What You Should Know Before a New Zealand Job Search

If you are considering making the move to New Zealand and starting a new life in this beautiful Oceanic country, the first step will be to find a job there. Searching for a job in New Zealand can be a little bit different than you are used to and can bring its own set of challenges.

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There are a few things that you should keep in mind before you start your New Zealand job search. Here are some tips that will help you to make your New Zealand job search a success.

  • Make sure that you state clearly in your cover letter and CV that you will be applying for a working visa for New Zealand and will be legally allowed to work there. This will clear up any confusion that employers might have about you being from overseas and on New Zealand skilled visas.
  • The qualifications that you have from your home country might not be the same as in New Zealand, so figure out what the New Zealand equivalent is so that you can make a comparison.
  • Create a profile on as many New Zealand job websites as possible. This will give you the best possible chance of spotting a job when it is posted, as the jobs aren’t always posted on all of the websites.
  • It is also a good idea to look for industry specific job sites and forums, as they will show jobs that are available within your industry.
  • You might want to sign up with a recruitment agency, as they can help you to connect with employers. It’s find to sign up with more than one, but don’t go too crazy. The New Zealand employment market is small and you might end up being put forward for the same job by more than one recruitment agency which might look strange.
  • Your CV shouldn’t be more than 2 pages, so condense it so that it only includes the information that is most relevant to the job. The typical format for a CV in New Zealand doesn’t necessarily require every job that you have ever done.
  • Typically,your on the job work experience is considered to be more valuable than qualifications in New Zealand, so keep this in mind when you are putting together your CV.
  • Since the employer in New Zealand might not be familiar with the company that you have worked for, it is a good idea to include a short description of the company in your CV so that they can understand.
  • If English is not your first language (or even if it is) make sure that you have someone check over your CV before you send it to a potential employer.
  • Remember that some jobs aren’t advertised, so contacting employers directly can be a great way to find these opportunities. Show some initiative and you will be able to impress the potential employer.
  • You can also ask your friends, family, neighbours and others to let you know if they hear of a relevant job opportunity.
  • Even if a company doesn’t have a job available that would be suitable for you, ask them to pass your name along to another company in your industry that might be hiring.
  • You will need to bring your qualifications with you to New Zealand. If you are sending them along with an application there is no need to send originals, just get copies made and have those copies certified by a justice of the peace.
  • When it comes to the interview stage you might find that you are interviewed by one or more people at once and that the process is quite informal.
  • You will likely be asked to give examples of when you demonstrated a particular skill or solved a particular type of problem. Make sure that you have some examples in mind so that you can describe this.

These are just a few tips that you can keep in mind when it comes to applying for a job before you are moving to New Zealand from the UK. It can be a challenging part of moving abroad, but be patient and stick with it and you will find the right job for you!