OK, not so much of a story today, at least not in words, but some really exciting news on the job - or should that be jobs - front :)
What did I do on Monday? I visited an agency who have me matched for a role within the Land Information New Zealand - Kiwi Ordinance Survey if you are interested - and this was the first time I have done this since being here. This being, visiting an agent.
Based on UK experience I must admit I was a little skeptical about agencies and how they worked out here - but even though I did get the soft sell, I am coming around to the idea that they are not the same as the UK, particularly in relation to government department placements. The positive side of the meeting was an appreciation of the skills I am able to offer, which yes Dafydd, go all the way up to typist ;)
During the meeting my cellphone (saying this rather than mobile is easier here) rang, and it turned out to be one of my earlier job contacts who wanted to confirm some details. Of course I said I would call him back, and after another 20 mins or so of 'Kev is great', my ego was ready to leave. I left with a fuller understanding of the IT market here and what salary I could expect to take. In simple terms I would be looking at the NZ$80k ball park, and actually having a bat and ball to be able to play in it.
A bad habit to continue is doing a conversion back into UK pounds, but as this is only my 2nd week, I am guilty of doing this still. Now the market is changing all the time, but based on the value I got for £60 I changed up that afternoon, then NZ$80k is just over £30k - this was a pleasant surprise, as once you factor in the cheaper cost of living (insurance, car, food, travel, tax etc), then this can add another £5-10k onto that figure in real terms.
Why I am telling you all this? Is this ball park not just some 'Field of Dreams' vision spoon fed to me by a soulless agent? Well, right now I can tell you that my newly revised 'Kiwi style' CV has hit the top spot for 3 different government ministries, possibly 4 by tomorrow, and 3 of them are offering a basic package of NZ$ high 70's! So why am I telling you? Simple - New Zealand Wants You!
Just take ITIL for example - you cannot find any books on the subject in the bookshops (yes I did need to do a little swatting before my interviews), yet they are all operating to it, or better still want to operate to it and do not have staff to put it in place.
So there you have it, all you have to do is get your bums over here and it certainly seems they will snap you up. Of course it may be my charm and natural good looks that is doing it for me, but can you blame them?
To recap then, I have been effectively offered a Service Desk team leader role for one ministry, I have to sit some tests tomorrow and get good references. Or earlier this afternoon I took an hour or more call about another Service Desk team leader for another ministry - this one had not even interviewed me, yet wanted to tell me I was their number one choice and when could I start! Then their is another position, which is not a team leader, but offering similar money to my UK I&S role, I am being interviewed on Friday for this one - but at this stage I am not sure if I should go ahead as it is poor on paper compared to the other two.
And as if Service desk roles were not enough, the agency is working on getting me into a Information Provision role for yet another ministry!
Well, as yet I have not been presented with actual offers, but basically I have 2 or 3 HR teams and managers holding me in a strong position - and to think, exactly 2 weeks ago today I thought I may be sleeping on a park bench (or at least some of I&S did ;)
On the house hunting front, I have just moved to yet another apartment in the 2nd building I have occupied...yes, they keep finding me and moving me on!....So this is the 5th room in 14 days - but I have perfected the packing routine down to 6 mins!
Also today I viewed a longer term and cheaper rental apartment in a very posh end of town, which I am about to secure for the end of this month until March - it has views, bbq, loads of room, 3 beds, 2 bath and possibly a partridge in a pear tree...which thinking about it would be the 117 second walk from it to a beach...so that is xmas day sorted ;)
Just before I close this post I thought I would show you what one of these serviced apartments looks like, if only to be able to contrast and compare with the one I should be moving into later this month :)
So if Dafydd, I&S or Geoff are reading this, then flex those IT skills and come be a Kiwi, I am very nearly one it seems!