New Zealand is a highly desirable travel destination. Its high standard of living, stunning natural resources, and welcoming and inclusive culture make it a wonderful place to live and work. Access to outdoor recreation and exhilarating activities is never far away, and the social services, including high-quality healthcare and world-class education, make it a wonderful place to live and work. This article has practical information on how to land a job in New Zealand for foreigners. As you’ll see, even if you’re not yet in the country, you can do lots to get started.
What It’s Like To Work In New Zealand
The average working hours in New Zealand are typically between 35 and 40 hours a week across five days, with 40 hours being the maximum allowed.
The minimum wage for adults aged 16 years or over is currently set at NZD23.15 (April 2024), which converts to around £11.15 per hour.
Holiday entitlement is generous by international standards. Workers are entitled to at least four weeks’ annual leave and New Zealand has 11 public holidays. If you work on a public holiday your employer must pay you extra. Public holidays include:
- New Year’s Day
- Day after New Year’s Day
- Waitangi Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Anzac Day
- King’s Birthday
- Matariki
- Labour Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day.
Income tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST) is how New Zealand funds services for the benefit of all residents, and your salary in New Zealand is subject to income tax, whether you’re considered a resident or are simply in the country temporarily.
Personal income tax is calculated as below (from 1 April 2021):
- 39% for income over NZD180,000
- 33% on income from NZD70,001 to NZD180,000
- 30% on income from NZD48,001 to NZD70,000
- 17.5% on income from NZD14,001 to NZD48,000
- 10.5% on income up to NZD14,000.
How To Land A Job In New Zealand
1. Getting Job-Ready
A little planning and preparation will save a lot of time, frustration, and stress in your job hunt.
Here are some steps to help you plan if you want to work in New Zealand.
Step 1: Research New Zealand Industries
Find out which industries are big employers in the region you would like to work in. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is a useful tool.
Then do some research into New Zealand industries and sectors. Find out which ones are the main industries here and which ones need skilled people. Our ‘Job market and key industries’ page will give you a good overview.
Regional economic activity web tool | MBIE
Step 2: Find Out What New Zealand Employers Like
New Zealand employers look for certain qualities when interviewing people for a job. It helps if you know what New Zealand employers look for so you can understand how to present yourself in the best way.
Skills employers are looking for | careers. govt.nz
Step 3: Find Job Possibilities and Requirements
You can use the careers. govt.nz jobs database to search for specific job titles or professions. It also has information about pay, job opportunities and entry and qualification requirements in New Zealand. If there is no role exactly like the one you want, then this site can also help you find other areas of work where your skills and experience may fit.
If you are coming to New Zealand as the partner of someone with a skilled migrant or work visa, and you want to try something new, the careers.govt.nz jobs database can give you interesting job possibilities to explore.
Job profiles | careers.govt.nz
How to get ideas for your career | careers.govt.nz
Step 4: Start Your Job Search
Our Job websites and recruitment companies page has a list of the main job websites used in New Zealand. It is a good place to start your search.
To find a job, you need a strategy. This is the starting point for the Job Seeker Online Course. Complete this free online course to gain insights into preparing yourself for the New Zealand workforce.
Job websites and recruitment companies
Step 5: Research Potential Employers
Once you have found one or more potential jobs, you will want to get some background information about the employers, like:
- what sort of work they do
- what they specialize in
- how big they are
- who they compete with
- what clients and customers they have.
You will find that employers expect you to have this sort of general industry knowledge.
Although New Zealand companies tend to be small, most will have a website where you can find information on them, so do some searching online.
Start your search with Immigration New Zealand’s list of accredited employers.
Accredited Employers List | Immigration New Zealand
Step 6: Allow Enough Time and Money
Some jobs require you to be registered in New Zealand or to have your overseas qualifications assessed and recognized. This takes time. Then your immigration application needs to be processed.
Gathering all the documents you need and getting things approved will be time-consuming and may take weeks. And of course, there will be costs, for example, gaining registration can sometimes be expensive. Remember to budget for them.
Make sure you allow enough time and money for all this when you are planning your move here.
2. Job Websites & Recruitment Companies
Here are steps you can take to find a job in New Zealand through websites and recruitment companies
Step 1: Finding a Job From Overseas
There are lots of job websites in New Zealand. Many of them post jobs from employers expecting applications from people already in New Zealand. Some specialize in connecting with people overseas.
Sector-specific websites
Some specialized sectors and professions have dedicated job websites. If you are looking for a job in one of these sectors, check out the website:
Healthcare jobs | Kiwi Health Jobs
Dairy farming jobs | Farm Source jobs
Education jobs | Education Gazette
Crown Research Institute jobs | Science New Zealand
Engineering jobs | Engineering New Zealand
Step 2: General Job Websites
The most popular websites for jobs in New Zealand are TradeMe and Seek. These sites list a lot of vacancies.
You can find other general job vacancy websites on the careers.govt.nz website.
Job vacancy and recruitment websites | careers.govt.nz
Step 3: Recruitment Companies
New Zealand employers often use recruitment companies or agencies to find suitable employees, particularly for specialist and high-level jobs. You can register with more than one recruitment company. The New Zealand employment market is small, so it is important to keep track of who you have contacted about jobs and when.
You do not need to pay the company or agency as they get paid by the employer when they place someone in a job.
You can find a list of recruitment agents on the careers.govt.nz website.
Job vacancy and recruitment websites | careers.govt.nz
Step 4: Professional Registration
Depending on your specialty, you may be required to register with a professional body to get a job and visa. In any case, getting a visa may be more straightforward if you can obtain professional registration in New Zealand.
More details are on the Immigration New Zealand website.
Occupational registration | Immigration NZ
Step 5: Contacting Employers Directly
In New Zealand, approaching potential employers directly is an accepted and very successful approach.
Employers here often have vacancies they are not advertising on jobs websites, or that they have not got round to advertising yet. You may just be ‘the right person at the right time’.
In any case, showing this sort of initiative always impresses New Zealand employers, even if they refer you to a job application process or recruitment company.
You can also contact professional bodies and employer organizations directly.
Using phone or email
Do not be afraid to call or email a company you are interested in working for, even if that is not how you do things in your home country.
You can ask if they have any jobs now or coming up. You can also ask for an informal interview or at least for the opportunity to send in your CV with a cover letter.
If they do not have a suitable job for you, the people you contact may offer you the name of someone in another company. Or they may give you advice about other skills you have that may be useful to others.
Calling employers from overseas is not much harder than calling them in your home country. Just remember you must pay for the call and check the time difference between your location and New Zealand.
Step 6: Meeting in Person
Many employers prefer meeting potential employees in person or at least face-to-face online. It may increase your chances of getting a job.
Today, online video calling makes this much easier than ever before. Just remember to schedule the call for core New Zealand business hours, usually NZST 09:00 to 17:00hrs. Be aware New Zealand switches to Daylight Saving Time (NZDT) usually from late September to early April.
Some migrants take a fact-finding holiday here and make appointments to see key employers. Make sure you call or email ahead of time to set up the appointments. This will make a better impression on New Zealand employers.
3. Qualifications and Occupational Registration
Employers may need help understanding the qualifications you’ve gained overseas
Employers in New Zealand are used to the New Zealand National Qualifications Framework, which ranks qualifications from 0-10. For example, a diploma is either 5 or 6, a Bachelor’s degree is 7, and a doctoral degree is 10. To determine whether an international qualification is comparable to a New Zealand qualification, it is also ranked using this framework.
Here are steps on how you can qualify and register your occupation to land a job in New Zealand
Step 1: Qualifications for a Visa
The qualifications listed on Immigration New Zealand’s list of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment are pre-approved for immigration purposes. So they are valid if:
- you are claiming points in a Skilled Migrant visa application, or
- you are applying for a work visa on the basis that your occupation is on a skill shortage list and a New Zealand qualification equivalent is mentioned as a requirement.
If your qualification is not listed then you might need to apply to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment to submit with your visa application.
If you are submitting an expression of interest, then a pre-assessment Result (PAR) is an option. This costs less but is not sufficient for a full application.
Apply for an International Qualifications Assessment | NZQA
Step 2: Getting Overseas Qualifications Assessed
If you want to work in New Zealand, it may be useful to have your qualifications assessed by NZQA.
This assessment will tell you which level your overseas qualification compares to on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), and, where possible, to a New Zealand qualification type.
There is a fee of around $750 for a standard application. The process takes up to 25 working days to complete once all documents have been received, so make sure you allow enough time.
A maximum of five qualifications can be evaluated per application. After this, a new application must be lodged. A fast-track option is available with a guaranteed processing time of up to 10 working days. This costs an additional $404.
If your industry has a professional body in New Zealand, it may be able to advise you whether you will need your qualifications assessed or translated. In some cases, industry bodies have negotiated reciprocal recognition of overseas qualifications.
For more about qualifications and finding work in New Zealand visit the careers.govt.nz website.
Apply for an International Qualifications Assessment | NZQA
Industry organizations in New Zealand | Christchurch City Libraries
New to New Zealand | careers.govt.nz
Step 3: Occupational Registration
Several jobs in New Zealand require some form of official registration. Immigration New Zealand has a list of the jobs that are affected.
If you are going to need registration, you should start the process as soon as possible. You will need to contact the appropriate registration authority to see if you meet their requirements and then submit a registration application.
You may need to provide evidence of your occupational registration when you submit your visa application if you are:
- applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category and planning to work in an occupation where registration is required, or
- including a job offer in a work visa application and occupational registration is a requirement.
If you are applying for a visa as the partner of a worker or New Zealand resident it is a good idea to submit your registration paperwork before you move to New Zealand.
Occupational Registration | Immigration New Zealand
4. Develop a New Zealand-style CV
New Zealand employers like short, easy-to-read curriculum vitae (CVs). This may be different from the style you are used to.
Most employers will quickly scan your CV to decide if it is worth reading in more detail. So it needs to make a good impression quickly.
What To Include in Your CV
New Zealand employers only want to see relevant information on your CV. They do not need a list of every job or course you have ever done.
Employers are most interested in your:
- technical and personal skills
- work experience
- qualifications and education
- community and volunteer experience.
They also like to see some evidence of how you have applied your skills.
It is best to only include relevant details of your skills and experience and to give brief examples of how you have used your skills in the past.
How To Write A Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2024 + Free Word Doc Sample Templates
Skills employers are looking for | careers.govt.nz
Previous employers
Local employers may not be familiar with the organizations you have worked for overseas. It helps if you include a short description of organizations you list on your CV, like:
- the number of employees
- the location
- a website link so they can get more information if they need it.
The careers.govt.nz website has tips on how to write a CV for New Zealand employers.
Make a Good Impression
It is important to make a good impression of yourself as a potential employee, but not to appear too boastful about your achievements.
Many people make the mistake of writing a CV and using it for every job application. New Zealand employers expect you to adjust your CV to suit each job so that it highlights the skills that are relevant to the job.
Cover Letters
Most New Zealand employers expect a cover letter with your CV when you apply for a job. A cover letter is a ‘sales pitch’ about why you think you are ideal for the job.
Your cover letter should:
- briefly introduce yourself
- outline your main relevant skills and experience
- make an argument for why you are the right person for the specific job.
Just like your CV, it should focus on details that are relevant to the job you are applying for and it should be brief – no longer than 1 page.
Use a formal and persuasive style when writing a cover letter. It is a good idea to have a generic letter that you can adjust to match the job description you are applying for.
What is a Cover Letter and When Do You Need It?
Your Qualifications
Remember to bring your qualifications with you to New Zealand. If you are sending them in with an application, send a copy. Keep the originals safe and get copies made and certified. If you are in New Zealand, a Justice of the Peace (JP) can certify them.
Find a JP | Royal Federation of New Zealand Justices’ Associations
Conclusion
With its high quality of life, laid-back culture, reasonable cost of living, and a range of job opportunities, foreigners will find that New Zealand provides the perfect work/life balance
