What are the dos and don'ts of finding a job in New Zealand?

Hello everyone,

Where is the best place to start when looking for a job in New Zealand? Is it better to job-hunt by directly contacting the company of your interest, or should job-seekers rely on a recruitment agency, for example?

Are there any unique aspects that job-seekers should consider when preparing their CV/résumé and cover letter? Should a photo be included?

Do you have any tips on interview conduct in New Zealand? Are there any particulars, such as greetings or behavioural customs?

In you opinion, is knowledge of the local language or a regional language necessary to successfully apply for a job? What level of the language should job-seekers have mastered?

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Priscilla

Hi,
NZ job market is very different than many other countries. Few following things to be considered while preparing.

1-   CV format is very important.  NZ has a specific format and that is given at careers.gov,nz
2-   Many recruitment agencies are quite actively seeking employees, however the bad point is, that they end up hiring people for casual or part time jobs.
3-   Best web portal to apply jobs in NZ is   SEEK.com or INDEED.com but there are others too.
4-   Referrals play an integral part in finding a job. 90% of the jobs are based on referral basis which somehow makes sense too as the employers look for people who know the work with a minimal training.
5-    Many employers prefer to hire people with prior NZ experience which is impossible for  a new comer. Hence many people find it hard to get professionally employed. My suggestion to new comers is, that no matter if they find a job of their interest (part time), they should get it. It gives a precised experience of work in this country which leads to further full time employment.

Job is very difficult to get in NZ if you wanna to work in your specific qualified field