Soft Landing

Applying for hundreds of jobs but getting nowhere?

In this episode, Brett Corlett and licensed immigration adviser Desire Lindeque unpack one of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to secure a job in New Zealand from overseas.

Instead of relying solely on job boards like SEEK, they explain why building genuine relationships on LinkedIn can help you stand out from hundreds of applicants. They also cover researching accredited employers, understanding New Zealand job titles, preparing for your immigration pathway, and creating a long-term job search strategy that actually works.

Whether you're just starting to explore New Zealand or actively looking for work, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you move forward with confidence.

Join our FREE Soft Landing NZ community: 👉 https://softlandingnz.com

Inside the community you'll find:

• Immigration guidance from licensed advisers
• Our monthly NZ Green List Tracker
• Job Search Masterclass
• Live Q&A sessions
• Support from others on the same journey

Soft Landing NZ — Making New Zealand Home Together.

In this week's Weekly Live Q&A #3, I share one of the most powerful tools you can use to improve your chances of finding a job in New Zealand—LinkedIn.

Having been through the job search myself as an immigrant, and after years of hiring and interviewing candidates, I've seen LinkedIn from both sides. In this episode, I explain what hiring managers are actually looking for, why your LinkedIn profile shouldn't simply copy your CV, and how you can use it to build your personal brand and create meaningful professional connections.

I also share practical tips on networking, engaging with companies, and positioning yourself before and during your move to New Zealand.

Joining me is Desire Lindeque, Licensed Immigration Adviser, who helps answer immigration-related questions from the community. Going forward, Desire and I will be hosting these live sessions together each week, combining practical immigration guidance with real-world job search advice and our own experiences of immigrating to New Zealand.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How LinkedIn can help you find a job in New Zealand
• Why your profile should focus on achievements rather than responsibilities
• What hiring managers look for when they review your LinkedIn profile
• Building your personal brand
• Networking and creating professional connections
• Following companies and engaging with their content
• Some of the realities of settling into life in New Zealand
• Questions from the live audience

My goal with these weekly sessions is simple: to share what I've learned, answer your questions, and help you have a softer landing than my family and I did when we moved to New Zealand.

Important: I am not a Licensed Immigration Adviser and do not provide immigration advice. Immigration questions in these sessions are supported by Desire Lindeque, Licensed Immigration Adviser, or should be discussed directly with a licensed immigration adviser.

Join our free Soft Landing community, where migrants support each other, ask questions, access practical resources, and learn from trusted experts and people who have already made the move to New Zealand.

Whether you're still exploring your options, actively planning your move, or already living in New Zealand, you'll find guidance, encouragement, and practical tools to help you have a softer landing.

https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

Finding work in New Zealand can be very different from what many migrants expect.

In this episode (TikTok Live recording), Brett Corlett and licensed immigration adviser Desiree Lindeque discuss the realities of the New Zealand job market, including networking, LinkedIn strategies, interview techniques, workplace culture and the role relationships play in securing opportunities.

Drawing from their own immigration experiences and years of working with migrants, they share practical advice to help newcomers understand what employers are really looking for and how to stand out in a competitive market.

Topics include:

• Networking and relationship building
• LinkedIn strategies for migrants
• New Zealand interview expectations
• Workplace culture and work-life balance
• References and employer expectations
• Building a long-term career in New Zealand

Whether you're preparing to move or actively job searching, this episode offers practical insights to help you navigate the journey.

Click on the link below and join our free Soft Landing community, where migrants support each other, ask questions, access resources, and learn from experts and people already living in New Zealand.

https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

Moving countries is about far more than visas, jobs and paperwork.

In this episode of Soft Landing, Brett Corlett sits down with Lindy Lelij, founder of MpowerMe Coaching, to discuss the emotional, cultural and personal challenges that immigrants face when building a new life in New Zealand.

Lindy shares her own immigration journey from the Netherlands to New Zealand and explains why so many immigrants struggle with identity, belonging, career transitions, culture shock and the pressure of starting over.

Together they discuss:

• Why immigration is often harder than expected • The emotional impact of leaving family, friends and familiarity behind • How culture affects careers, workplaces and relationships in New Zealand • Why many immigrants feel stuck, overwhelmed or disconnected • The importance of resilience, adaptation and self-awareness • The differences between coaching and counselling • How coaching can help immigrants navigate life, work and culture in New Zealand

One of the most powerful messages from this conversation is simple:

"You are not broken. You are doing fine."

If you've recently moved to New Zealand, are considering immigrating, or are supporting someone through the immigration journey, this conversation is packed with practical insights and reassurance.

MpowerMe Cultural Compass - Cultural Compass | Mpowerme Coaching & Client Application - Connect | Mpowerme Coaching

Learn more about Soft Landing: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

There's so much noise online right now about moving to New Zealand.

Some people say it's impossible. Others say the cost of living is too high. Some say there are no jobs. Others say immigrants shouldn't even come here.

So in this episode, I wanted to sit down and have an honest conversation about my real experience immigrating to New Zealand with my family, and how I can help you.

After living here for more than three years, I created a free commnity for you to join, where we share:

• How we found jobs in New Zealand
• Whether you can apply from overseas
• What NZ employers are really looking for
• The emotional reality of immigration
• The pros and cons of moving countries
• Why New Zealand is not for everyone
• Why it CAN absolutely work for the right people

This episode is for anyone seriously considering immigrating to New Zealand and trying to work through questions around visas, jobs, cost of living, career opportunities, family life, and whether this journey is even realistic.

I also talk about what our communnity offers:

• LinkedIn and SEEK strategies
• Building relationships in New Zealand
• Interview preparation
• Job search mistakes immigrants make
• How recruiters find candidates
• Why clarity matters BEFORE spending money on immigration

Most importantly, I explain why I created the Soft Landing NZ community, a space where immigrants can ask questions, learn from real experiences, and make informed decisions without the hype or fear.

If you're considering moving to New Zealand, this episode will point you to where you can get trusted support and help you gain clarity, and the realities of starting over in New Zealand.

🔗 Click link to access the free community, job search masterclass and all other platforms: Soft Landing NZ

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed immigration adviser or financial adviser. This podcast shares personal experience only. Please speak with a licensed immigration professional before making immigration decisions.

Moving to New Zealand is one of the biggest decisions you'll make.

And most people focus on:

• visas
• jobs
• housing
• costs

But there's another layer that often gets missed.

The real, lived trade-offs.

In this episode, Brett shares what he's experienced personally since moving to New Zealand, including:

What it really means to live on the other side of the world — emotionally, not just logistically.

Why things can feel slower… and how that connects to lifestyle.

Smaller markets, rebuilding networks, and adjusting expectations.

Not just the numbers — but the impact on how you live and plan.

Why making friends takes effort — and what you need to do about it.

This episode is about one thing:

Alignment.

Is New Zealand aligned with what you want your life to look like?

If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand or already on the journey, come join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle community. It's a place to get clarity, ask questions, and learn from others going through the same process. 👉 https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

Many immigrants believe buying a home in New Zealand is impossible… but that's not actually true.

In this episode of the Migration & Money series, Brett Corlett sits down with Ivandee Fitchet from Migrant Financial Services to unpack one of the biggest milestones for immigrants in New Zealand: buying your first home.

For many newcomers, owning a home is the moment when New Zealand truly starts to feel like home.

But between rising house prices, deposits, and confusing mortgage terms, the process can feel overwhelming.

In this episode, we break down:

• The first steps immigrants should take when planning to buy a home • How long it realistically takes to save for a deposit • Whether you really need a 20% deposit • The difference between fixed, floating and split mortgages • The most common mistakes immigrants make when planning for a mortgage

Ivandee also shares why starting the conversation early can make a huge difference to reaching your goal of home ownership.

Buying a home in New Zealand might feel out of reach at first — but with the right planning, it may be far more achievable than you think.

Also, If you're exploring a move to New Zealand and want practical help figuring it all out, you're welcome to join the Soft Landing Inner Circle community.

Inside you'll find resources, conversations and guidance to help you work out whether New Zealand is the right move — and how to make it work if you decide to go for it.

You can join the free community here:

https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

Most immigrants arriving in New Zealand hear about KiwiSaver… but very few actually understand how it works.

In this episode of the Migration & Money series, Brett Corlett sits down with Ivandee Fitchet from Migrant Financial Services to unpack one of the most important financial tools available to immigrants in New Zealand: KiwiSaver.

If you've ever wondered:

• What KiwiSaver actually is • Who qualifies for it • How employer contributions work • Whether it helps you buy your first home in New Zealand • And the biggest mistakes immigrants make with KiwiSaver

…this episode is for you.

KiwiSaver can play a powerful role in helping immigrants build retirement savings and potentially buy their first home, but only if you understand how to use it properly.

Ivandee breaks down how it works, what to look out for in your employment contract, and why getting the right advice early can make a huge difference.

If you're planning your future in New Zealand, this is a conversation worth listening to.

Also, If you're exploring a move to New Zealand and want practical help figuring it all out, you're welcome to join the Soft Landing Inner Circle community.

Inside you'll find resources, conversations and guidance to help you work out whether New Zealand is the right move — and how to make it work if you decide to go for it.

If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand or already on the journey, come join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle community. It's a place to get clarity, ask questions, and learn from others going through the same process. 👉 https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

You've immigrated. You're rebuilding. But when do you actually start investing?

In this episode of the Migration & Money Series, Brett speaks with Ivandee Fitchet (Migrant Financial Services) and David Morgan (Forsyth Barr) about what financial planning looks like for immigrants in New Zealand.

We cover:

• Emergency funds
• House deposit planning
• Retirement after immigrating later in life
• Investing small vs waiting
• Investor visa pathways
• Why savings accounts alone may not be enough

If you're 2–3 years into your move and starting to think long-term, this conversation will give you clarity and confidence.

If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand or already on the journey, come join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle community. It's a place to get clarity, ask questions, and learn from others going through the same process. 👉 https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

The Journey Continues – Life After Moving to New Zealand

Almost a year after moving to New Zealand, I thought we were finally finding our feet.

Instead, everything seemed to hit at once.

In this episode, I continue our immigration story and share what was really happening behind the scenes during our first year in New Zealand, the part that doesn't often get talked about.

From serious family illness back home, to the guilt of being far away when people you love need you most, to work pressure, financial stress, and the emotional toll of having to keep going when you're already exhausted.

This isn't a polished success story. It's an honest conversation about:

• what happens when the excitement wears off

• the emotional weight immigrants carry quietly

• feeling responsible for your family when you're struggling yourself

• and what it's like when the journey has to continue… even when all you want to do is stop

If you're in your first year or two after immigrating, or you're considering making the move — this episode is for you.

You're not weak for finding this hard. You're not broken for feeling overwhelmed. And you're not alone in carrying more than you expected.

Sometimes the journey doesn't fall apart, it just asks more of you than you thought you had.

If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand or already on the journey, come join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle community. It's a place to get clarity, ask questions, and learn from others going through the same process. 👉 https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz