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Boasting a high quality of life, low cost of living and a number of job opportunities, graduates should consider working in New Zealand

A number of job sectors are expanding and the New Zealand government are looking to attract workers from other countries to fill the skills gap, meaning good job prospects for international workers.

The country also enjoys a temperate climate, uncrowded communities and a low crime rate. You’ll find Auckland, Waikato and Wellington in the north and Canterbury and Otago to the south. No matter where you settle there’s plenty to see and do from sandy beaches, mountain trails and national parks to metropolitan cities.

The job market has been strong over recent years, driven by solid economic growth of around 3% annually. Reflecting that, unemployment hit a 10 year low in 2018.

While growth in both the economy and jobs is forecast to slow a little after 2021, the government still expects the workforce will grow at 1.8% annually – meaning New Zealand will continue to need about 47,000 more workers a year into the near future.

The majority of these jobs will be in highly skilled occupations, and it’s expected most will have to be filled by people coming to New Zealand from overseas. Perhaps – people like you.

New Zealand has many job openings for specialists in sectors such as health, engineering and IT. But there are also opportunities for workers with more generalist skills, particularly in construction/trades and in business services.

Jobs in New Zealand

If you have the right skills and experience, it’s always a good time to look for work in New Zealand. Unemployment is low at 4.3%.

There are currently plenty of job openings in industries such as engineering, IT and Healthcare – however, there are also opportunities to contribute more general skills.

Recent employment growth has been seen in human resources and recruitment, manufacturing, transport and logistics, trades and services, engineering and community service and development.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a huge number of New Zealand businesses, even the country’s big businesses are considered small by international standards. Higher education institutions, IBM and New Zealand Air are all popular graduate employers.

Because of competition for jobs, it’s not uncommon for international job hunters to accept more junior positions in order to gain experience of working in New Zealand.

Don’t limit your options by ruling out contract or part-time work – this can sometimes lead to permanent employment.

Search for jobs in New Zealand at:

1. 1. NxtStep
   2. New Kiwis Global
   3. Seek
   4. Trade me
   5. Work Here

Skills shortages

Certain skills are in short supply and to help combat this, both long-term and immediate skill shortages are listed on Immigration New Zealand.

Occupations on the immediate skills shortage list include:

1. 1. Accountant
   2. Arborist
   3. Building inspector
   4. Construction project manager
   5. Midwife
   6. Nurse
   7. Outdoor adventure guide
   8. Snow sport instructor
   9. University lecturer
   10. Winemaker.

Long-term skills shortages occur in the following industries:

1. 1. Construction
   2. Engineering
   3. Finance
   4. Health and social services
   5. Hospitality and tourism
   6. ICT, electronics and telecommunications
   7. Science
   8. Trades.

Good places to start searching for work experience in the country include:

1. 1. Intern NZ
   2. Internship New Zealand
   3. New Zealand Internships

How to apply for Jobs?

To make your application stand out from the rest, you include a cover letter along with the CV that majorly:

1. 1. Explains you as a person
   2. Briefs about your competencies and job experience
   3. Proves why you can be a suitable candidate for the job role.

As you write the cover letter, make sure that you adopt a formal and convincing tone so that the employer feels that you could be the right fit for the position.

Prepare Yourself for Job Interviews in New Zealand

As you prepare yourself for employment opportunities in New Zealand, it is important to learn how employers carry interview processes. It’s said that employers of New Zealand adopt a casual approach towards interviewing their potential candidates. They may ask and talk about almost anything, probably to know the natural self of a candidate. However, it’s essential that you:

1. 1. Research your potential employer properly
   2. Reflect upon your competencies that make you a perfect candidate for the position
   3. Think about the practical examples you may quote to prove your competencies

On the day of the interview, you must do the following to make it to the desired job role:

1. 1. Try being confident and professional while being friendly
   2. Analyse the questions asked and intentions behind them before giving any answer
   3. Convey about your past work experience efficiently and confidently
   4. Try providing to the point answers by arranging your thoughts well
   5. Show that you can easily adapt to the work environment of New Zealand
   6. Tell the employer that you are always open to learning new skills

Thus seeking a job in New Zealand can be easy if you strategize everything in advance and prepare yourself for an overseas job experience. So start brushing your skills if you really want to see yourself working in New Zealand in the coming time.