One of the reasons we move countries or even just cities, is in search of new work opportunities. It can be exciting, stressful, and tiring searching for a job. When applications are rejected or get no response, it can be depressing and hard not to take personal.
For many migrants, this is often their reality. Despite their extensive skills, experience, and education in their profession, many struggle to find employment. In areas, where there is high demand, migrants are still struggling to find work with many having to secure employment that is below their expertise or look beyond their profession.
Some of the challenges identified for migrants were around the lack of understanding the New Zealand job market, lack of New Zealand work experience, English language skills and racism and discrimination.
These challenges were also still relevant regardless of the demand for workers across sectors and the perspective of job availability portrayed overseas to potential migrants, they are still struggling to not only find employment but also find employment that matches their skills, experience, and education level.
We wanted to test how internships might eliminate barriers to help employers recruit skilled migrants easily into their organisations and help partners of skilled migrants re-establish their careers.
The pilot successfully bridged the gap between employees and employers, supporting seven skilled migrants to achieve positive employment outcomes and re-establish their careers in NZ, while enabling employers to tap into an underutilised talent pool.
cross-cultural learning
Interns brought a wealth of skills, fresh ideas, and perspectives and were productive and positive.
Key Insights
The living wage subsidy provided by Belong Aotearoa was a key enabler for host organisations to join the internship pilot.
Belong Aotearoa found high-quality candidates and made the recruitment process seamless.
A less formal interview process put candidates at ease and provided a friendly environment for host organisations to confidently choose the interns that matched the roles they had to offer.
Host organisations were impressed by interns' skills, productivity, positive attitudes, fresh ideas and perspectives.
One of the greatest strengths of the internship pilot was the opportunities for cross-cultural learning.
Interns felt the 3-month paid internship helped them regain their confidence, improved their mental health and well-being, and increased their sense of belonging.
The extent to which interns were struggling before applying for the internship indicates there is a huge gap between skilled migrants looking for work and people who need their skills and knowledge in their sectors.
Host organisations value diverse workforces and are committed to supporting skilled migrants into employment, however there are many challenges for employers and potential employees when tackling this on their own. They would not have the capacity to set up their own internship programme in-house.
Interns felt they were able to share and contribute their ideas, perspectives, skills and be productive in their new workplace. Many felt if the internship were longer, they could support some of the new ideas to be implemented.
The internship has supported interns to understand more about New Zealand workplace culture and increased their confidence speaking English in professional settings. Interns wanted more opportunities to grow their knowledge and confidence around communication in the workplace.
The internship opened doors and opportunities for interns, through offering local experience, references, and networking opportunities. For some, they explained the pilot as providing a bridge between skilled migrants and employers.
During the up to three-month paid internship, employers found the interns brought a wealth of skills, fresh ideas, and perspectives and were productive and positive. Their teams particularly benefitted from the cross-cultural learning.
Interns learned more about NZ workplace culture, grew their networks, regained their confidence, improved their mental wellbeing and felt a greater sense of belonging. Following the internship, all interns found employment which utilises their skills, and employers are committed to supporting migrants into employment and creating more diverse workforces.
Whilst the impact is limited to seven skilled migrants and five workplaces, the key insights generated will inform the future work of Belong Aotearoa and others to bridge the gap.
“It (the interview) lasted an hour, and we talked a lot, I felt super comfortable, and they were really kind. We had a really good conversation, so I felt good in the interview” - Intern
“(Belong Aotearoa) had done all the good work. They had already profiled this person, and we were able to match the role with the personality, knowing already that they are probably quite a good fit, so it is just a matter of interviewing them” - Host organisation
“What was great was having Belong Aotearoa’s continued support. I felt there was someone there for me when I needed it” - Intern
“It is a two-way thing, we have learnt a lot about her, her culture and family which has been enlightening to us” - Host organisation