I am a single female with two children. My sister is emmigrating to new Zealand and really want to move?

Question

I have 3 A levels and am currently working as a cleaner and gardener. I am interested in working in customer services. I know this move wouldnt happen overnight but like any suggestions as to how this would be possible as I cant bear the thought of seeing my sister and niece once in a blue moon

Answer 1

Before you consider making any move about New Zealand, you need to talk to someone who can advise you properly about emigrating, and who knows what the job situation is there- someone at New Zealand House for example.

Whilst you state that you have 3 "A" levels, you don't say what they are, or whether you have any other qualifications, or work experience.  "A" levels alone won't get you very far, I'm afraid.  

At the moment, whilst you appear over-qualified for what you are doing, one must assume that what you are doing, (2 part-time jobs), is from choice- to enable you to care for your children, etc.  Therefore, you need to find out just how you would be placed, given your personal circumstances, should you emigrate, regarding work, etc.

Some 40 years ago, I emigrated.  I had married whilst in the Army and my new wife could not settle in the UK.  To emigrate to her country seemed like a very good idea, but things did not work out as I'd hoped.  After several years of trials and tribulations, we divorced and I returned to the UK, an older and wiser man!  It was a hard lesson, an expensive one, and some of the scars still show to this day- 40 years on!

When all is said and done, no matter the pain you will feel when your sister emigrates, that is not a good enough reason alone for you to follow her!  What would you do, for example, if she decides that New Zealand is not for her, and returns?  Will you stay there, or follow her again?  If you are to emigrate, there have to be better reasons than just to be near your sister- however important that may seem right now!

Emigrating is not just moving from one place to another, but being prepared to start a new life, in a completely different environment.  Are you ready for that?  Are your children?  

So please treat this whole matter with a great deal of caution, because if you get it wrong, it's not just you involved, but your children as well!  New Zealand isn't just round the corner, but quite literally, half a world away!

Answer 2

Go, why not you only live once. Give it a try then you wont regret it later on, if it does not work out then you can come back. Customer service is easy to get into and most places offer on the job training, you will be good at it because you already show you are not afraid to work (you have 2 jobs) there are many places that you can work for in customer service as all retail outlets call there workers customer service officer. I was a manager for a large chain, i started off as a customer service officer and became manager in 5 months, it depends how high you want to go. I recommend the move and the career change, you will love it, if not come back and you have nothing to lose. Good luck

Answer 3

Entry level customer service jobs are common, call centres have a high turnover rate so this is one area of work where they will train people with no prior experience (but learn to type first).

Check out the customer service jobs on:  seek.co.nz

But find out from immigration if you can legally work here & how long for:

www.immigration.govt.nz/

The bottom line is the Government want skilled people to move here to fill jobs where we have a shortage of workers, and frankly I don't think we need cust service people or gardeners or cleaners.  Nannies maybe, so perhaps look at training in that area?  But find out from immigration first.  You can ean more points with immigration if you come out here with a huge amount of money to invest as well.  To be honest I think there would also be a concern that as a single parent you might end up on a Government single parents benefit & that is not something people are looking for in an overseas immigrant.

I'm not being nasty, I'm just letting you know how it is.

Answer 4

I agree with what Mike writes. I wish I could of read his advice 10 years ago. I relocated to Armidale NSW from sydney. not a very big move really but the fact was I was not prepared for the way of life in a small isolated country town. I lived there for 3 years and I hated it. I thought it was about moving places but its not its about being prepared to live differently, in line with that place. My partner was prepared to live there in the freezing cold with the prejudice people but I resented it. I was not prepared for the small town biggotry, the unacceptance of newcomers who were not local and the blatant prejudice! I could not get a job there because the majority of the locals hated new comers or more to the point Sydney snobs taking our jobs!. I was osterised where I was working teporaily and one of the biggots thought they would scare me by sending me to a customer who could of nearly raped me or physically assualted me. she justified her actions by saying she hated new comers!

when you move some where whether overseas or to a new community you must be prepared to involve yourself in the community. Moving to a new area because your sister is moving is not the most viable reason. Why dont you let your sister settle down and if she stays then you may consider making plans to move but its very hard you must be prepared to live there and give it a good go. 90% of people who move to a new area leave with in 3 years just like I did. I moved to Armidake because I got caught up in the whole country - safety - fresh air - Country Practice thing and believe me it was costly. I bought a house and everything but  was not prepared for the hostility of the people. The people would ask are you local? how long have you lived here ?and you are not local until you live here 7 years!. I was not settled I have now moved to another town and I am more settled. This town and its community welcomes new comers and sees the importance of people populating their community. People are even gracious that families are relocating to their town and not one "local" has asked "why did you move here", "We dont like city snobs taking our jobs", "You are not local!" and "You have to be here 7 years befor you are accepted as a local!! They are very welcoming of new comers!

Think really carefully about your move and how it will effect your family. Its a big thing moving both financially and psychologically. You may movev to an area and love it but on the other hand you may find the people unaccepting of Aussies and hostile that they are taking jobs for the locals! I will always have a soft spot for Armidale its very beautiful but the people of Armidale donot want new comers taking their jobs and the council want to encourage people with Sydney and Melbourne dollars to move there so they are self sufficient and wont take up any jobs in the community. Its not realistic idea to get people with money to move there but pretty much thats how the town operates and they will literally persecute people who are reliant on jobs in the community and want to be part of the community. Good luck in your decision