Last year a friend and co-worker of mine decided to spend a year in New Zealand working a locum Ultrasound position. This was not the first time I’d heard about someone taking an Ultrasound locum, but it was the first time I’d heard of it being done in so exotic a location as New Zealand. I was instantly interested, thinking, wow, what a perk of the job! In how many careers do people get overseas employers chasing after them offering positions with such amazing travel opportunities? I had to know more! So I kept in touch with her while she was gone and today I’m going to share some of the things I’ve learned. |
What is the first step in the application process?
The first thing that needs to be dealt with when planning to live and work overseas is a fair bit of paperwork, but that’s why using a healthcare recruitment agency is so useful. They match you with a contract and lead you through the process and requirements in a step by step manner. The agency my friend used, Global Health Source, based in Australia, was nothing but helpful and informative. They assisted her with all the forms that needed to be filled out and mailed, such as the application, registration with the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologist Board (NZMRBT), and her New Zealand work visa.
How much time and money do you have to invest?
The initial stage of the process was a bit slow as it took weeks and sometimes months for each step to be completed before the next one could begin. And each step came with a fee. Expect to pay about $1000 for everything, the NZMRBT registration fee, mailing the application, notarizing documents and work visa. During this time my friend arranged to sublet her apartment in Canada, cancel any services she would not be using and do some cleaning and purging at home so she would have a tidy place to come back to.
What did you not expect about working overseas?
When working a contract position you will not receive benefits from your New Zealand employer. My friend hadn’t realized how much she had taken for granted her benefits in Canada until she didn’t have them for a year. Dental care in particular is expensive in New Zealand so some planning ahead and arranging for a good travel medical insurance plan is necessary to alleviate any worries.
What was the most rewarding part of the process?
While the agency offers some nice perks in the way of compensation for some or all of your travel expenses, paying for part of your accommodation and providing a little cash for purchase of new clothes (the amounts depend on the length of contract you agree to), my friend found the most rewarding part of the process to be her decision to follow through on it all and not back out, despite her anxieties about how big the change would be. The excitement of the adventure ahead was her reward and it made her realize she was capable of so much more than she ever thought she could be.
How did your new employer and the recruitment agency treat you once you got there?
Once the paperwork is done and all the waiting is over it was time for the big long flight to begin the adventure. Once she got settled in her new apartment, she was checked in on by her placement agency to confirm things were going well (and took a whole lot of beautiful pictures of the New Zealand scenery that she sent home to us). When my friend met her new employer she found them to be very welcoming, they took her out for lunches and dinners and toured her around the facilities to meet everyone. Her new coworkers were friendly, helpful and happy to socialize outside of work with her, and she found she gained a group of friends quickly that helped her adapt to the new country.
How different are the sonography duties in New Zealand?
The first month at work felt quite challenging. The process was different then she was used to, she had to change her scanning routine to take more images and use more labeling, adjust to the new machines and protocols and she had to write all her own reports after scanning. This part made her feel a bit like a student again as there was a lot to learn and she realized how much she had relied on the radiologists back home for pathology identification and differentials. It was humbling but she found that she learned quickly and was able to adapt well after the initial adjustment period.
Is there time to explore and travel?
She took advantage of every weekend off to travel, sightsee and hike, and was fortunate that her clinic was willing to send her on other short locums to different cities so she was able to see many areas of New Zealand. One thing she recommends, however, is to book in some unpaid vacation time. Since it is a contract position, there is no paid vacation, so only weekends can be used for exploring. And if you are of an adventurous personality and want to see as much as you can while you are there it is more satisfying to have some vacation time planned for longer and farther trips.
What is the cost of living in New Zealand?
The cost of most everything is higher in New Zealand than in Canada. Most people have roommates (or flatmates, as they are called there) and food, clothes and transportation are more pricey. Your wages are higher to offset this, but New Zealand is a good place to practice your budgeting skills to ensure that you are able to comfortably live and travel without going home with any debt.
What WAS most enjoyable about life in New Zealand?
My friend’s favorite thing about life in New Zealand is how lovely and sunny it is outdoors. She spends a lot of time hiking and loves the brightness, the lack of crowds and the many moments of peace, quiet and beauty that she has experienced. She feels that this adventure has helped her grow as a person, and she is very grateful for the opportunity. She would recommend it to everyone.
Overall Pros and Cons:
Cons: Not the way to save big money, as many places overseas are more expensive. Your wages will cover your daily expenses quite nicely so you’ll always break even in that regard. No medical benefits or paid vacation time offered through the job.
Pros: An extremely rewarding way to make a life change, meet new people, really immerse yourself in and explore another part of the world and have an amazing memorable adventure that you will look back and smile about. Also a great way to bump up your resume for the future. A contract overseas, where you have been challenged, learned new adaptive skills and gained a broader base of unique Ultrasound skills will impress any future employer.
Pros: An extremely rewarding way to make a life change, meet new people, really immerse yourself in and explore another part of the world and have an amazing memorable adventure that you will look back and smile about. Also a great way to bump up your resume for the future. A contract overseas, where you have been challenged, learned new adaptive skills and gained a broader base of unique Ultrasound skills will impress any future employer.
Now that was a long article and if you are still reading then you must be interested in more. If you'd like information from a recruitment agency about working in ultrasound overseas here is a website to check out: http://globalhealth.com.au.
Happy Scanning!
Happy Scanning!