkillsNZ aka NewJobZ aka Stu Maccann & Associates - they
also reformatted my CV for the Kiwi market. Big joke - R 16K later
they have gone into liquidation and look like they are repeat
offenders in this area.

Anyway, I was advised by a friend in the UK of 2 good books that he
had used successfully. The changes they recommend do seem to be
making a big difference - but big enough just yet.

I have had advice from an NZ IT manager on how not to use a cover
letter but include the details in your CV ... have tried that but not
too sure about that. Gone back to CL and CV.

Yep employers do take advantage e.g. one big recruitment agency
offered me a job but wouldn't offer above $45K which was the minimum
salary for the Work to Residence scheme that I was using at the time.

Oh well, bed time.

--- In SAsinNZ@yahoogroups.com, "g tyler" <georgetyler@...> wrote:
>
> Another thing: You should get your CV re-written by a professional
here, it
> made a huge difference to me. The re-written CV did not look good
to me, it
> underplayed so much, but the results were good.
>
>
>
> _____
>
> From: SAsinNZ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:SAsinNZ@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of
> g tyler
> Sent: Wednesday, 3 October 2007 8:49 p.m.
> To: SAsinNZ@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [SAsinNZ] Getting a suitable job in NZ
>
>
>
>
>
> When I first got a job I did not even ask what the salary was, I
was just
> happy to be able to get a work permit! If you are worth more you
will get
> it, if not at the same place then somewhere else later. You may
need to get
> $45k though, if you need that for PR (work to residence). Employers
tend to
> take advantage of new immigrants, or maybe they actually don't
trust that
> they can do the job. Don't worry, a year down the track this will
all be
> over and you will be happy.
>
> _____
>
> From: SAsinNZ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:SAsinNZ@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of
> paul.tormey
> Sent: Wednesday, 3 October 2007 6:37 p.m.
> To: SAsinNZ@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [SAsinNZ] Getting a suitable job in NZ
>
>
>
> Hi Group,
>
> Currently living in Drury, South Auckland, since arriving here in
> April this year.
>
> My wife and I are really enjoying the place and the people.
Although
> it has been a rather wet winter thus far. I thought we were
supposed
> to be in Spring!
>
> We are really trying to get settled but I need to get a job that
will
> assist in getting my working permit. I am using the NZI Immediate
> Skills Shortage List - IT Network/Systems Administration.
>
> But I need a job offer to get a permit. And most jobs require that
> you already have a permit. Catch 22!
>
> Have been doing the Internet job searching - Seek, NewKiwis,
> Search4Jobs, Jobs on Trademe etc.
>
> Also been to a few Recruitment Agencies, had some meetings with
their
> reps.
>
> Met with IT manager who has given me some good contacts but waiting
> for that to bear fruit.
>
> Had a few job offers but the salary wasn't good enough circa
$40/45K.
>
> So I'm trying this group of current/ex South Africans to see if I
can
> elicit any job offers.
>
> Will appreciate any feedback or help.
>
> Well, that's it for now.
>
> Regards,
> Wanna be Kiwis - Paul and Mandy
>