I am a year out of school and looking to relocate to either Wellington or Auckland, NZ. I have a Working Holiday visa, but thought it best to apply to some firms before going down there. I've applied to about 30 firms (crazy, i know) and so far only gotten "not hiring, not hiring, not hiring." Granted there is a global recession, does anyone have any advice on landing a job or relocating before finding a job? Thanks for your help
I have been reading about the carnage in the American architectural job scene on this site. New Zealand isnt as bad - yet. A headline this morning is about how the construction industry is the next industry to see a significant downturn - but it is already happening.
The construction industry here is deemed to be overstaffed by about 35,000 people. This will also further affect the architecture profession.
There have been numerous lay-offs from architecture firms around town [Auckland] that I know of, but I work in the construction sector so I am not totally connected with the architectural scene.
To sum up: its not a great time to be looking for an arch job here, and its about to get much worse. However, if your main priority is to experience the NZ way of life and work, come down and see what happens.
There are a few other NZ'ers knocking about on this forum - lets see what they say also.
This year's architecture graduates are having a hard time finding work. Most firms I know are not actively laying off (although a few have, and a few have gone to reduced hours), but almost no one is hiring. Nobody wants to hire staff that they might have to let go in a few months. New Zealanders are deeply pragmatic and don't like to make a big drama of things, so there's not widespread panicking, and there are plenty of firms that have a good stretch of work in front of them. The big question is how deep this hole goes. So overall: possible to get work, but definitely a tough time.
NZ's a great place, and I'm sure we'd love to have you visit though. I'll make scones.
diabase- not to sidetrack the thread, but I'm wondering whether Oz is the same, and if other design industries have been affected as well? You know me, every time I come to a big juncture in my life I contemplate moving over there, so, just wondering whether that's a realistic option or not. :)
rationalist - I only have contact with some Melbourne based friends - one with his own practice which is small but frantic. Melbourne seems to be doing ok from his perspective. Finding good staff is an issue. There is a feeling that things will slip off, but both Oz and NZ governments pledging large infrastructure spends, it could mitigate this.
Sydney has had a long-running residential slump and things will take a while to improve. I spent some time over there in March and there are good quality projects as you would expect, but with many practices reliant on residential projects of all scales, they were finding it tough.
Queensland [Brisbane], Adelaide are starting to become hotspots. WA and Perth were booming due to resource exports but with China and other places slowing down, it is also slowing.
Come over for a holiday and see what happens. I hear that Seattle rains almost as much as Auckland does....
diabase and agfa8x thanks for the help. Maybe I'll just head down and try to find some random work - bartender or something. Any preference between Auckland and Wellington?
Also, if you hear of any arch firms needing staff let me know!
I cant speak much about the architecture job market, but the economic situation here (as mentioned before) isnt as bleak as the US - we're expected to be out of recession sometime next year. So if things pick up again fairly shortish there may be a few more spots for you. You shouldn't have a problem finding other areas of employment, the job market seems fairly robust still - our unemployment as of late is generally very low.
In regards to auckland/wellington, theres quite a different vibe betwen the two. Wellington is much more compact, with a dense/defined city center thats easily walkable. The weathers a little bit worse, but its probably the superior city if you cant/dont want to drive. Aucklands much larger, much more spread out (decentralised?). More of an economic center, more of a 'real' big city.
thanks, as always, diabase. I'm saving any small holiday resources that crop up for a potential interview trip over spring break. That may be Melbourne, NYC, Chicago, or London at this point... willing to go where the right work is. But there are a couple of Melbourne offices that have definitely caught my eye, so if either/both of them wanted to talk to me in person a holiday could be in the works later in the year.
i like wellington, but i've never actually lived there. the wind could get you down in winter, maybe? auckland is pretty good. NZ is small - AK-WGTN is a 50m flight.
Dec 8, 08 6:48 pm ·
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New Zealand Jobs
I am a year out of school and looking to relocate to either Wellington or Auckland, NZ. I have a Working Holiday visa, but thought it best to apply to some firms before going down there. I've applied to about 30 firms (crazy, i know) and so far only gotten "not hiring, not hiring, not hiring." Granted there is a global recession, does anyone have any advice on landing a job or relocating before finding a job? Thanks for your help
Hi traveler,
I have been reading about the carnage in the American architectural job scene on this site. New Zealand isnt as bad - yet. A headline this morning is about how the construction industry is the next industry to see a significant downturn - but it is already happening.
The construction industry here is deemed to be overstaffed by about 35,000 people. This will also further affect the architecture profession.
There have been numerous lay-offs from architecture firms around town [Auckland] that I know of, but I work in the construction sector so I am not totally connected with the architectural scene.
To sum up: its not a great time to be looking for an arch job here, and its about to get much worse. However, if your main priority is to experience the NZ way of life and work, come down and see what happens.
There are a few other NZ'ers knocking about on this forum - lets see what they say also.
This year's architecture graduates are having a hard time finding work. Most firms I know are not actively laying off (although a few have, and a few have gone to reduced hours), but almost no one is hiring. Nobody wants to hire staff that they might have to let go in a few months. New Zealanders are deeply pragmatic and don't like to make a big drama of things, so there's not widespread panicking, and there are plenty of firms that have a good stretch of work in front of them. The big question is how deep this hole goes. So overall: possible to get work, but definitely a tough time.
NZ's a great place, and I'm sure we'd love to have you visit though. I'll make scones.
diabase- not to sidetrack the thread, but I'm wondering whether Oz is the same, and if other design industries have been affected as well? You know me, every time I come to a big juncture in my life I contemplate moving over there, so, just wondering whether that's a realistic option or not. :)
rationalist - I only have contact with some Melbourne based friends - one with his own practice which is small but frantic. Melbourne seems to be doing ok from his perspective. Finding good staff is an issue. There is a feeling that things will slip off, but both Oz and NZ governments pledging large infrastructure spends, it could mitigate this.
Sydney has had a long-running residential slump and things will take a while to improve. I spent some time over there in March and there are good quality projects as you would expect, but with many practices reliant on residential projects of all scales, they were finding it tough.
Queensland [Brisbane], Adelaide are starting to become hotspots. WA and Perth were booming due to resource exports but with China and other places slowing down, it is also slowing.
Come over for a holiday and see what happens. I hear that Seattle rains almost as much as Auckland does....
diabase and agfa8x thanks for the help. Maybe I'll just head down and try to find some random work - bartender or something. Any preference between Auckland and Wellington?
Also, if you hear of any arch firms needing staff let me know!
agfa8x - i may take you up on those scones.
I cant speak much about the architecture job market, but the economic situation here (as mentioned before) isnt as bleak as the US - we're expected to be out of recession sometime next year. So if things pick up again fairly shortish there may be a few more spots for you. You shouldn't have a problem finding other areas of employment, the job market seems fairly robust still - our unemployment as of late is generally very low.
In regards to auckland/wellington, theres quite a different vibe betwen the two. Wellington is much more compact, with a dense/defined city center thats easily walkable. The weathers a little bit worse, but its probably the superior city if you cant/dont want to drive. Aucklands much larger, much more spread out (decentralised?). More of an economic center, more of a 'real' big city.
Maybe auckland:wellington is as LA:San Fransisco?
thanks, as always, diabase. I'm saving any small holiday resources that crop up for a potential interview trip over spring break. That may be Melbourne, NYC, Chicago, or London at this point... willing to go where the right work is. But there are a couple of Melbourne offices that have definitely caught my eye, so if either/both of them wanted to talk to me in person a holiday could be in the works later in the year.
i like wellington, but i've never actually lived there. the wind could get you down in winter, maybe? auckland is pretty good. NZ is small - AK-WGTN is a 50m flight.
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