Post 7: Our drama about jobs

I've already told you about my friends Seona 🇰🇷 and Faustine 🇫🇷. We talk in English so I think my English is getting better and better :)

Now I'm gonna tell you our stressful but funny story about job search and the certain problem about the one-on-one appointmen with Clark...

1. Kiwi fruit or Frappuccino

Right at the beginning, Seona and I wanted to work together at the Kiwi farm in Opotiki where I had already been accepted. It looked good for us because my employer offered us to work together. We even had luck in terms of accommodation, because the landlord of Bridgitte (my accommodation in Opotiki) had space left for Seona.

But Seona wasn't sure if she joins me. That's acceptable because she actually wanted to work at Starbucks in Queenstown (sth. she is used to doing). However, she was still waiting for an interview on that time... That's how it was last weekend (4./5.10).

2. No matching conditions

Shortly afterwards, Seona got an offer from another Starbucks. She had applied for a lot of jobs, that she didn't even know which Starbucks was meant 😂 This offer wasn't that good because of the low amount of working hours per week, so she declined the it. On the same day, she got an offer for a Kiwi fruitpicking job in Tauranga! However - I'm so sorry about that - she was to short for the job 🥲 For the most Kiwi jobs, you must be at least 170cm because Kiwis grow like that:

It's so weird that my employer didn't asked me about my height. I would have answered with so much pleasure 😎

3. Kiwi transfer

Faustine had also been looking for a fruitpicking job, so we had the great idea to ask if she could get the job, which actually Seona had applied for - and it worked! At the latest at this point we realised that it probably doesn't matter who works as long as you are tall enough to reach the kiwis 😂 

4. Frappuccino continues

On Tuesday, Seona got an appointment for the interview with the first Starbucks (Queenstown) while I was taking part at the Starter-Package. She said she talked like a six-years-old and was highly damaged after the interview 😭 Even now she is waiting wir an answer. That's one of the reasons why I decided to stay in Auckland a bit longer. I couldn't throw away the option to buy a car with Seona and drive to Opotiki. Therefore I needed to stay here until we got the answer.

5. Kiwis are fussy

As we learnt during the Starter-Package, it is so important to check up the contract before visiting the place. So I asked my employer whether I may have a look at the contract I'm gonna sign. Basically it looked very professional, but there was one thing:

  

Whether work is available and the amount of work available will depend on the changing requirements of the Employer. lf  work is offered there is no guarantee of the hours that will be available on any particular day, unless specifically agreed in advance. 

That means, I don't have a certain amount of working hours cause of wether conditions. It may be 20h/week but even 40. First I was thinking of declining the job, but even it's a bit risky, I'm gonna take it. Because the most contracts for farm workers look like that. We know that because Faustine and I compared our contracts and we even asked - yes we did - ChatGPT :D

6. "Unfortunately"

And there was the thing about the one-on-one appointment with Clark. It's an one-hour session where we have the opportunity to discuss a personalised plan for our Work and travel, ask any questions and review our CV for New Zealand. The first problem was that I couldn't decide if I take the offer or not, because I already had a job and accommodation so I wanted to leave as early as possible to cut the hostel costs. In addition, the bus ticket to Opotiki was cheaper on 8.10 (55$) than in 9.10 (76$) So this used to be my plan, let's call it Plan A:

However, I changed my mind: I wanted to have the appointment to ask about my contract and if it's an good idea to buy my employer's car (Honda odyssey). That would mean that I leave Auckland one day delayed on Thursday after having the appointment on Wednesday. But as I asked Clark he just said even thought I had told him about my plan: "Sorry Gorgeous but unfortunately, there is no space left on Wednesday, your appointment can be on Thursday afternoon at the earliest, unfortunately."

I was told this while I was eating my lasagna 🥲. Nevermind. But he suggested sth very unexpected and sth which I wanted to know earlier. I was able to make the appointment via video call!! That means I didn't need to be in Auckland to get the appointment. So plan B looks like that:

7. "Just for fun"

As I met Seona at the morning on 9.

10, she said she's gonna have an interview for a job at a hotel on the southernmost island of New Zealand "just for fun". Shedidn't much believe in getting the job. However, the interview went well and she actually got the job!!! I was so surprised but I think Seona was surprised at most. 😂

8. Sun rises slowly but surely...

At the same evening, it's the 8th of October, everything became a bit clearer. In the one hand, Seona had a new unexpected option as a hotel worker. In the other hand, it turned out that the accomodation in Opotiki which we got offered by the one landlord wasn't available any more. We also couldn't find any accomodation in Opotiki, which means that Seona should take the hotel offer. And about the Suzuki Swift: We tried to call the seller but unfortunately the number he gave us has been wrong 😂 Nevermind. So I bought a bus ticket to Opotiki and now I'm sitting on the bus.

For now, this is gonna be our plan:

- Ayumi: Kiwi fruitpicking in Opotiki 

- Faustine: Kiwi fruitpicking in Tauranga

- Seona: Hotel work on the island Rakiura

We have to go other ways, but we're gonna meet eachother after the seasonal work in December for sure!!

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Thank you for reading our dramatic story. The whole situation was actually a bit more complicated as described but I think that's fine. It's a story. It doesn't need to be true at all.