Job expo in South Africa attracts thousands

Media release

July 30, 2008

Job expo in South Africa attracts thousands

The first Opportunities New Zealand Expo in South Africa has been successful for employers trying to recruit internationally, with more than 6500 well-qualified potential migrants attending the Expo in Johannesburg recently.

Navman and other key employers and recruitment consultants in the IT, healthcare and engineering sectors have been struggling to find the people they need to fill their skills shortages in New Zealand.

They were aiming to fill a range of positions from software designers to registered nurses, engineers and radiographers.

Mercy Ascot private hospital was looking for registered nurses for operating rooms, surgical wards and endoscopy nurses, and was following up with prospective candidates in the wake of the Expo.

“There were some very high-quality candidates who were very organised, well-researched and ready to come to New Zealand,” says human resources advisor, Melissa Hamer.

Recruitment company Greg Tims and Associates Ltd was also delighted with the response it got, says Michelle de Beer.

In the wake of the Expo she would be following up with between 10 and 15 people to fill roles as wastewater engineers, strategic policy analysts and planners.

“With the skills shortages experienced in New Zealand, this is another option in obtaining skilled people and thinking outside the square in recruitment strategies,” she says.

For first-time Opportunities New Zealand Expo attendee, Navman, it was also a success, and the leading navigation technology company has also decided to go to the Expo in London in October.

“It’s a great recruitment tool as well as good for our brand recognition. The majority of people had started the visa process, some of whom we’re going through the process of interviewing,” says Human resources manager Kirsty Rutledge-Malyon.

Scott Mathieson, director and co-founder of Expo organisers Working In, is delighted with the success of the first Opportunities New Zealand Expo in South Africa.

“Increasing numbers of New Zealand employers are looking to the growing migrant market to fill their skills shortages, and South African’s are a good fit. They’re well-qualified, hardworking and keen to move,” he says.

All potential recruits have paid to go to the Expo, and while they are there they can also talk to migration, banking shipping and real estate organisations. 

“Employers like being able to meet people face to face, and many stay on to interview them further in the days after the Expo. This time we had excellent feedback about the quality of potential migrants.”

Working In has specialised in recruiting returning New Zealanders and new migrants to New Zealand since 1998 and works directly with Immigration New Zealand to identify skill shortages and seek recruits to fill those gaps.

Of more than 10,000 visits to the last two Opportunities New Zealand Expos in Britain in April, 53% were aged 24-39, 18% were qualified to Masters, PhD or Postgraduate level, and the most popular sectors were engineering/construction (18%), healthcare (16%) trades (15%), IT/telecommunications (11%) and education (8%).

To find out more please visit www.expo-newzealand.com, or www.workingin.com.

ENDS

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