There’s that common saying that ‘opportunity won’t just come knocking’ so if you have to start knocking on opportunities door, what’s the best address?

The Canterbury Plains are probably a bad location if you want to work in fashion but ideal if you’re interested in farming. Likewise, Hawke’s Bay doesn’t have a huge apparel sector but it is a Mecca for winemakers. The location you decide to study or to work in will usually have a big influence on your career path. Whether you are looking for work in NZ or further a field, it is essential to do your research to find the right location.

Clothing retail and manufacture are important industries for New Zealand and offer plenty of opportunity for fashion job searchers. For most people looking for work, the major cities offer the best variety of job opportunities along with the excitement and energy of metropolitan life. From our recruitment perspective, probably not surprisingly, Auckland houses the majority of roles we have available. With Air New Zealand Fashion Week underway, the necessity for this event to be based in Auckland is quite apparent. The bulk of fashion houses are located there, it has the main airport for international flights and the larger the population generally the larger the audience.

The other main centres also contribute in a big way to the landscape of the industry. Wellington is home to a great fashion institute and a number of well-known designers and brands. The South Island has developed a very impressive niche in outdoor clothing, merino wool etc., capitalising on the ‘New Zealand lifestyle’.  Christchurch and Dunedin are home to a number of well established NZ companies that have grown their product internationally. It is certainly an innovative and ever expanding region of fashion, for example Swandri has gone from its farmer roots to being associated with Karen Walker. However if all these developments in the national market place do not appeal there are also re-location options overseas.

If you are considering a change of address in order to develop your career it is vital to do your research

Going off-shore is now common, not just for our product but also our people. Australia, UK, USA and Europe all have big cities and big opportunities for ambitious job seekers. Understandably, with the prospects spread far and wide it is natural for candidates to conduct long distance job searches. In order to be successful in this they need to be patient, flexible and ready to move at a moments notice. If you are considering a change of address in order to develop your career it is vital to do your research. First and if at all possible, visit the area and find out if it is truly somewhere you want to live. You will need to take into account the cost of living and how much you can expect to earn, it will vary from place to place. You will also have to devise a strategy and budget for re-locating. One question you have to ask yourself is if you can afford to make the move if you don’t already have a new job lined up. It can be difficult to generate interest in your application without first being in the country so sometimes taking the leap and moving prior to a job offer is the best way forward.

Location is just one of the many requirements we have to navigate in order to find the ideal match of candidate and job. Deciding on a place to live and work should be an exciting and rewarding adventure. Whether you decide to settle in one of New Zealand’s thriving regions or travel further abroad, the fashion world has limitless horizons for someone who is adventurous, creative and positively motivated.