How I landed my first official job in New Zealand

Disclaimer: This post is semi long but worth it!

Now, I don’t know about you but, I thought getting a job in New Zealand was going to be easy peasy (Yes, I did actually think this)

I felt this way ‘cause:

1. I had heard many ‘travelers’ passed through New Zealand and because of this, the country took advantage and made odd jobs available to wandering folk.
2. I ‘thought’ I was prepared to take almost any kind of job that would afford me to live in the country for a year (I was wrong).

At this point, I’d been living in New Zealand for 5 months, but didn’t have an ‘official job’ as yet. (This may or may not have been for lack of trying, but we won’t debate that right now).
It’s not that I didn’t have ANY income. Throughout the first 4 months, I organized odd jobs like babysitting & tutoring English which allowed me to cover my bare bone expenses while my savings made up the difference (that AND good people took care of me AND MINIMAL spending!)

In about May though, I seriously begun looking online for jobs. Turns out I wasn’t willing to do just ANY job but instead was looking for an opportunity that would add to my CV (Ideally. Or at least something I’d enjoy doing). I also took this time to look for volunteer opportunities with youth groups. I figured I’d be using my time wisely and a job would probably come out of it (little did I know).

While scouring the internet however, I spotted a position at UNICEF New Zealand (OMG). My undergraduate degree is in International Development and I enjoy working with/for youth so,perfect fit right? I prepared my resume, but it was bout a month before it was due so I quickly decided I wouldn’t send it in until ‘closer to the deadline’ (classic Alyssa procrastinator/scardy cat move).

Shortly after is also when I up, skipped and jumped over to Australia for 5 days. I thought to myself “The deadline isn’t till the end of June. This could wait. I got a continent to explore!”.

Upon my return though, one of the organizations I applied to volunteer at got back to me. They requested an interview so I dressed up and got to it. I ensured I had extra resumes printed and I put on ma nice dan dan (formal dress) for dem. The interview itself went aightt (a little harder than I thought) so I was neutral about it. But, as I was out the house on nice day and passing through the city, I decided to use this rare occasion to walk around and explore a little.

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Now, I love books and reading, so I came across a book store and took a look around. At the same time though, I realized I had extra copies of my resume, and was dressed appropriately, so I introduced myself to the cashier and asked her to take a hold of my resume in the event a position opened up. (It was actually a dream of mine to come to NZ and work in a book store. I figured I loved books and wanted something ‘easy’ so, that would be a good fit. So it would’ve been really cool if it happened.)

After snooping around the store a little more, I walked out and further down the street I saw a sign for a “Rare books” store. I went into the multi-level building and checked to see what floor it was on. While I was looking, I couldn’t believe what I saw – a sign for UNICEF NZ. It was in the same building! Only a floor below the book store.

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I quickly thought about it all in my head and realised that I had my resumes on hand – specifically a UNICEF printed one for the position they advertised (I had randomly selected to print THIS one a day or two before). I was also dressed ‘businessy’ enough to introduce myself to any staff in office because of the interview I just came from!.

After calming my nerves, I talked myself into going to check out the book store, and told myself that after I would march right into the UNICEF office to meet who ever was hiring for the position online.

I went upstairs and the book store was closed :(. But, that was even more reason to go to UNICEF! It would be a great conversation piece!

I gathered up ma nerves, knocked on the door and went into the office. The door opened up to this big room with a conference table at the back where I was now clearly interrupting a meeting or something. A gentleman quickly came over and I promptly introduced myself to him. I asked for the HR coordinator whose name I saw on the job posting (me thinking it was my time to shine) only to be told the person had just stepped out. He showed me her empty desk (there with the missed opportunity😢)

I explained that I was interested in the position online and as I was in the area (searching for the bookstore), I would drop off my resume. He offered to take the resume and said he’d give it to her. He then placed it right on her desk and that’s when I thought “Aw mayn. That’ll get lost in 2 seconds flat”. I thanked him for his time however, shook his hand and then left.

Slightly disappointed (but also patting myself on the back for just taking the risk), I continued my exploits of exploring the town, distributed a few more resumes then called it quits and went home.

I told my family friends of the random experience and they encouraged me to follow up with a phone call, to make sure she (The HR coordinator) received the resume.

I did exactly that (she was busy at the time but acknowledged that she received my resume) and I was granted an interview about a week later. It was funny though cause that week, I went on about 3-5 interviews for possible jobs. I’d even gotten offered a position straight away, but decided to hold out for UNICEF’s response.

And folks I’m happy to share that the following Monday I got the call saying I got the position at UNICEF!! (Yay me!).

All of this is great, but HEAR WHAT!

On my first or second day, my boss/co-worker (HR Coordinator), told me that the guy who I met the day I walked in the office was HER boss. She said he liked/was impressed by the fact that I took the initiative to come to the office to hand deliver my resume. This one gesture might’ve been what gave me the edge over other candidates who applied for the position! (Not what she said but it’s what I took from it).

That random occurrence where everything seemed to be in the right place at the right time – my resume for THAT position on hand in my bag, my appropriate dress from a previous interview, stumbling upon the office in the first place – it was all too good to be true!

Serendipity is defined by google as “The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way – “a fortunate stroke of serendipity.” That’s EXACTLY what I think happened that day. Random occurrences that just fell into place at the right time.

Folks, I’m happy to say that I was employed at UNICEF New Zealand as their Logistics Assistant for 7 months (the remainder of my time in the country). It was a fantastic job with fantastic people (looks great on a CV too). It was the right amount of hours, I got to dress casually to work, my co-workers were genuine people. It was flexible and the work environment was the perfect balance of work but chill vybz.

When I think about it all, it was just about exactly what I wanted/was looking for. Except it wasn’t a book store. But I’ll take it 😉. Maybe the bookstore is for another chapter?

Regardless, believe it. Put the energy & vybz out there and it’ll happen.

Believe in it and it will. It will.

Yours truly,

Global Gyal