Reader Comments on Aardvark Daily 17 Oct 2000
From: Sean Trengrove For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Regarding - Renting Out Our Brains Your editorial really struck a chord with me. This is exactly the approach that I believe NZ should be adopting. We have tremendous potential with New Zealanders here and overseas (why can't we entice NZers to return to live at home but continue working with their overseas employer?)but as you note organisation is the answer. I think that the NZ embassies are a good start but feel that there is also tremendous potential in harnessing the network of 100s of 1000s of NZers living overseas, and if that is not enough develop the networks of people who have studied in NZ and now hold positions in their own countries. Your editorial has inspired me to work harder to try and get some momentum into this issue. Thank you! From: Drew Whittle For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Do it anyway Great Idea. I know that when I first started looking at tele-working (about 4 years ago) I had no idea about where to look or what to do. (or what sort of value to place on my skills in an O/S market) I have learned the tricks, experienced the good and the bad sides of tele-working. It can be a lonely place when your sitting at your PC all day with no work mates. Are there people out there interested in a Tele-workers "club"? From: Steve Peacocke For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Teleworking for overseas companies It's most frustrating trying to get teleworking jobs - they have proven to be non-existant in New Zealand. I have over 20 years of the sort of programming and management experience that is being cried out for in places like the United States but have been unable to get any sort of foot holding, mainly due to the lack of any organisation. It's like nailing jelly to a tree. However, if a reputable agency wants to get behind it, I will offer my services, not only to keep in regular touch with all the intending teleworkers in New Zealand, but provide them with an interactive web page and worker support. This is an excellent idea. Due to the current dollar rate we are very cheap; due to the very high implementation of technology in New Zealand we are aware; and due to the general Kiwi work ethic and No 8 wire ingenuity, we are a very capable bunch. All we need is a forward thinking agency with overseas links. From: Jamie Dobbs For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Teleworking for overseas companies Bruce This would have to be one of the single most brilliant ideas I've seen in a very very long time! I read your column every day and from time to time I see something that I consider replying to - this is very definately one of those times. The idea of agencies setting up to do this kind of recruitment is a very good one, but I wonder if any of them are willing to 'take the plunge' and do it? There must be some staff from recruitment companies that read Aardvark - so how about some feedback from those in the employment industry on the validity of this fine idea? I'd be the first in the queue to offer my services as a teleworker to an overseas company, but I can't help but wonder if my particular skillset (Network Administration under Novell and NT) is a viable one for this kind of work, I guess it could be as in my current role I often do after hours support for our computer systems from home. Congratulations on another fine idea Bruce - lets see if we can somehow get this one rolling..... all we need now if a recruitment agency with some vision, drive and passion to make it work! From: Neil Cartwright For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Teleworking Hi Bruce, I think that your idea on the teleworking is a very good one and would provide many people here with, as you say, the ability to earn income from overseas while not having the higher cost of living that many of these countries have. I think that Tradenz might be a good starting point for this sort of thing because they are active in promoting business ventures overseas for NZ companies and bringing overseas businesses in here, so I'd assume that they have some of the contacts to promote this sort of service. Perhaps it should not just be individual knowledge workers who should be selling their skills - there must be opportunities for businesses based here whose clientele are all overseas - there are certainly examples of that happening currently. This would also allow for training and for the workers to have the opportunity to interact with others (lets face it - some people don't operate particularly well working on their own from home or wherever) and bounce ideas of other people. Other countries such as India are doing this teleworking for software development etc for overseas companies - they provide the benefit of low cost, and while we may not offer such a low cost we have the benefit of the time difference and probably lower costs than in the U.S. and Europe. Perhaps you can get feedback from organisations that are already doing this sort of thing, either themselves or organising it for others. From: Dave For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: teleworking equipping key NZ Embassies with a teleworking liaison officer Sounds Great! This would be the same incumbents (Government bureaucrats- not Labour (I mistrust them all equally!))that allow Internal Affairs Auckland Office, to have a broken 486 Compaq PC for "customer use", tagged with a "hasnt worked since 09/99" handwritten label on the screen, to be used for some database lookup. How ludicrous, embarrassing and utterly incompetent management to allow what should be our preeminent "Entry to New Zealand Citizenship" office display a broken pc. Not only is it insulting to me as a tax payer, New Zealand citizen, and working stiff, but for a manager of such an office to allow staff to deride the service; for him/ her to equally ignore the eyesore, and finally to deny access to something that is apparently a right, displays the ineptitude and contempt of government management policies. And ater 25 years paying taxes I cant get a management job because I dont have "papers". Ah well, all's ok with Godzone eh mate!Now Have Your Say
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