NZ or bust: Update

"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner) 01/24/2020 at 18:00 • Filed to: career advice, New Zealand

3

25

For a while I’ve been looking to leave my current position and get somewhere closer to the ocean. I’ve added to my skills over the past couple years and polished up my resume.

I’ve been applying to a few places and heard back from one that wants to set up a phone interview. The job is in New Zealand. This poses the problem. I want to get out of my current industry as my niche is rather small. This company is dead center within my industry, so all my knowledge/skills are directly transferable.

However the company was founded in 2017 and has roughly 20 engineers listed on the website. New Zealand would be cool but......I’d like to get out and into a bigger industry or at least something that I’d be excited about.

Two questions: What does Oppo know about the land of Kiwis and would you take a job halfway around the world for a 3 year old, sub 50 person company?

The gig is in Chirstchurch.

Update: Phone interview scheduled for Sunday.....I guess I’ll be drinking a bit tonight.

For your time.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/22/2020 at 13:51

1

NZ is amazing, I would take the job in a heartbeat.

I’ve only been on vacation there so I know next to nothi ng about policies, government, or everyday bullshit one might encounter.

Ash78, voting early and often > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/22/2020 at 13:52

5

OK...yes. And also yes.

My mom and dad did just this back in ‘76 and they stayed for 2 years (right before I was born...healthcare down there in the 70s was a little spotty).

All these decades later it’s still one of the highlights of their life. And I’ll say doubly YES for South Island, especially if you like the outdoors. That’s like adventure/mountaineering central. And if you can get a work visa there, it’s worth a fortune because they’re very protective of their labor force with just 5 million people.

Don’t look at it like a career step, look at it like a life step. Even if your career stagnates or the job kind of sucks, you’ll be glad you did it.

Jim Spanfeller > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/22/2020 at 13:54

1

My dad knows someone who spent 6 months in New Zealand. He said that 6 months wasn’t nearly enough. He said that New Zealand is so breathtaking that he could easily imagine spending years there just exploring and seeing all the incredible things. There’s a reason why all the LOTR and Hobbit movies were shot there... If you can see yourself living in New Zealand, I’d say go for it.

facw > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/22/2020 at 13:58

1

Like everyone else I’ve heard it’s a nice place. I don’t have first hand experience though. A Kiwi coworker of mine told me she didn’t understand how anyone could use an umbrella until she came to the S tates, apparently their rain storms are too windy?

ranwhenparked > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/22/2020 at 14:02

1

Yes, I'd relocate to somewhere in the Commonwealth that's warm in a heartbeat, particularly if there was a decent job waiting.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Ash78, voting early and often 01/22/2020 at 14:03

1

That’s my thought. The missus did some backpacking through it years ago and has already given us the green light to sell everything and take the jump.....5 minutes after I told her I applied.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Jim Spanfeller 01/22/2020 at 14:05

1

If we go, I’m not sure we’d come back. I’m pretty sure I’d love it.

Ash78, voting early and often > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/22/2020 at 14:07

0

Now you need to get on Amazon Prime and watch all the episodes of Short Poppies . Plus Hunt for the Wilderpeople .

Rhys Darby and Sam Neill are national treasures for the Kiwis.

E90M3 > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/22/2020 at 14:15

1

I think my old trepidation with taking across the world would be the fact I’d be so far from friends and family. Be an interesting experience , nonetheless. 

Aremmes > facw 01/22/2020 at 14:50

1

NZ sits at ~ 40° south, a.k.a. the roaring forties, so it gets pretty much all wind all the time.

Aremmes > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/22/2020 at 14:56

1

I am very farking jealous, thankyouverymuch. I have a very very very strong urge to pack it all up and move to NZ real soon now, but being an IT professional means that I have a shedload of competition vying for the few visas that are issued every year, and being over 40 years old knocks a few points as well.

FWIW, the NZ gov is keen on further developing the Canterbury region (Christchurch and environs), so having a job offer from there counts for points towards the work visa.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Aremmes 01/22/2020 at 15:04

0

https://skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz/telecommunications-network-engineer

pip bip - choose Corrour > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/23/2020 at 04:28

0

do it!

NZ has awesome driving roads!

only real  hazard is earthquakes

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/24/2020 at 18:24

1

I don't have any helpful advice, but I'm offering props for the Packard and Hot Shots gif anyway.

RallyWrench > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/24/2020 at 18:26

1

New Zealand is amazing and beautiful and has the friendliest people on the planet, in my experience. After my wife and I went there (well before kids, when our age helped with immigration points) we both wanted to move. We spent 3 months there on a very favorable exchange rate at the time, bought a crummy car, and toured up and down both islands. Somehow we still feel like we missed a lot. A remarkable place.  If you have the chance and no strings, do it. Even if the company tanks, you’ll be in heaven. 

Future next gen S2000 owner > RallyWrench 01/24/2020 at 18:30

0

Seems to be the consensus. No one has regretted going there.

Noodles > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/24/2020 at 18:36

1

I would do it. You can always come back after a year or two if it doesn't work out. Missed opportunities can haunt you forever. Leave your what ifs behind, and say I did.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/24/2020 at 18:51

0

NZ is the one country I would leave the US for. I looked into it a few years ago, and I don’t meet the visa requirements

jminer > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/24/2020 at 18:56

0

That’s a hell of an opportunity - I’ve had a similar thought about wanting to wander out of my current field but am getting more traction leveraging those skills to move me to a pretty place.

I’m shooting for California but damn am I jealous of New Zealand!

I’d love to end up somewhere (even for just a few years) like that. If a job came along like that I’d jump on it.  Definitely a bit of risk for it being a small company but it’s a hell of a reward.

Good luck on the phone interview!!

WilliamsSW > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/24/2020 at 19:34

0

My old company had a plant in Christchurch. I regret never visiting (small plant, hard to justify travel there). But it’s incredibly beautiful, not crowded (South Island FTW) and earthquake prone.

You can always move back, but you may never get another chance to go.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/24/2020 at 19:39

0

I’d do it if I didn’t have so much tying me down. Can’t see a reason not to at least interview and it’d be a great location for the long term if it works out. If not, you have a story of your time in NZ.

66P1800inpieces > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/24/2020 at 21:25

0

Watch NZ filmed TV shows for background.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/25/2020 at 01:39

0

It’s worth pointing out that Oppo has a resident Kiwi. Distraxi is your man for all things NZ.

And yes you'd be mad not to take a shot at this...

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Future next gen S2000 owner 01/25/2020 at 01:53

0

Kiwi speaking here. NZ incomes are low relative to cost of living compared to US, so be prepared to take a financial hit. Housing is real at overly expensive, although Christchurch is not as bad as Auckland Wellington or Tauranga.

On the other hand, lifestyle factors beat shit out of the US. South Island is better if mountains or winter sports are your thing, north island (especially northern half) better for water sports and other summer activities.

Be aware that Christchurch had the guts ripped out of it in the earthquake 10 years or so back and hasn’t really recovered - the centre city is dead, most of the life is in the burbs, and a good proportion of the population are still shell shocked to some degree.

A small employer’s no big deal: most NZ companies are smaller than US equivalents, for obvious reasons. Started 2017 may mean more risk though - do your homework.

What do you do? If you’re a software dev or hardware engineer we should talk...

Future next gen S2000 owner > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 01/27/2020 at 10:27

0

I’ve been doing some research into income levels. If I get leverage my skills into a competitive salary I’ll actually get a 2 5-30% increase. But that is unique to my field I believe. NZ appears to have a shortage of mechanical engineers and I happen to be very close to what this company was looking for. Same industry, closely related components, some business background with a focus on international business with a PE that could transfer to a CPE, which is what NZ recognizes.

Interview seemed to go well. We’ll see what happens.