New Zealand’s secret to successful international recruitment

Kiwi businesses are crying out for international talent, yet the war for global talent is more competitive than ever.

Did you know that New Zealand’s new AEWV visa programme has a unique component that elevates the attractiveness of roles in Aotearoa ahead of other countries?

I’ve been designing and running settlement programmes for Kiwi businesses recruiting offshore for 7 years and it’s so exciting to see our clients enthusiastically adopting Immigration New Zealand’s new mandatory settlement support baseline.

The government’s compulsory requirement for employers to provide settlement information for AEWV holders might seem like an administrative burden. 

But put yourself in the shoes of an offshore candidate, and it looks quite different. 

A potential migrant or expat will see a Kiwi employer who cares enough about their wellbeing to provide the information and connections they, and their family, need to settle successfully in New Zealand. 

It’s Manaakitanga in action - the process of showing respect, generosity and care for others.

While other countries promise amazing new lives to international talent, New Zealand employers now take action to make it actually happen.

Why does this matter to candidates?

Imagine arriving in New Zealand for the first time, and having to set up a whole new life.

You’d want to focus on getting to grips with your new job.

But you’re also dealing with an overwhelming range of life admin … Finding a rental property.  Getting kids into school.  Understanding where to buy the food you like. Connecting  with your ethnic or religious community.

Relocating countries can be as stressful  as a major illness, according to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Inventory Scale. 

Anything employers do to smooth the way will  positively impact the wellbeing, and job performance, of new international employees.

What is settlement support?

As part of the AEWV accreditation, all employers must now provide visa-holders with information on everything from housing to opening a bank account to the cost of living.

The result? Your valuable international talent can find exactly what they need to know to get set up in NZ quickly and efficiently.

This is  now the new minimum level of support that all migrants and expats on AWEV visas will receive.

How do recruiters amplify this benefit?

In a time of escalating salaries, businesses are on the look-out for relevant benefits to offer international talent.

Settlement support meets this criteria.

 It doesn’t affect base salary but targets the unique requirements of candidates relocating to New Zealand.

Here’s how we see our canny international recruitment clients utilising the settlement support benefit:

• Package into your EVP - Present settlement support as a high-profile and  integral component of your employment offers.

• Align with Wellbeing Strategy - List  settlement support as part of your business’s wellbeing programme to show that you understand the specific needs and concerns of people moving to a new country for a new role. 

• Target family - You’ll find that offering settlement support resonates strongly with partners and spouses - research by Netexpat and EY shows that spouse and and family issues are the main reasons why employees decide against taking an offshore role.

• Trump competitors -  A professional settlement support offering elevates your business above other employers in your industry.  Many Kiwi employers are already using our cost-efficient online Settlement Support Portal that saves you time, work, and ensures you remain AEWV compliant. 

• Would you like to join them?  Book a demo today or contact our Principal, Bridget Romanes, for more information.

If you are a recruiter or HR Professional bringing international talent to NZ Mobile Relocation has a range of settlement support services to suit your candidates and your business - from baseline support to meet Immigration New Zealand’s AEWV Accreditation requirements through to personalised programmes to support your most valued international employees.

How employers make the most of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) programme

It has now been a few months since the start of Immigration NZ’s new Accredited Employer Work Visa programme (AEWV) began.

In this expert interview we discuss the AEWV programme with Rachael Mason, Partner at Lane Neave, and ask her to explain what employers need to know to make the most of it.

Rachael’s advice will include:

• The system and how it works for employers.

• The latest changes to the AEWV programme.

• How the AEWV residency programme works.

• Some of the pitfalls being seen with AEWV applications, and how can employers avoid them.

Mobile Relocation delivers resettlement and relocation programmes for businesses employing offshore talent. Our goal is to get your expat and migrant talent up and running in NZ as quickly as possible - reducing their time to effectiveness in their new role, and enabling them to deliver their skills and expertise to your the benefit of your business.

Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India.  After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent.  bridget@mobile-relocation.com

Ready to move to New Zealand? Get our FREE Move to NZ Checklist here.

Why intercultural intelligence matters for Kiwi business

As international recruitment ramps up post-COVID, forward-thinking HR professionals are focusing on how to build effective cross-cultural teams.  Harnessing the skills and knowledge of expats and migrants relocating to New Zealand depends on it.  In our latest Mobile Expert Interview,  intercultural expert, Shireen Chua, shares the factors that shape an employer’s ability to develop and grow cultural intelligence in their organisation.

What is intercultural intelligence?

Intercultural intelligence is the ability to create a new space that facilitates win-win situations in culturally diverse settings.  This requires us to develop our cultural agility to anticipate, correctly interpret and adjust in culturally diverse settings.  

Why is it important for New Zealand businesses and what tangible value does intercultural intelligence provide?

With my own experience working in government, education, business and not-for-profit settings, I have seen how Auckland and New Zealand have changed. The cultural diversity in the communities and organizations made me curious to explore how everyone could work together in spite of all the differences.

Cultural diversity describes all the ways difference exists within a group of people. What’s more - everyone is multi-dimensional. This goes beyond nationality, ethnicity, age, and gender to the hidden values, beliefs and worldviews.  Every interaction is an intercultural encounter. 

I navigated some complex cultural challenges in the projects I managed and wanted to move into this space after completing my MBA. I founded Third Culture Solutions to equip leaders, teams and organizations to learn to work in the “purple space”- where people of the “blue culture” work with people of the “red culture” they need to learn to work in the “purple space”. 

Globalisation has increased the complexity of culture.  It’s important for New Zealand businesses to equip their leaders and staff with intercultural intelligence so that they can understand each other better, work together better, and also bring their diverse experiences and thinking into the business.

This is an ongoing process that will reap benefits of increased creativity, innovation and employee engagement and wellbeing.

Is intercultural intelligence more important for expats and immigrants coming into NZ, or for the teams who are receiving them here?

 It is important for everyone that needs to work together.

Expats who move here often are prepared for differences in culture, whilst the teams who receive expats are often less equipped.  

For teams to become high-performing, everyone needs to develop intercultural intelligence to understand each other more, and work well together.

How is intercultural intelligence training typically delivered?

I deliver talks, mini-learning sessions, leadership training, and coach expats, leaders and emerging leaders to develop cultural agility.

Training ranges. . . workshops only offer the knowledge, but for awareness and behaviour change to occur, an ongoing learning journey over time with reflection and coaching is key for the training or learning to be transformational.  High-performance learning journeys increase learning, application and transformation over time.

What's your story, and how did you end up working in this area?

I’m a Malaysian Born Chinese Kiwi who has spent her childhood in Malaysia before migrating to Aotearoa New Zealand as a 12-year-old.  I was educated in New Zealand, with degrees in Masters of Science (Nutrition), MBA and I’m now completing a PhD in Strategic Management, where I’m looking at how leaders approach managing a culturally diverse workforce. 

My hope is that everyone who works in New Zealand organizations experiences the opportunity to work in a high-performing intercultural team and organisation, where they navigate both the highs and lows to experience belonging.

WWW.THIRDCULTURE.CO.NZ

Mobile Relocation delivers resettlement and relocation programmes for businesses employing offshore talent. Our goal is to get your expat and migrant talent up and running in NZ as quickly as possible - reducing their time to effectiveness in their new role, and enabling them to deliver their skills and expertise to your the benefit of your business.

Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India.  After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent.  bridget@mobile-relocation.com

Ready to move to New Zealand? Get our FREE Move to NZ Checklist here.