New Zealand - British Expat Forum

Hi ;0)

This is my first post here so Hello all.

I am 37 years old and I graduaute from the University of Liverpool, England on July 10th this year. I am looking for work in New Zealand and I am also looking here for and advice or guidance.

My degree is in English Language.
I am level 1 British Sign Language qualified, I'll be level 2 by August.
I have a qualification to teach post-compulsary education in the UK.
I am qualified to teach English to Speakers of other Langauges (TEFL/TESOL)
I have a City & Guilds level 2 in Childcare & Education from 1995 and a subsequent 7 year career in childcare.
I have all the usual GCSEs, A-levels and necessary computer literacy exams, and a lot of other qualifications that I wont mention here.
I also have aa full UK driving license.

Sooo, in your opinion, what are my work prospects for early childcare (bearing in mind that I do NOT hold a degree in Early Childhood Education), in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or as a teaching aide working with children, or adults, with hearing difficulties or deafness?

I have no children of my own and I can therefore organise a swift move to NZ should the right job be offered.

I understand the procedure of having my subsidiary qualifications verified by NZQA, but my degree is from a very well respected, red-brick university.

My aim is to enjoy my work, so I'm not too bothered if the pay isn't fantatsic; I'd just like to have a rewarding career.

Many thanks in advance for any help that can be given.

All the very best to you all for 2009

Kerry ;0)

hello kerry2009 and welcome to the forum . Is your TESOL qualification a CELTA certificate? Because this is what is recognised most commonly in NZ for teaching EFL. I think that would be your best bet actually as there are usually a number of places in Auckland and possibly Wellington at Christchurch who would offer you a job. Can't say for Early Childhood teaching myself as I have no experience in that. Are you looking to come out on a temporary work visa or go for permenant residence?

Hi! Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. I am not Celta (cambridge or Trinity) qualified, unfortunately. I qualified with a company called i-to-i and I am aware that their certificates do not have the same level of validity as the Cambridge or Trinity qualifications. However, I will also be studying TESOL for my final semester in university; don't know if that will gain me any merit?

I am hoping to get a job offer and work from there on in. At 37 I am too old for a working holiday visa and, although I am extremely qualified, I don't seem to fit into any of the categories outlined on last year's skill shortage list. I understand that this year's list has been delayed until March, when I will have another look to see if anything has changed.

Also,my partner of 13 years may fly out before me as he has great IT qualifications and is sure to get a job quite easily; I believe I can then travel over 'on his visa'???

Any further info would be greatly received.

What is it that you do?

Thanks agin for your reply

Kerry x

If your partner is the principle applicant for the visa, he can put you down as his partner on his Expression of Interest Application. The main application will go through his job / qualifications, but (as I understand it, and I hope I'm not wrong!), you will both get a visa at the end.

I'm doing it this way; my skills / experience as an IT account manager (which is on the LTSSL) have got me enough points to get through to the Invitation to Apply for a visa, and as my husband (who, though he has a degree and plenty of experience, doesn't have anything on the LTSSL) is included as my partner on the application, he should also get the visa along with me.