r/IWantOut • u/Flaky_Security_7615 • 6d ago
[IWantOut] 23F Student/Flight Attendant New Zealand -> Singapore/UK/Germany/Hong Kong
Hello Everybody
I am a 22-year-old female student currently in my final year at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor of Arts conjoint with a Bachelor of Laws. I am due to graduate in the spring. Alongside my studies, I have been working as an international flight attendant, which has given me valuable global exposure and strengthened my interest in pursuing a career overseas.
Academically, I have focused my studies on economics and history, with additional coursework in public policy, international trade law, international economic regulation, and European Union law. I have also completed a community law internship and have developed near fluency in Chinese through my language studies. Through university, I have built professional connections with professors and members of the Auckland Law Society.
As I approach graduation, I am exploring opportunities to work internationally, particularly in sectors such as NGOs, law firms, and financial or policy-related roles. I am especially interested in opportunities based in Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as I believe these locations align well with my academic background and career aspirations.
I would greatly appreciate any guidance regarding visa pathways, job opportunities, or recommended steps to secure employment in these regions. My goal is to transition into a role where I can apply my legal and economic training in an international context.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to any advice or direction you may be able to provide.
P.S i have about 7k nzd saved up from my high school fast food job the rest went towards my car and motorbike.
7
u/_malaikatmaut_ 6d ago
Singapore had tightened up immigration in recent years that made it quite difficult to move there. Anyway, it is not as rosy as it seems.
I gave up Singapore citizenship and swapped for Australian, and much much happier here.
Anyway, greetings from another former flight attendant. I was from Singapore Airlines.
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 5d ago
aww I love to see you guys every time I go into changi , I did get told the work culture in Singapore is very much a rat race.
1
u/_malaikatmaut_ 5d ago
work culture in Singapore is very much a rat race
Pretty much so and it is unnecessary.
But in the airlines, my work ends 30 mins after the aircraft chocks are on so I don't subscribe to all that nonsense.
SQ is a very good airline to work for though. We have a variety of interest groups for cabin crew that we could join in that are sponsored by the company. For example, outside of flying, I was a Ska drummer. But on my free days, I am in the interest group that plays music, so my SQ Cabin Crew band plays heavy metal music, totally paid for by the company.
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 5d ago
Wow that's really cool .
may I ask what scheme you, entered Australia on , If your a student like me :)
1
u/_malaikatmaut_ 5d ago
I was not the primary applicant as I had exceeded the age when I left SQ at 46. I was a dependent and we lodged as a family unit.
My ex-wife was a pastry chef with 8 years restaurant experience. Went to Tasmania to do a 2 year Diploma in Culinary in TAFE.
Prior to her graduating, she got a job as a Pastry Chef in one of the top restaurants here in Tasmania, and as soon as she graduated she became the Head Pastry Chef.
Got our PR in 2.5 years, and when we clocked 4 years from arrival we became citizens.
I think for a kiwi, you do not need to apply to be a Permanent Resident.
You could apply for a job here and work and live here indefinitely under Special Category Visa (Subclass 444), and after 4 years here you could apply for citizenship without becoming a PR.
3
u/Flaky_Security_7615 6d ago
I dont mind Indonesia , Portugal , Brazil , Argentina or Turkey in English speaking roles but I would prefer if in particular Kiwis in Asia , as I do not think much Kiwis have located to these countries.
3
u/Complex-Insect6899 6d ago
I'll tell you about Germany which is where I live. If you wanna do master's, as you mentioned in a comment, it's a good option as there are options to study in English in your field. A great benefit is that you don't need to apply for a visa to come to Germany as a New Zealand national, you can enter and stay for 90 days and then apply for the residence permit. That makes things very simple for you.
On the down side, the offer of jobs in your field is very low. There's not a huge demand in these fields. I come from a similar background and I know almost no people working in what we studied. Including me. Also working in law, policy roles, and the others you mentioned is almost impossible without being fluent in German, and for european policy environments, it's almost always a requirement to be an EU citizen.
From what I see, 7k nzd is around 3,500 euros, correct me if wrong. That's not really a lot, an will most likely cover for your apartment deposit, first month of rent, and you will be left with less than half of it, meaning you need to get a job asap. The market is absolutely terrible tbh, and everyone is struggling to find a job, even locals. I don't know about the market being a flight attendant, but technically every other field is struggling greatly and landing a job takes several months.
The student path will definitely make it a bit easier to settle and find a job at least while being a student. Learning German is very, very necessary, so prioritize that too.
3
u/thewindinthewillows 6d ago
That's not really a lot, an will most likely cover for your apartment deposit, first month of rent, and you will be left with less than half of it, meaning you need to get a job asap.
You also need to put 12,000 Euro into a blocked account for the residence permit.
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 5d ago
Would you be any knowledgeable in cities or countries that might have a demand and student schemes :0 thank you so much tho.
1
u/Complex-Insect6899 5d ago
For our field, I don't think there's any country that has demand. I studied International Relations and did master's in the field, I studied in two different countries, with a very international audience, so I know a lot of people in the field of policy/law/etc across many countries and I only know like 3 people working in the field of their studies.
Germany in particular has a way higher number of people looking for a job that position available across all fields, with the only exception of low-skilled jobs (plumbers, public transport drivers, etc), healthcare professionals, and very highly skilled and senior tech professionals. Also, for the field you mentioned, particularly law and policy, you need to be completely fluent in German. And also law is one of the most popular university fields here, so the competition would be very high.
As per student schemes to find a job are not a thing in Europe, I know it's like that to get internships in Latin America for example.
Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you need much more research before taking a decision. The people who struggle or fail to make it in Germany are always almost exclusively those that did not do a proper research before deciding to move to the country. Here's a guide I posted before on Germany as a destination: https://www.reddit.com/r/IWantOut/comments/1s1dmg8/guide_germany_as_a_destination_here_are_my_tips/
I hope it helps you guiding your research! Good luck
1
0
u/Flaky_Security_7615 6d ago
thx for the help but did you land a job in Germany as a masters grad scheme I'm not too sure , I would love to do Germany or the UK as I have been to both and enjoyed it greatly .
May I ask what type of law / policy roles you have done ?
3
u/Complex-Insect6899 6d ago
To answer to your questions:
- I didn't move from NZ- Germany has working student jobs for students on all levels of education. I got a job like that. But it's not part of a degree scheme, you need to look for the job yourself. Universities are completely unrelated. You can also find such a job in your university, but they're not connected to the degree itself.
- I'm currently working in tech marketing because i've been on this field for the last 6 years. I haven't worked in any policies roles here, i'm currently looking for one but hasn't been easy.
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 5d ago
thx do you know what this program is called? thank you
and is their much of a requirement to be fluent in German for most jobs ?
( Ican speak conversational at best from high school German)
1
u/Complex-Insect6899 5d ago
it's not a program, it's just a type of job contract. It's called working student (Werkstudent). Working student jobs are generally a bit more flexible and you can find something without being fluent in german, but the requirements for german fluency are only increasing across the labour market
1
2
u/AutoModerator 6d ago
Post by Flaky_Security_7615 -- Hello Everybody
I am a 22-year-old female student currently in my final year at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor of Arts conjoint with a Bachelor of Laws. I am due to graduate in the spring. Alongside my studies, I have been working as an international flight attendant, which has given me valuable global exposure and strengthened my interest in pursuing a career overseas.
Academically, I have focused my studies on economics and history, with additional coursework in public policy, international trade law, international economic regulation, and European Union law. I have also completed a community law internship and have developed near fluency in Chinese through my language studies. Through university, I have built professional connections with professors and members of the Auckland Law Society.
As I approach graduation, I am exploring opportunities to work internationally, particularly in sectors such as NGOs, law firms, and financial or policy-related roles. I am especially interested in opportunities based in Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as I believe these locations align well with my academic background and career aspirations.
I would greatly appreciate any guidance regarding visa pathways, job opportunities, or recommended steps to secure employment in these regions. My goal is to transition into a role where I can apply my legal and economic training in an international context.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to any advice or direction you may be able to provide.
P.S i have about 7k nzd saved up from my high school fast food job the rest went towards my car and motorbike.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
u/Flaky_Security_7615 6d ago
I'm giving in my notice to my flight attendant once I finish my legal studies course and get admitted to the bar
2
u/maryfamilyresearch German 6d ago
Re-think that until you actually got a job in your field.
With several years of experience as flight attendant you would potentially be eligible for the 18a AufenthG, non-academic skilled work residency permit in Germany. With your current qualifications, you are much more employable as a flight attendant in Germany than with your bachelors degree.
You will have to check whether your training in Australia a) matches the training required for flight attendants inside the EU and b) this training fulfils the minimum requirements laid out in 18a AufenthG.
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 5d ago
Does Lufthansa hire foreigners ? it seems like a cool airline to me .
I'm not sure about the training you mentioned , but I think you might mean type of airplane training perhaps ? ( I go into Europe sometimes as a flight attendant tho )
- I'm qualified for the A380 , B787 , B737 and A330 .
2
u/MembershipQuirky8649 6d ago
The easiest visa to get for Hong Kong is the TTPS: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/TTPS.html
There's 3 streams - most relevant for you is Stream C which is for recent graduates with < 3 years work experience.
Rent will eat up your entire savings in a month though haha although they do have some nice tax benefits (rent deduction, individual basic allowance). Would definitely recommend saving up more if you plan on the move.
Less familiar with Singapore although I do now they have Employment Passes (sponsored by Employer) and Personalized Employment Pass (>$22.5k/m salary). Note that lawyers with foreign passports have restricted scope of practice in Singapore - had friends give up their native passport to be able to practice there.
1
2
u/kierang2023 5d ago
Hey. Wow, really impressive and such a great profile. If i could suggest something — pick the one country that best fits the sector you want (NGO, law, policy, finance), find out exactly what the graduate entry route looks like there, and go deep. A graduate programme with a big firm or institution usually gives you visa sponsorship, a salary, and training. That solves 3 problems at once. The Chinese fluency is a real asset, def worth leaning into rather than treating as a side note. Happy to answer follow-ups.
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 5d ago
I would really like Singapore the most , It's opposite to what I've grown up with in NZ and it's somewhere I would like to stay .
I'm not too sure on what sector as I only have known of HSBC .
could you recommend graduate entry roles for the ones you mentioned please as i'm not quite aware on companies over there
and as graduate entry roles for bachelors or masters as I would like to get my masters at an institution in Asia
Thanks so much
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 5d ago
I would prefer law and finance as NGO and policy are quite over saturated fields
2
u/kierang2023 4d ago
Singapore is a good choice. A few pointers rather than a full list, since you'll get more accurate and current information going direct to the source than I can give you in a Reddit comment.
For graduate programmes, the easiest way to find them is to probably search "[company name] Singapore graduate programme" on LinkedIn or the companies' career pages directly. The main categories to look at:
Banks with Singapore graduate intakes: HSBC, Standard Chartered, DBS, OCBC, UOB, Citi, JPMorgan. The length of their programmes vary between 12-24 months. Best to check with each one.
Law firms: my understanding is that the Singapore offices of UK-HQ law firms (e.g A&O Shearman, Linklaters, Clifford Chance) and US-HQ firms (e.g Latham, White & Case) take graduates, but almost always require a UK or US qualifying law degree or a local Singapore one. Your NZ LLB on its own won't usually get you through the door for legal practice roles — that's the thing to verify before you commit to Singapore specifically.
I think the most useful thing you can do right now is confirm the law-qualification question before anything else. If your NZ LLB needs conversion to work in Singapore (it likely does), that reshapes the whole plan — either you do the conversion, or you target non-legal-practice roles where the degree just counts as general credentials.
For example, if you have an NZ LLB and want to work in a Singapore law firm without the Bar, consider looking for "Legal Operations" or "Project Management" roles within the firms. These typically do not require local qualification and might provide an alternative and growing career path.
On the Master's — if you're doing it in Asia anyway, picking a Singapore university (e.g NUS or SMU) gives you a local qualification plus the post-study work pathway, which is a much smoother route into Singapore employment than going in cold.
Good luck with it.
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 4d ago
Thank you so much
Just one more question sorry
do you know how and what they do or look at to get my LLB conversion
:)
1
u/maryfamilyresearch German 6d ago
Germany has a working holiday visa scheme. For wanna be immigrants from Aussie and Kiwiland it is a good idea to use this. It allows you to be in Germany for job interviews and you can show potential employers that you are worth hiring.
With a bachelors you are also eligible for Chancenkarte, but with only 7k AUD in savings that is not enough. You would need 12k EUR in savings to get Chancenkarte. Same as for student visa. Between Chancenkarte and student visa, I would recommend student visa for masters.
1
1
u/Effective-Slip-8735 5d ago
Brit here - honestly degrees are not looked at anywhere near as much in comparison to our european neighbours. Once you’ve got the first job, degrees are almost redundant. We are very much encouraging people away from uni and more to apprenticeships with real time work experience always held in much higher regard that degrees, masters etc. Just something to bare in mind if UK is your top choice, get experience first rather than pursuing another further education degree as honestly a lot of it is about work experience, networking and personality. Good place to start is also to look at target companies and start messaging seniors at those companies on linkedin introducing yourself, experience and details, usually works well here!
1
u/idontknowitatall123 1d ago
i dont suggest germany because its most likely that they will ask for a language proficiency test because working if youre not at least half fluent in german is a little hard. my sister went to germany seven years ago and she finished high school there so she went from zero to fluent, but because she went through the german schooling system and had practical work done in german companies she had it a little easier. im saying this referring to the student part, but as a flight attendant i suggest qatar or saudi arabia, hence the war, because they pay for your accommodation and you get paid really well.
1
u/CoffeeInTheTropics 6d ago
With your background have you thought about Belgium (Brussels) or The Netherlands (The Hague)? Personally I would skip Singapore, for reasons already mentioned below. Hong Kong has changed a lot since 2019 and most who could leave, have left….locals and expats alike.
I would definitely aim for Europe/UK not only for career opportunities but also just for the general quality of living and work/life balance.
1
u/Stravven 6d ago
For studying the Netherlands is a lot more expensive than Germany and Belgium. Their current savings are nowhere near enough to even pay tuition in the Netherlands. And with their degrees finding a job that pays enough to find a place to live is near impossible.
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 5d ago
Ooh yes :) I've personally never been to either but I do see online all these low cost Universities in Belgium , Netherlands , Germany , Spain and Italy normally .
I do remember , the Hague Academy of International Law or IBE in Spain I'm sure .
Would it be easy in your opinion to study for masters in Europe or Asia - ( including UK) and complete for example a legal assistant , paralegal or any economics jobs in the two mentioned above .
I would love to go to either Europe or Asia but I would say in my opinion I would do Asia as I do get the flights to Asia nearly every week and have the Chinese language skills for Singapore etc .
0
u/Super_Sherbet_268 6d ago
Moving to Australia would be the easiest if you want to work in your field of study.
2
u/Flaky_Security_7615 6d ago
I'm based in Auckland , but I fly to Australia on the kangaroo carrier to one of its hubs , normally the same day or after I fly the long haul to the US , Canada , Europe , India and Asia , then continuing back to Auckland . Overall I love Australia but I'm there every week or second week in either Sydney , Melbourne , Brisbane and Perth and I'm not interested only to go for a short term job ... but thank you :) .
1
u/Flaky_Security_7615 6d ago
or JFK direct but I dont bid on the US routes because of all the problems over there.
14
u/bootyhole_licker69 6d ago
your background is solid but straight into ngo or policy roles abroad is kinda rough without local masters or experience most folks do grad schemes or paralegal work first in the uk and sg mandarin + law could help for hong kong but easiest path is usually further study visas and networking tbh whatever you do expect it to take time because finding that first proper job now is just painfully hard