Hi Mark,<br><br>Thanks SO much for your response. I really value all of the feedback I've gotten from folks on the Wellylug list. Many have replied privately.<br><br>Glad to hear that there is good public transportation. One of the things I'd like to give up in my potential move is my addiction to driving. In my current position as a consultant I have a need to drive *all* the time, all over the Denver area where I live. I'd like to live less of my life on the road and more doing stuff I care about!<br>
<br>I'll continue my hunt by starting a job search remotely. I'm not sure what those prospects will bring, given that I'm not even available for an in person interview, but perhaps I'll strike something. And of course, if you hear anything.. :) I'm always looking for new connections. Meeting other people is by far the most effective way to land a new job in my experience.<br>
<br>Thanks again.<br><br>- Ben<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 1:01 AM, Mark Foster <<a href="mailto:blakjak@blakjak.net">blakjak@blakjak.net</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Hi Ben,<br>
<br>
A good friend of mine is an Ex-Pat Californian who also works in the IT<br>
Sector. I've bounced your message through to him as he will have<br>
first-hand experience, will see if he's happy to share some of his<br>
experience with you.<br>
<br>
The IT Sector in NZ is indeed (in my observation) screaming out for<br>
clooful people, so if you're a self starter with a desirable skillset I<br>
doubt you'll have difficulty finding work. Linux itself (if you want to<br>
work purely within the Linux space) has a relatively narrow set of<br>
specialist firms in Wellington, but there are a few firms that have a<br>
heavy Linux and/or Open Source bent which would be worth checking out.<br>
<br>
Housing, if you're not fussy and you're on your own you'll find things<br>
fairly easy, though most 'desirable' places tend to have multiple<br>
applicants so you need to be on the ball, references etc are ideal.<br>
Similar rules apply if you have a family and/or are wanting your own place<br>
(instead of say a 'flat' type situation where you share accom with others)<br>
except for the fact that the competition can be even more fierce.<br>
<br>
Wellington does have the advantage of a fairly decent public transport<br>
system. You can look at places on the City's outskirts and have the<br>
option of Scooter/Motorcyle/Bus or in the Dormitory areas of the Hutt<br>
Valley, Tawa, Porirua are serviced by reliable Bus and Train services and<br>
are often more affordable. For example I am based in Upper Hutt, a few<br>
minutes walking puts me at a Rail Hub that will get me to the Central City<br>
in 40 minutes. To drive takes about the same time - plus traffic...<br>
<br>
I am an Aucklander who relocated to Wellington a little over 2 years ago,<br>
so I know the relocation issues (though obviously I don't have Visa<br>
problems!) and did have a bit of fun finding a place suitable for my<br>
family and I to call home... other than that we're quite enjoying the<br>
Wellington lifestyle.<br>
<br>
Hope this helps a little, i'll see if my friend will drop you a line...<br>
<br>
Mark.<br>
<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br>
<br>
On Sat, 26 Apr 2008, Ben Whaley wrote:<br>
<br>
> Hi Wellylug,<br>
><br>
> I'm was very happy to see an active LUG in kiwiland. I am an American<br>
> (Boulder, CO), active in my local LUG, pondering a change in the form of a<br>
> move across the world. I have actually not yet visited NZ, so obviously that<br>
> comes first, but I've read/researched a lot and from what I can tell it<br>
> looks like a fantastic place to live. I thought I might pick the brains of<br>
> my counterparts down under on the trials and tribulations of IT life on the<br>
> islands. I'm particularly interested in the Wellington, thus my post to<br>
> Wellylug rather than to an Auckland group.<br>
><br>
> First (and, unfortunately, foremost), how are job prospects in IT,<br>
> particularly in the Linux space? My specialty happens to be security, which<br>
> here in the US is in high demand due to excessive legislation. I have a<br>
> background in consulting, but I'm open to all suggestions.<br>
><br>
> I can see from the mailing list that Wellylug is an active bunch, and I<br>
> imagine there are folks relocated from all over in the group. I'm curious -<br>
> how is the relocation experience? Is it relatively easy to find housing,<br>
> traverse immigration, get used to the general swing of things? For any US<br>
> expats, how does working life in IT differ from the USA?<br>
><br>
> I read on the immigration site that IT is in the "skilled migrant" category<br>
> and is a needed skill at the moment. I realize that, as residents, most of<br>
> the group will likely not know as much about immigration, but does anyone<br>
> know how much weight this really holds? It seems like it could be very<br>
> beneficial, but it could also be a load of crap.<br>
><br>
> Thanks all, Looking forward to your thoughts.<br>
><br>
> - Ben<br>
><br>
<br>
<br>
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