Finding a job in New Zealand

A reply from the employer

Have you been contacted by an employer? Congratulations, you’re well on the way to getting a job! In New Zealand, it’s quite possible to get a job without a formal interview. This is especially true of odd jobs or sectors that are more common for working holiday makers. Your employer might simply ask you a few more questions by text message or e-mail, or even offer you an informal call.

The job interview

For jobs that are a little more traditional or in the tourism industry, you will probably be invited for a job interview. Although not every interview will result in you being taken on, getting past the CV stage is a pretty good way of showing that your profile has interested your potential employer. Interviews can be face-to-face, but it is also common to have them by telephone and sometimes even by videoconference.

For skilled jobs, in a large company for example, you will have a fairly formal interview. You can find lots of useful advice on this page of the University of Otago website.

If you’re looking for a small job, the interview is often less formal and allows the employer to judge your ability to communicate in English, understand instructions and assess your motivation. Sometimes, the interview simply consists of a presentation of the working environment.

Before the interview, take the time to reread the job advertisement, your CV and gather some information about the company you have applied for. Think about the different questions you could be asked and what you want to talk about. Also have two or three questions in mind that you want to ask (about a typical day’s work, for example). At the end of the interview, when your potential employer asks you if you have any further questions, a big blank is likely to appear as a sign of demotivation on your part. With questions planned in advance, there are no blanks!

Arrive at the interview on time (or a few minutes early) and dressed appropriately for the job you are aiming for. Smile, look your employer in the eye and stand up straight. If you don’t understand a question or comment, politely ask the person to repeat it. Before the end of the interview, you should be in a position to know when the employer should make a decision and when you can expect an answer from them. If not, this is an excellent question to ask at the end of the interview!

Unpaid trials

For odd jobs, employers may ask you to do an unpaid trial. Often, this will simply involve a few hours as part of the recruitment process: assessment tasks.

This is known as a “pre-employment trial period”, a period during which the candidate is in the process of being recruited. This practice is widespread, particularly in hospitality. When contacted in June 2013, the Ministry of Employment explained that New Zealand law did not provide a framework for this type of practice. The conditions of pre-employment trial period must therefore be defined in advance by both parties, even before a trial is carried out. You can agree on the duration of the trial and whether it will be paid or unpaid (this is not a trial period under New Zealand law, which requires payment of the minimum wage).

However, an employer does not need several days, or even several weeks, to know whether or not you are suitable for a low-skilled job. Be wary if you are offered a week’s unpaid trial, for example. It’s not necessarily illegal, but it’s still pretty indecent.

Trial period

For some jobs, you can have a trial period. The trial period can last up to 90 days (during which you are paid) and allows your employer to dismiss you without you being able to sue for unjustified dismissal. This trial period must be agreed in writing between you and your employer (read your contract carefully!).

For more information, you can check the Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB).

Negociating your wage

Before your interview, find out about the salary conditions in the profession. You can use the CareersNZ site in the job database, which gives average salaries for different professions (particularly in the “About the job” section, even if this doesn’t always reflect reality, as you should often consider a lower salary for a working holiday maker). You can also take a look at the salary guide on Seek.co.nz. Please note that these are average salaries, and include both junior (experienced and inexperienced) and managerial jobs.

Bear in mind that even with substantial experience outside New Zealand, it is quite possible that you will start at the bottom of the scale (at least for your first job). This is not the minimum wage, but the lower range of salaries in a particular profession. Trying out is also an opportunity to meet your potential colleagues and politely ask them how much they earn.