2nd interview and written test (whatever that means!!)

Hi all,

If I wasnÂ’t stressed out enough with my online visa application, I heard back about one the Skype interciews that I had recently. Timeline:
07 November - applied online
11 November - contacted for an interview
15 November - interview with head of & a snr mgr; asked if also interested in another role (which I was) and advised that the other snr mgr would be in touch
16 Nov - contacted to arrange ‘conversation’ about other role
20 Nov - ‘conversation’ equaled full blown interview (thank goodness I had prep’ed - same specialist field but different roles); it lasted over 1 1/2 hour
Today (still 28th in the UK) - heard from snr mgr about 2nd role who wants to schedule 2nd ‘conversation’ (not falling for that!) with another snr manager, plus a written test (no idea what this entails?!)

Question: do hiring managers face internal pressure to show that theyÂ’ve pursued all onshore possibilities? Or go the extra mile to justify appointing an offshore candidate?

Whichever way it goes, I am pretty pleased with the outcome so far, especially seeing that it was my very first NZ job application! And they wouldnÂ’t be wasting time on me if I wasnÂ’t a strong applicant (or so I keep telling myself).

Congratulations - it's really something to have had them go to these lengths about you.

I don't think it's possible to generalize about what will happen within a particular company. Businesses can have their own procedures. Quite a few follow a recent American trend, and involve psychometric testing, so that COULD be your 'written test'. Ask them - you have the right to know.

Any NZ company wanting to appoint a foreign candidate whom they would have to sponsor for a visa (i.e. someone who isn't already a resident, or who doesn't have or wouldn't be eligible for an open visa because of partnership or some other reason) has to justify their decision to INZ - they have to take any NZer or NZ visa-holder who is equally well suited for the job available in preference to the foreigner, if such a one exists. But that isn't your situation - you're not going to need to be sponsored as you're a Kiwi's partner.

If you don't mind saying, what is your line of work?

Thank you very much, JandM! I am simply in the wrong country right now... ;-)

I was just wondering whether others have seen this happened either when they were hiring or being hired. I’ve never hired anyone from abroad, and it’s my time applying from overseas.

Second interview for role 2 lined up - fingers and toes crossed. And of course need a work permit (minor detail)...

I’ll happily disclose that further down the line. You never know who is reading!

Definitely depends of the company and field

For example, for an interview in Australia (four years ago), I was asked to create a mobile app as a demo :( - (Yes my field is IT) (and yes I got the job!)

... but as JandM said before, you have the right to know what that exam is about!

Just ask, and good luck!

Help!!! I’ve just found out that tomorrow’s ‘conversation’ with another senior message is actually with the said lady, the hiring manager and somebody from HR. I mean, HR’s presence may have something to do with talking about the written test?? (still none the wiser on what it entails and nothing else has been said on that). What’s going on?

I was recommended for this role by the head of, who originally interviewed me for another role (the current role turned out to be my preference). So this is effectively going to be my 3rd interview for the company and for the same business area, and now by a panel.

Thank you in advance and have a good day!

Okay - keep calm, deep breaths. Just the time till tomorrow to get through (busy work, distraction), then you can put your questions to the only people who can answer. Hang in there. :nice1

Ha! I wonder if you could sense the sheer panic in my post, JandM. Thank you!

I am currently traveling for work, so it’ll be a Skype interview from my hotel room tonight after a day back-to-back in appointments. Fingers crossed 🤞