In some sectors New Zealanders are now returning home and are more
attractive to employers due to their valuable overseas skills
combined with their local knowledge.

This is one of the findings of the latest Hays Quarterly Report,
out now and covering July to September 2012.

While New Zealand has a flow of candidates both in and out of the
country, certain sectors such as resource and mining is seeing a
reversal of recent trends.

Those who left in recent years to go work in the Australian market
are now returning to local jobs.

Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand says while
New Zealand receives high volumes of overseas applications from
skilled and experienced candidates, the first preference is for
local talent.

"New Zealand employers often resist overseas applications and
remain very specific in their requirements, which typically include
candidates with local New Zealand experience," said Jason.

"As a result, those Kiwi’s who are returning home from
overseas are viewed very highly since they possess both New Zealand
experience as well as valuable international skills."

New Zealanders returning from overseas are also more attractive to
employers as they are viewed as more stable.

"Hiring managers like the idea that when they employ someone who
has travelled and already had their overseas experience, they are
more likely to stay in the country," said Jason.

"It’s valued highly that these candidates have more life
experience and have gained some commercial experience from working
for a company offshore. It means that you’ve got a bit of get
up and go, are investigative and have experienced what life has to
offer, and you’ve got that out of your system and can really
focus on the career at hand."

While New Zealand has been impacted by losing talent overseas, some
have remained due to the global economic conditions. Legal
professionals, for example, are staying in their current roles
since UK and offshore firms have only a limited number of
opportunities and are very particular in relation to candidate
experience.

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified,
professional and skilled people.