I’m new in town and am having trouble finding a job. What should I do?
I need a CV, but don’t know where to start.
I need advice on changing careers.
How do I find short-term or seasonal work?
I am disabled and need help finding a job. Who can help?
I’m new in town and am having trouble finding a job. What should I do?
Think about what sort of jobs you want to work in and which skills you have that might make you good at a particular type of job. If you’d like some help with your decision about the sort of work you might be good at or enjoy, you can contact Careers NZ for free advice through their website.
The next step is to try and find the sort of work you want. The majority of jobs are now advertised on the internet. There are many job sites that can help you find the right position for you. Here are just a few:
Seek
TradeMe Jobs
Careers NZ
My Job Space
These websites can be a useful starting point for finding out what type work is available and what jobs you may be suitable for. Many jobs that are listed on the internet are placed by recruitment agencies. It can be worthwhile joining a recruitment agency because the recruitment consultant will do a lot of the job hunting for you and there is no cost to join. You can also try the job board at your local Work and Income office or your local newspaper.
Many jobs aren’t advertised in the bigger newspapers or on websites, so you should also consider:
- being proactive and distributing copies of your CV to organisations where you would like to work
- checking your local/suburban newspaper
- letting your friends and family know you’re job hunting, in case they know of anything
In the meantime you could consider becoming involved in voluntary work for a local community organisation. Volunteering can help you establish networks, develop new skills and experience, and improve your opportunities for employment. (Of course, it also enables you to make a positive contribution to your new community, so it's a win-win for you, the organisation, and the people in your local area.)
You can read more about volunteering on our Community Organisations web page.
I need a CV, but don’t know where to start.
Your CV (short for Curriculum Vitae) is very important because your potential employer will probably use it to decide whether they are interested enough to interview you.
A CV should be in plain English, and you should aim to keep it short and to the point (about one to four pages in total). It’s a good idea to tailor your CV to a particular job, especially if your work history is varied.
It should cover the following:
- Personal details: Your name, address and contact details
- Career objective: What you want to achieve over the next 1-5 years, and areas of work that you are interested in
- Work experience: List your previous employers and the skills you used when you were working for them. If you have a lot of previous employers think about including just the most recent three or the ones that are most similar to the job that you are applying for.
- Skills and abilities: List any relevant related skills and abilities.
- Education and training: List your secondary and tertiary qualifications or work-related courses you have completed ie first aid courses or barista training.
- Other details that may be relevant: For example, if you have a drivers licence, or are fluent in another language.
It is a good idea to get a friend or family member to read your CV and check for any spelling or grammar errors.
You should also include a cover letter with your CV when you apply for a job.
The cover letter can be a very important part of a job application because some employers read them to decide whether to even look at a CV. Use your cover letter to highlight the most relevant parts of your CV, and to state why you want the job you are applying for. It's another way you can tailor your application for a particular job and show that you are genuinely intererested in it. Keep the letter brief though - no more than a page in length.
And finally, ask a literate friend or family member to read your CV and cover letter, to check for readability and to spot any errors you may have made in spelling or grammar.
It's not necessary for the CV to include referees (people you have worked for - whether in paid or voluntary work - in the past, who would be willing to talk about how well you worked). However you should contact them in advance, and have their contact details ready in preparation for the interview.
You can get help with your CV from:
I need advice on changing careers.
Changing careers can be a big decision. If you don't know what your new career should be, you can get ideas for your career by visiting the Careers New Zealand website and browsing their comprehensive jobs database. They also have advice for planning your career change.
You can also call Careers New Zealand toll free on 0800 222 733, or contact them via email or online chat.
There are also many books on the subject of changing your career, which are available at your local library or bookstore. Talking to a recruitment agency or professional careers advisor can also be useful. You can also talk to people who are already working in the field you are interested in, to find out how they got there.
Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for more information on services that may be available in your area.
How do I find short-term or seasonal work?
Seasonalwork.co.nz is a good website to find seasonal work and has various other website links to help you get everything sorted to be able to do seasonal work in New Zealand. You can also try the regular job sites listed above.
If you are seeking seasonal work, you must have a valid New Zealand work permit. There is more information about working temporarily in New Zealand, on the Immigration NZ website.
I am disabled and need help finding a job. Who can help?
Workbridge is a free professional employment service for people with all kinds of disabilities. For more information on how Workbridge can help, you can find your local office on their website.
It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against you because of your disability when you apply for a job. The Human Rights Act 1993 protects people from unlawful discrimination. If you think you have been discriminated against when applying for a job you should contact the Human Rights Commission (HRC). The information regarding making a complaint can be found on the HRC website.