How to attract Expat Executives to NZ

New Zealand is a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities and, as the country navigates the current talent-short labour market, organisations are increasingly recruiting internationally for highly skilled expats to fill vacant roles.

Attracting, and retaining international talent is challenging - especially when competing against other international cities around the world.

Ensuring your organisation stands out from the competition requires you to put the person, your potential employee, first - think about their big picture.

Relocating to NZ can offer wonderful experiences, in a beautiful part of the world, but can also offer situations and challenges they haven't faced before.

Ensuring your offer includes a well designed and personally tailored relocation package is crucial to your success.??

What should a relocation package include?

First off, a relocation package should include all the basic items: flights, budget for shipping personal effects, temporary accommodation on arrival and resettlement support to help organise essentials like bank accounts and finding long term housing to rent.? For executive roles, additional options include offering an?accommodation allowance to cover or part-cover rent, healthcare cover, an annual trip home or an education allowance for children.

That's only the beginning though.

What will really add value for a candidate in the context of moving to New Zealand?

A realistic housing budget

The supply of quality houses to rent in NZ is limited, and can be expensive.?

Official house price data can often be misleading.? For example the Median Rent for a 4 bedroom house in a nice central Auckland suburb is NZ$1050 per week yet Mobile’s executive expat clients are paying closer to $NZ2000, with top properties renting for up to NZ$5000 per week.

It is important to understand the needs of your candidate, and their family, so their budget is realistic.

Consider other living costs.

In addition to housing,? estimate the living costs based on your candidates personal situation.

Depending on where they come from, expats can find food and clothing more expensive in New Zealand.? Yet other items like healthcare, childcare and utilities can be cheaper. In all cases, knowledge is power- ensure you understand their personal situation.?

Education

For candidates who are looking to relocate with children, understanding their children's educational needs is invaluable.

Many expats value the experiences and education their kids have in the public school system in NZ.? Others prefer private for reasons of continuity with schooling in their home country.?

Given private schools cost upwards of NZ$20,000 per annum this may impact their financial situation.? Take the time to understand the educational expectations for their children.

Trips home, and the leave to take them

Expats and their families can often feel geographically isolated once they have settled. NZ is often a very long way from ‘home’ and international airfares are expensive.??

?With standard agreements offering 4 weeks annual leave it can be worthwhile considering offering additional time off for travel (and recovery) time.

A family onboarding programme

BGRS?research identified the major causes of international assignment failure as family issues, spouse dissatisfaction and inability to settle in their new country.

It can be hard for families in New Zealand where there is just not the level of expat infrastructure they may have relied on previously.??

Incoming expat executives will have an onboarding programme organized for them at the office.? There is enormous value (and peace of mind)?knowing their family is also being upskilled and equipped for life in New Zealand.??

Mobile Relocation packages can include finding schooling and housing, connecting to local communities and interest groups, locating sporting groups and clubs for children, enabling spouses to re-establish their careers and/or pursue their interests.

Here’s a list of the type of resettlement services available for families.

Closing the deal

The most important aspect of a valuable, and attractive, relocation package is research.?

Learn about your candidate, their personal situation, what is important to them.

When you do get to the final signature from your candidate, just remember that is only a small part of the big relocation and resettlement picture.??

Your success in supporting them?will contribute to their success for you.

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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.

Learn more about how we can help you.

To book a demo of our AEWV Resettlement Portal, or to better understand how Mobile can help you to ensure you are offering the right resettlement services for your candidates and your business, contact our Principal?Bridget Romanes.

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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.?