Here, immigrants from different professions share how they manage to find a job and build a career in a new country. To make the stories complete and detailed, we ask each guest the same set of questions — the very questions people always want to ask those who dared to change their country, language, and often even their field or profession.
Profile. Vitaliy Lasukov, 35 years. Born and raised in Novosibirsk, Vitaly holds a degree in chemical engineering. After the COVID-19 pandemic began, he decided to change careers. He completed a three-month training course and started working in IT as a manual software tester in late 2020. He specialized in testing web applications for major Russian banks. Vitaly has been living in New Zealand since July 2023.
Where were you when you started looking for your first job in New Zealand?
We arrived in Wellington in July 2023, where my wife began her studies at Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec). We had set our sights on moving to New Zealand back in 2021. We chose a pathway through a joint program between Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University and WelTec, designed for IT professionals. We decided that my wife would pursue the degree—she has extensive academic experience and holds a PhD—while I would focus on job searching, as I had the stronger English skills.
As a result, my wife received a student visa, and I got a one-year open work visa as her partner.
I started job hunting in early August while wrapping up my job with a Russian company. I realized it would be nearly impossible to manage two full-time jobs, and having a stable job with a good salary makes it difficult to commit to finding work in a new country—especially with language barriers, potential salary cuts, and adjusting to a new work culture.
In short, I burned my bridges and began searching for a job locally.
Did you have any local education in New Zealand?
No, I didn’t, nor do I have a formal IT degree at all. My background is in chemical engineering. I do think having a technical degree can help in IT job searches, as employers may assume you have a certain way of thinking, but I’m not sure if that applies in New Zealand.
Back in Russia, I completed two three-month courses in manual and automated testing, which I listed on my CV. But beyond that, my IT knowledge came from practical experience and self-education.
Did you do any local volunteering, part-time jobs, or other professional activities in New Zealand?
I began researching the New Zealand job market before arriving, and it quickly became clear that most employers prefer candidates already in the country. I was also a bit concerned that the total number of IT vacancies across the whole country was only in the hundreds, not thousands, like in Russia. I was prepared to start outside of my field or do volunteer work if needed.
I gave myself a clear deadline: if I couldn’t land an IT job by early 2024, I’d look for work in hospitality. Dropping off my resume and chatting with café and restaurant managers is a valid approach here. Fortunately, I didn’t have to go that route.
What kind of jobs did you apply for? How did they align with your previous experience and responsibilities?
At first, I only applied for manual web application testing roles, since that matched my experience exactly. After two weeks with no responses, I widened my search to include all tester jobs in Wellington—automation testers, seniors, team leads, and mobile app testers. Only about 2–3 new vacancies per week appeared.
Relocation wasn’t an option since my wife was studying in Wellington, and remote work for someone at my level is almost impossible to find as a first job in New Zealand.
During my time working in Russian companies, I learned to use a wide range of testing tools and technologies common in commercial software development — documentation systems, version control, automation tools, etc. My tech stack matched about 80% of requirements in most NZ job ads, as web application testing tech is quite universal.
However, I avoided highly specialized areas like security testing, performance testing, or hardware testing, which require niche tools and experience.
What job search channels did you use? Which ones were most effective?
The main platforms I used were Seek and TradeMe.
Before arriving, I completed Kiwi Education’s course on job searching in New Zealand. Following their advice, I prepared my CV and a cover letter template and stayed active on LinkedIn.
Job ads almost always asked for a LinkedIn profile link, by the way. I tailored each cover letter to the employer, adding at least 2–3 lines about what attracted me to the position.
A friend living in NZ also advised me to contact a few recruitment agencies. These agencies are paid by employers when they help fill a vacancy, so the service is free for job seekers. But jobs found this way often come with slightly lower salaries, since the agency takes a cut.
Still, recruiters are motivated to help you get hired, since that’s how they earn. I searched “top recruitment agencies in NZ” and focused on IT-specialized agencies in Wellington. I submitted inquiries via their websites, and representatives followed up to schedule meetings.
These weren’t interviews, it was more like profiling sessions. Questions about work experience, salary expectations, preferred industries, and availability. Agencies might offer you vacancies not listed publicly and provide a great chance to practice self-presentation in English.
The downside? They’re more likely to “sell” candidates with local experience, which makes things harder for newcomers. In my case, the recruiters said it might take them a few months to place me. In the end, I found my job on my own within a month, and none of the agencies came back with offers during that time.
How to find job in New Zealand
How many jobs did you apply for? How many interviews and offers did you receive?
I applied for 40 positions. Around 20 replied that I wasn’t suitable or the role had been filled. I had five phone screenings and just one in-person interview about a month after I started job hunting.
It was with a small company that builds rostering and payroll apps for hospitality businesses. Before the interview, I explored all four of their products and even tried the demo versions—just a habit from my professional experience.
At the first interview, I met the company founder and the team lead. They had never had a tester before, so they knew exactly why they needed this role. I grew more interested in the company and the people during the interview. Afterward, I told my wife I really wanted to work there.
A few days later, I was invited to a second interview with the product manager and deputy director. It felt more like a formality. Soon after, I got the offer, and accepted immediately. I started working in September. I later learned that 160 candidates had applied for that position.
Did the salary meet your expectations? Did you negotiate?
The job ad included a junior/junior+ salary range. They were looking for someone with at least two years of experience to build processes from scratch. In hindsight, they didn’t want someone senior or expensive, so my three years of fintech experience and modest salary expectations were a great match.
They offered the lower end of the salary range. I didn’t negotiate. Getting local experience and language practice was more valuable to me in the long run.
How does job hunting in New Zealand compare to your home country?
The search process itself is quite similar to Russia. What stood out to me was the interview experience. Many NZ companies are small, and how well you fit the team culture often matters more than your hard skills.
At my first interview, they gave me an office tour and introduced me to a few people I might never work with. We ended up chatting about hobbies, and it turned out the team lead and I both brew beer at home. So we started talking about that.
In my view, being a “good fit”— someone who genuinely wants to be part of the team — is one of the most important hiring criteria in New Zealand. My employer even said one of the reasons they hired me was because they saw how they could help me build a career in a new country.
What was your English level when job hunting?
My English is at a C1 level. People here are very relaxed about different accents. Even after more than six months, I still don’t always fully understand everything people say. It took 3–4 months to get used to the accent, but everyday speech often includes idioms, slang, and a different way of thinking.
My English is enough to live and work, and even have casual conversations over a beer. But I often wonder: did I really understand what they meant? Did I say the right thing?
Luckily, people here are great at clarifying things without judgment. They don’t stop talking to me if I make a mistake or sound awkward. They understand I’m not a native speaker and try to support me. Living in another language isn’t that hard—it’s actually kind of fun. But I still feel it will take a long time before I’m as confident in English as I am in Russian.
Tip: Prepare and practice your self-presentation for interviews in English. It reduces stress and makes a strong impression on the employer.
What’s changed in your career since then? How important was your first job?
I’m actively using skills from my previous roles to build the company’s testing processes from scratch. Seeing things come together and hearing from teammates, “This is better—we needed this,” is incredibly fulfilling.
At a small company, I have much more decision-making freedom than I did in large corporations. It suits me well, given my experience and working style. I really feel like I’m in the right place at the right time.
How do you see your path to residency in New Zealand?
Even before we moved, we considered making New Zealand our new home. There are two main pathways to residency: work and study. We have the chance to try both.
After finishing her master’s in IT, my wife needs to work for one year at or above the median salary to qualify for residency points under the Skilled Migrant Category.
For me to be the primary applicant, I’d need to earn double the median salary—currently just over NZD 100,000 annually before tax, which applies to most IT roles. That’s achievable in IT after 2–3 years of local experience. With that salary, I’d qualify for the Straight to Residence Visa.
Kiwi Education note:
For accuracy, Vitaly currently has two potential pathways to residency:
- Work to Residence Category: Requires earning twice the median wage — currently NZ$67.12 per hour and working at least 30 hours per week. In this case, the applicant must work for two years before applying for residency.
- Straight to Residence Category: Applicable for roles on the Green List, which includes Software Tester. It requires a wage of NZ$65.74 per hour and a minimum 30-hour work week. This pathway allows you to apply for residency immediately.
My story may give the impression that immigration is easy, but in reality, it always involves many nuances. It’s highly advisable to consult a licensed immigration adviser or lawyer when planning your pathway. Also, keep in mind that between visa processing, education, and gaining the required work experience, the road to citizenship can take around 8 years. There are also significant financial costs upfront. However, once you secure a job and start earning a local salary, the quality of life improves dramatically.
Give a practical advice for job seekers in New Zealand
Job hunting in a new country takes time. Yes, I was lucky. But it wasn’t just luck. It was good preparation and planning. I had started retraining for an in-demand IT role and studying English well before applying for the visa. Our chosen migration pathway allowed me to arrive on an open work visa, which is one of the first things employers look for in a candidate.
I also began learning about the New Zealand job market early. I wrote my CV and prepared a cover letter template before we even arrived in the country.
Timing matters too. Life in New Zealand is expensive, so you need to find that tipping point where any job is better than no job, and ideally, avoid reaching that critical stage.
And most importantly — keep a positive mindset. You’ll make it if you know where you’re going and keep “paddling” in that direction.
The Kiwi Education editorial team is looking for new stories for our series “First Job in New Zealand.”
If you’re ready to share your career journey or want to recommend someone who is — please contact us [email protected]
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