Employability skills
Don't wait till you finish your studies to start thinking about your career. Learn how to increase your chances of finding the job you want, whether you plan to work in New Zealand or move overseas after you graduate.
How to become more employable
There are lots of things you can do while you study to help you find a great job after graduation. Developing employability skills, gaining work experience, building your networks and creating an outstanding CV will give you and edge in the job market. If you'd like to stay in New Zealand, a post-study work visa could enable you to work here for between one and three years after you finish your studies.
You'll find there are many people and organisations in New Zealand ready to help you succeed in your job search, from careers consultants at your institutions to professional groups for your industry.
How can I develop employability skills in New Zealand?
Work skills are the skills that will help you get a job and succeed in the workplace. They include:
- specialised technical skills you need for your job.
- general technical skills, such as being able to drive a car or use a computer.
- employability skills, sometimes called personal skills or transferable skills. These include skills and attributes such as teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.
Employability skills can be useful in many types of job, wherever you live in the world. Having a combination of a good qualification, workplace experience and strong employability skills will give you the best chance of finding a job and achieving your career goals.
You are likely to have some employability skills already. Studying away from your home country will help you develop skills such as adaptability, perseverance and open-mindedness. You can learn more employability skills from studying, working and in your daily life.
Once you've identified your employability skills, include them in your CV, LinkedIn profile and anywhere else you have a profile. For each skill, include an example to show how you used it. For example, if you say leadership is one of your employability skills, mention a leadership role you had in a part-time job, voluntary job or club.
Find out what these skills are and how you can develop them(external link that opens in a new tab).
Finding a job in New Zealand
These New Zealand job websites are a good place to start looking for a job:
Student Job Search(external link that opens in a new tab), New Zealand’s largest student job site.
Trade Me(external link that opens in a new tab), where you can find jobs and create a job profile.
Seek(external link that opens in a new tab), where you can find jobs and create a job profile.
New Kiwis(external link that opens in a new tab), a free online service to help you find a job in New Zealand.
Workhere(external link that opens in a new tab), which connects local and global candidates with New Zealand employers.
Do Good Jobs(external link that opens in a new tab), an ethical jobs site.
Go With Tourism(external link that opens in a new tab) which includes information on jobs available over summer such as in horticulture and tourism.
Networking is about building relationships with people who might be able to help you with finding a job or advancing your career. It enables you to tap into the ‘hidden job market’ – jobs that are filled without being publicly advertised.
You can start networking while you’re studying by creating your own network of contacts. They might include lecturers and teachers, people you meet through part-time work or volunteer work, other students and alumni, and people in the community.
Careers New Zealand(external link that opens in a new tab) has tips on networking(external link that opens in a new tab), as well as other information and resources to help you plan your career and find work.
You’ll need a CV (resume) to get a job in New Zealand. You may also be asked for a cover letter, which tells your potential employer about your skills and why you want the job.
Your CV should be written in the right style for New Zealand employers, and tailored to each job application. Make sure your CV is up to date and includes your current contact details. If you need help creating a CV and a cover letter, here are some templates and examples(external link that opens in a new tab).
Potential employers are likely to search for you online to see what you’re like as a person and as a professional.
Even if you’re not using your social media accounts, they may come up in a search for your name. Review all your accounts to see if you’re happy with the impression they could give an employer. You might decide to change your privacy settings to make sure a potential employer doesn’t see anything you’d prefer them not to see.
You can showcase your skills online(external link that opens in a new tab) through a LinkedIn profile(external link that opens in a new tab), an online job-hunting profile, your own website or – if you’re in the creative industries – an online creative profile.
Being well prepared for an interview can greatly increase your chances of getting a job.
Job interview tips include:
Research the organisation in advance and be able to say why you want to work there.
Practice typical interview questions.
Make sure you know how to get to the interview, and how long it will take to get there.
Know what to expect at the interview. For example, how many people will interview you? Will you be asked to do a test or give a presentation?
Dress well, even if it’s a video interview.
Arrive early.
Help for getting a job
There are lots of people and organisations who can help you with planning your career and finding a job. Here are some of them.
Many places of study, including tertiary institutions, have a careers office ready to help you with your job search. You may be able to network with potential employers, attend recruitment events, meet alumni, get help with your CV and cover letter, practice your interview skills and get one-to-one guidance from a careers consultant.
Make contact with the careers consultants at your institution early so you have time to build up your skills, network and plan your career path. Find out what services and support they offer, in person and online.
Find out whether there is a professional group you can join to find out how your industry or profession operates in New Zealand. The group may run professional development workshops or networking events, and may even provide mentoring opportunities.
Chambers of Commerce are not-for-profit organisations that provide information and support for people in business. They run seminars, expos, networking events, training workshops and online learning sessions. There are 30 Chambers of Commerce in New Zealand: here's where you can find one in your area(external link that opens in a new tab).
Each region in New Zealand has a Regional Development Agency that provides information and support about studying, living and working in that particular region. Find further information about possible career opportunities around New Zealand under 'Study and Student Life' in the City and Town section.
Post-study work visas in New Zealand
If you gained an eligible qualification in New Zealand, you can apply for a post-study work visa. Depending on your qualification and where you studied, you can work in New Zealand for an employer for between one and three years.
If you gain a post-study work visa, your partner can apply for a work visa and any dependent children can study in our state schools without having to pay fees.
You should tell potential employers about your visa status. If you gain a post-study work visa, tell them you’re allowed to work here and that they don’t have to do anything to make your visa valid. You could also include this in your CV, cover letter and LinkedIn profile. Help potential employers understand your post-study work rights(external link that opens in a new tab)
How to apply for a post-study visa
You can apply for a post-study work visa on the Immigration New Zealand website. Go to the post-study work visa page (external link that opens in a new tab), check that you meet the criteria and then apply. The process for applying for a visa is the same in New Zealand as it would be in your home country.
Remember that when you're in New Zealand you need to have a valid visa at all times, so give yourself plenty of time to apply for a post-study work visa before your student visa expires.
Related pages
Employee rights
Working while you study is a great way to make money, meet people and learn about New Zealand work culture. However, it might be a little different to working back home. Learn about your basic rights as an employee.
Find a part time job
Do you want to get career experience, meet new people or learn about New Zealand workplace culture? Whatever your answer, here are a few things you can do to get that part time job!
Working on a student visa
Working while you study in New Zealand is a great way to get job experience, make new friends, and help with living costs. Just make sure you follow the work conditions on your student visa and find the right balance between work, study and socialising.