Ludo Onisie's gruelling retraining paid off

When Ludo Onisie moved to New Zealand from Romania in 2002, she found herself caught in a chicken-and-egg situation. “Even for a job as a kitchen hand, they asked me if I had New Zealand experience. I was caught in a situation where I needed New Zealand work experience, but few people here were willing to give me a job without it.”

Although she had 24 years’ experience as a software programmer, Ludo found it impossible to get a job in the IT industry here, as her Romanian qualifications weren’t recognised. She had to settle for a job as a factory worker with an electrical manufacturer.

Then began a gruelling run of retraining, as Ludo picked up courses she thought might lead her to a better job.
 
She started with a diploma in electrical manufacturing, hoping she would then get a better job in the factory. While she did get a more senior position as a quality assurance assistant, her hopes to advance further were in vain.

“I finally realised that wouldn’t happen because electrical manufacturing was moving offshore to cheaper production areas. So I decided to retrain in accounting because as a software programmer in Romania, I had worked for 11 years in a bank, developing accounting programmes.”

Not wanting her IT knowledge to go waste, but realising that she needed New Zealand qualifications, Ludo also did a diploma in computing.

Armed with her new qualifications, Ludo got a job as an assistant accountant in mid-2008, but was made redundant as the company downsized dramatically. However, soon after that she also had her CV redesigned, and got a permanent job in the accounts division of Christchurch Hospital.

Although she’s in a better position now, it’s been a hard six years. “In some respects, I don't regret coming here – it's made me feel I have achieved something all by myself.  But in other respects, I do regret my decision. 

“My advice to anyone wanting to migrate here would be to think very carefully, and to do everything you can to improve your situation in your own country before giving up on it.”