Singaporean looking for a job in New Zealand. Discrimination?

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beuno99

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#66296 16-Aug-2010 22:38

Hi I am Singaporean. I have been to New Zealand a few times for holidays and I am thinking of moving there for good. To do this, I need a job.

So I have been searching the internet and responding to job ads from New Zealand, but so far, to no avail.

So I was just wondering, are New Zealanders open towards accepting Singaporeans? I am a typical young Singaporean fellow - I speak English as my native language, was educated almost entirely in English with Chinese as my second language but I can't read or write much Chinese to save my life, and I look totally 100% Chinese.

I am quite interested in knowing what New Zealanders think about Singaporeans. Will employers give me a chance? What about the public at large?

I have heard about "anti Asian" racism and all the hoo ha about Asians taking over to Oceania but is racism a cause for concern?

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#368419 16-Aug-2010 22:42

Can a employer give you job? I thought I could be very wrong but you could only come to NZ on a tourist visa

John

billgates

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#368420 16-Aug-2010 22:43

There are few Singaporeans at my work. All work in SAP though.

Do whatever you want to do man.

beuno99

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#368421 16-Aug-2010 22:45

johnr: Can a employer give you job? I thought I could be very wrong but you could only come to NZ on a tourist visa

John

Yes they can. If they offer me a job, I would be able to get a work visa or residence visa rather easily.

billgates

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#368425 16-Aug-2010 22:51

beuno99:

Yes they can. If they offer me a job, I would be able to get a work visa or residence visa rather easily.

The bold bit is not as easy as you think even if your employer offers a recommendation letter. It helps a great deal but it takes 1 and half years to 2 years to gain residence permit. But first they must offer you a letter so you can get a work permit at least.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Zeon

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#368427 16-Aug-2010 22:54

beuno99: Hi I am Singaporean. I have been to New Zealand a few times for holidays and I am thinking of moving there for good. To do this, I need a job.

So I have been searching the internet and responding to job ads from New Zealand, but so far, to no avail.

So I was just wondering, are New Zealanders open towards accepting Singaporeans? I am a typical young Singaporean fellow - I speak English as my native language, was educated almost entirely in English with Chinese as my second language but I can't read or write much Chinese to save my life, and I look totally 100% Chinese.

I am quite interested in knowing what New Zealanders think about Singaporeans. Will employers give me a chance? What about the public at large?

I have heard about "anti Asian" racism and all the hoo ha about Asians taking over to Oceania but is racism a cause for concern?

Yea - TBH I think you may find their is a stigma against you just because of your name/country of origin. While saying that a Singaporean background is probably going to put you ahead of people from China/Taiwan etc.

Looking at this from an employer point of view your best bet is to get an interview to show you aren't just another random-guy-from-China-who-thinks-he-knows-his-stuff-but-really-doesn't-and-can't-speak-good-English. Rather than having a standard application that you send through to every job offer that looks interesting, focus on sending through your information to a few you feel you would be most suited to and try to individualize it for them e.g. if they say we want XYZ skills, rather than just send your Resume - send them a detailed covering letter talking specifically about those. If you can, try to find out about the employer and what they do and include that in your covering note.

The above would really impress me and when you see 100+ ads a day almost come in from Seek it is really nice for a change and you would catch my attention. Also if you do land yourself an interview, again try to do lots of research on the company and talk about your skills specific to them and what they do. It's as easy as talking a good look @ their website

2 other things:

As JohnR said - get at least a working visa first before even applying. I have contacts in the immigration industry here I can put you in touch with if you like. I can almost guarentee you if you have a degree in anything computer related you WILL get a working visa

Be careful of recruiters - they are all through the normal websites and while you think you may interface directly with the business, you are in fact interfacing with a recruiter on their behalf. In my experience recruiters know jack all and are only somewhat competent at assesing character

Your other option is to get a recruiter here to find you a job well below your skill level and you can try to build a network of contacts to start your career off here.

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beuno99

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#368429 16-Aug-2010 22:55

billgates:
beuno99:

Yes they can. If they offer me a job, I would be able to get a work visa or residence visa rather easily.

The bold bit is not as easy as you think even if your employer offers a recommendation letter. It helps a great deal but it takes 1 and half years to 2 years to gain residence permit. But first they must offer you a letter so you can get a work permit at least.

Yeah.

I have a degree and I have done my calculations. It seems like I have enough points to qualify for the skilled migration scheme.

If I can get an offer of skilled employment, I should be able to get a residence permit or at least a work to residence visa, which I can convert to a residence permit after 9 months.

Are you a migrant as well? How did it all turn out for you?

Cymro

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#368431 16-Aug-2010 23:01

The majority of recruitment agencies don't bother with you unless you already hold a valid work visa or residency, unless you are in one of the skills shortage area's.

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beuno99

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#368432 16-Aug-2010 23:02

Zeon:

Yea - TBH I think you may find their is a stigma against you just because of your name/country of origin. While saying that a Singaporean background is probably going to put you ahead of people from China/Taiwan etc.

Looking at this from an employer point of view your best bet is to get an interview to show you aren't just another random-guy-from-China-who-thinks-he-knows-his-stuff-but-really-doesn't-and-can't-speak-good-English.

Hi Zeon, thanks for your frank comments. I was expecting some form of discrimination anyway, I wasn't born yesterday. But I was just wondering if the discrimination is VERY BAD out there.

chiefie

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#368434 16-Aug-2010 23:16

It does seem like "Kelvin" is fairly common name at one stage in Singapore (or Malaysia)... *sigh* I'm no longer special now that I actually have seen/know a few "Kelvin"... :-(

Anyhow, there's a catch-22 thing... most employers quite conservative to hire/employ someone unless there's a great employment experience in specialised field. So most won't able to sponsor your work VISA without knowing their investment be worthwhile.

It is probably worthwhile to apply for NZ permanent residency if you got the necessary qualification to score as much as possible in the NZPR score chart. Then possibility while that is being lodged, apply for as much job offering as possible and hopefully you convince the potential employers that you will be heading over to NZ at certain date, then use visitor VISA and get over here to complete any possible interview appointments. If companies see your potential, they'll conduct phone interview but as said, it is all depending on what field you're into and how "specialised" you are, or how worthy of their "investment" in you. MOST job applications available online do require you to prove you are holding NZPR or work VISA, so it all comes back to that catch-22.

Anyhow, good luck, give NZPR application a go first.

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billgates

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#368435 16-Aug-2010 23:16

beuno99:
billgates:
beuno99:

Yes they can. If they offer me a job, I would be able to get a work visa or residence visa rather easily.

The bold bit is not as easy as you think even if your employer offers a recommendation letter. It helps a great deal but it takes 1 and half years to 2 years to gain residence permit. But first they must offer you a letter so you can get a work permit at least.

Yeah.

I have a degree and I have done my calculations. It seems like I have enough points to qualify for the skilled migration scheme.

If I can get an offer of skilled employment, I should be able to get a residence permit or at least a work to residence visa, which I can convert to a residence permit after 9 months.

Are you a migrant as well? How did it all turn out for you?

12 years ago I was but back then it was a matter of applying for residency and waiting for few months to get it :-)

Not saying that there is no racism here but it's the same deal with any country including Singapore. Majority is normal and very nice.

Applying for a job here while you are sitting in Singapore and expecting a call is not very likely going to happen. You really need to be here. Could apply to do a short 1 year IT or management course here with one of the institutions. Finish it and you'll get 1 year work permit straight away. While you are studying you are also allowed to work 20hrs/week so you can help yourself pay rent etc.

Otherwise keep applying for jobs on sites like seek and hope for the best.

Do whatever you want to do man.

dpw

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#368438 16-Aug-2010 23:32

beuno99:

Yeah.

I have a degree and I have done my calculations. It seems like I have enough points to qualify for the skilled migration scheme.

If I can get an offer of skilled employment, I should be able to get a residence permit or at least a work to residence visa, which I can convert to a residence permit after 9 months.

Are you a migrant as well? How did it all turn out for you?

Well, I'm not a direct migrant to NZ, having come via 4 years in Oz. I am of Chinese descent, born in Indonesia. As far as the racism thing? Well, can't say I have experienced much (if any at all) in my 17-odd years in New Zealand. I know one Singaporean who works at Canterbury University, and lives not far from me in small town Canterbury. As evident from earlier reply I'm sure there are numerous others too.

I do not have first hand experience in the Asian job market but, from things I have read and those I have spoken to, it seems New Zealand employers tend to value balanced lifestyles and communication skills more than some Asian countries. There's of course a fair amount of tarring with the same brush there. When it comes to racism I think it takes both sides - the offender's side is clear, but the victim also needs to be "susceptible" (for lack of better word) to it. I think if you try your best to not let it get to you, and also to "mix in" with the rest of the country, you'll go a long way to having a comfy life in NZ.

That's just my view - I'm sure it's a fairly broad generalisation and there're plenty of people who'd disagree. Basically YMMV. My life turned out very well in NZ :o)

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beuno99

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#368440 16-Aug-2010 23:34

billgates:
beuno99:
billgates:
beuno99:

Yes they can. If they offer me a job, I would be able to get a work visa or residence visa rather easily.

The bold bit is not as easy as you think even if your employer offers a recommendation letter. It helps a great deal but it takes 1 and half years to 2 years to gain residence permit. But first they must offer you a letter so you can get a work permit at least.

Yeah.

I have a degree and I have done my calculations. It seems like I have enough points to qualify for the skilled migration scheme.

If I can get an offer of skilled employment, I should be able to get a residence permit or at least a work to residence visa, which I can convert to a residence permit after 9 months.

Are you a migrant as well? How did it all turn out for you?

12 years ago I was but back then it was a matter of applying for residency and waiting for few months to get it :-)

Not saying that there is no racism here but it's the same deal with any country including Singapore. Majority is normal and very nice.

Applying for a job here while you are sitting in Singapore and expecting a call is not very likely going to happen. You really need to be here. Could apply to do a short 1 year IT or management course here with one of the institutions. Finish it and you'll get 1 year work permit straight away. While you are studying you are also allowed to work 20hrs/week so you can help yourself pay rent etc.

Otherwise keep applying for jobs on sites like seek and hope for the best.

There is very little racism here TBH.

In some countries, the racism is very much "in your face". For example, someone would walk up to you to say something racist or they keep dwelling on ignorant stereotypes and applying them to you; or even assault you.

Such things almost never happen in Singapore.

chiefie

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#368443 16-Aug-2010 23:49

I have to agree with beuno99, Singapore and Malaysia are both bumiputera (multiracial) country and all different races and cultural are well mingled and been living and sharing in good harmony. Something that many countries are still finding difficulty to mix well.

Anyhow, I've been living in NZ for 18+ years, studying high school and university and tertiary study. And my work experience has only been in NZ, and never had the experience of working in Asia (market).

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beuno99

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#368444 16-Aug-2010 23:49

dpw:
beuno99:

Yeah.

I have a degree and I have done my calculations. It seems like I have enough points to qualify for the skilled migration scheme.

If I can get an offer of skilled employment, I should be able to get a residence permit or at least a work to residence visa, which I can convert to a residence permit after 9 months.

Are you a migrant as well? How did it all turn out for you?

Well, I'm not a direct migrant to NZ, having come via 4 years in Oz. I am of Chinese descent, born in Indonesia. As far as the racism thing? Well, can't say I have experienced much (if any at all) in my 17-odd years in New Zealand. I know one Singaporean who works at Canterbury University, and lives not far from me in small town Canterbury. As evident from earlier reply I'm sure there are numerous others too.

I do not have first hand experience in the Asian job market but, from things I have read and those I have spoken to, it seems New Zealand employers tend to value balanced lifestyles and communication skills more than some Asian countries. There's of course a fair amount of tarring with the same brush there. When it comes to racism I think it takes both sides - the offender's side is clear, but the victim also needs to be "susceptible" (for lack of better word) to it. I think if you try your best to not let it get to you, and also to "mix in" with the rest of the country, you'll go a long way to having a comfy life in NZ.

That's just my view - I'm sure it's a fairly broad generalisation and there're plenty of people who'd disagree. Basically YMMV. My life turned out very well in NZ :o)

I am just worried about the job market not the racist lowlifes. If the lowlifes start spewing, I am more than happy to return them the favour and hose them down with my sewage pipe.

I am worried about the rabid ones who bite though. Do you think insecticides work on them? I could carry a bottle of shelltox and go pssssst right in their faces. ha ha

meesham

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#368513 17-Aug-2010 08:32

beuno99:

If I can get an offer of skilled employment, I should be able to get a residence permit or at least a work to residence visa, which I can convert to a residence permit after 9 months.

Whatever they (either the immigration department or a private immigration consultant) tells you it'll take to get visas and residency, double it. I have some friends from the Mother Country (the UK) who moved here a couple of years ago, they had enough points for residency but it took almost 2 years for the paper work to come through saying they can stay.

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