New Zealand has become an increasingly popular destination for foreigners looking for work abroad. As a developed country with a robust economy and high quality of life, New Zealand offers many employment opportunities across a range of industries. However, navigating the New Zealand job market can be challenging for those who are new to the country. Using the right job search platforms and understanding the local recruitment process are key to finding suitable roles as a foreigner in New Zealand.
Some of the top job sites that foreigners should utilize in their search for work in New Zealand include Seek, Trade Me Jobs, New Kiwis, and LinkedIn. Each site has its own strengths and features that lend themselves to different types of job seekers and career paths. This article will provide an overview of these key job sites, outlining the types of roles listed, search functionality, application process, and other useful details for foreigners to be aware of.
With the help of these recommended job sites, foreigners can gain visibility and connect with recruiters and employers in their industry of choice in New Zealand. By understanding the local recruitment landscape and leveraging these resources, foreigners can expand their job search and secure satisfying employment in New Zealand.
Seek
Seek is one of the most popular online employment websites in New Zealand. It has a strong presence across the country and frequently used by local employers to advertise vacancies. With over 180,000 jobs listed at any given time, Seek should be a go-to resource for foreigners exploring work in New Zealand.
The website is user-friendly, with robust search functionality that allows users to filter by keywords, location, job type, salary range, and more. Seek lists jobs across many industries, everything from healthcare, education, retail, hospitality, trades, IT, and corporate roles. It covers permanent, part-time, temporary, and contract positions, at all levels of seniority.
As New Zealand’s largest job site, Seek attracts employers of all sizes – from small businesses to large multinational corporations. It is used extensively for professional and office-based roles but also advertises many blue collar and service industry jobs. Given its wide reach, foreigners looking to work in New Zealand should create a Seek profile and set up job alerts for relevant opportunities.
Some key features of Seek for foreigners to leverage include:
– Location filter – Search by region/city to find jobs in your area of interest.
– Visa sponsorship filter – Specify if you need an employer able to sponsor your work visa.
– Profile builder – Create a robust profile showcasing your skills, experience, education, visas, languages, etc.
– Recruiter connection – Many recruiters search Seek for candidates, enabling you to be found.
– Job alerts – Receive notifications whenever new jobs match your search criteria.
– Salary tool – Learn expected pay rates for different roles to negotiate effectively.
– Resources – View immigration, relocation, job interview, and resume advice pages.
With a combination of breadth of roles listed and detailed search functions, Seek is an essential starting point for foreigners of all backgrounds and skill sets looking for work in New Zealand.
Trade Me Jobs
Trade Me Jobs is another leading New Zealand job site and a key resource for foreigners in their employment search. Trade Me has a longstanding history and reputation domestically, originally starting as an online auction platform and expanding into job listings.
Trade Me Jobs has over 55,000 roles advertised at any given time, covering permanent, part-time, temporary, and contract work across all industries. Given Trade Me’s popularity among Kiwi employers, it should be utilized by foreigners looking to immerse themselves in the local job market.
Some categories particularly well represented on Trade Me Jobs include retail, hospitality, administration, sales, trades, manufacturing, transport, IT, accounting, and healthcare. Listings come from small, medium, and large employers right across the country.
Useful features on Trade Me Jobs for foreigners include:
– Browse by visa options – Find employers willing to sponsor work visas.
– Location search – Lookup jobs by city/region within New Zealand.
– Alerts – Get emailed new job listings matching your criteria.
– Salary guide – Research typical remuneration for roles.
– Recruiter profiles – Connect with recruiting agencies and hiring managers.
– Local expertise – Content and advice tailored specifically to the NZ job search.
When setting up their Trade Me Jobs account, foreigners should complete their full candidate profile providing details on work eligibility in New Zealand. This enables suitable job matching and helps connect employers with jobseekers they can legally hire.
For those unfamiliar with the New Zealand workplace culture, Trade Me Jobs has a helpful employment guide section covering recruiting practices, interview tips, resume writing guidelines, and more.
Overall, Trade Me Jobs is a valuable resource for foreigners wanting authentic exposure to the diverse New Zealand job market with strong local employer participation.
New Kiwis
Whereas Seek and Trade Me Jobs cover the general job market, New Kiwis is a more specialized employment platform catering to foreigners in New Zealand. As a niche job board, it zones in on connecting skilled migrants and expats with employers seeking diversity in their workforce.
The roles advertised on New Kiwis come from employers who are open to hiring foreign staff and assisting with visa sponsorship. This makes it an excellent starting point for foreigners who will require an employer-supported work visa to take up employment in New Zealand.
Some key features of New Kiwis for foreigners include:
– Work visa support – Jobs from employers willing to sponsor visas.
– Employer ratings – See feedback on what employers are like to work for.
– Forum – Ask questions and connect with other immigrants.
– Events – Attend career fairs and skills workshops.
– Content – Immigration, job search, resume, and interview tips.
– Jobs by visa – Filter to see which roles match your work visa.
While smaller than Seek and Trade Me, New Kiwis punches above its weight in terms of relevance for foreigners and migrants. With an interface and resources tailored to non-residents job hunting in New Zealand, it should be a go-to platform.
When using the site, foreigners should thoroughly complete their candidate profile with visa status, work rights, languages, skills, and education. This enables the job matching technology to showcase suitable openings.
For those in niche fields like healthcare, tech, engineering, education, and finance, New Kiwis is invaluable for connecting skilled foreigners with employers actively looking to hire them.
With over 2 million members in New Zealand, LinkedIn is a crucial professional networking platform and job search tool. Given LinkedIn’s global reach and popularity with employers, foreigners should optimize their profile and leverage its extensive Kiwi membership.
Some key ways LinkedIn can assist foreigners looking for work in New Zealand include:
– Networking – Connect with professionals in your industry locally.
– Company pages – Research potential employers you want to target.
– Job listings – Apply for openings suited to your skills and experience.
– Recruiters – Connect with headhunters and talent acquisition specialists.
– Advertising profile – Increase visibility amongst NZ employers actively hiring.
– Skills showcasing – Demonstrate expertise, achievements, credentials.
– Informational interviews – Reach out to those working in your field for advice.
– Industry insights – Follow relevant company pages, groups, and influencers.
– Local contacts – Expand professional relationships within the country.
With nearly 80% of New Zealand employers using LinkedIn to recruit, having an up-to-date profile on the platform is essential for foreigners wanting exposure to the local job market.
Optimizing your LinkedIn presence with a comprehensive profile, active engagement, and strong professional network in New Zealand will lift your discoverability and opportunities.
Top Job Categories for Foreigners
While New Zealand employers across all industries are open to hiring from overseas, some sectors are particularly favorable and accessible:
Technology
New Zealand has a rapidly growing tech sector facing talent shortages for roles like software engineers, developers, data scientists, product managers, and cybersecurity specialists. Tech companies are eager to sponsor visas for foreigners with these in-demand skills.
Engineering
Engineering disciplines like civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering are on New Zealand’s skills shortage list. Employers need to fill these roles and are welcoming of qualified applicants from overseas.
Trades
Construction is booming in New Zealand currently, fueling demand for qualified tradespeople in areas like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and welding. Securing a work visa may be easier for hands-on occupations facing local talent shortages.
Healthcare
Doctors, nurses, midwives, and other medical professionals can often readily find employers willing to sponsor their work visas in New Zealand’s healthcare system. Experience in relevant specializations is highly valued.
Education
The strong school system means New Zealand has shortages for teachers in certain subjects like math, science, technology, ESL, and special education. Opportunities exist for qualified overseas teachers.
Visa Options for Foreigners
For most foreigners looking to work in New Zealand, securing the appropriate work visa is necessary and requires employer sponsorship. Some key visa categories include:
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
This visa is linked to permanent residency and is points-based. It requires skilled work experience, an offer of employment in NZ, and meeting an age, English, and health requirement.
Essential Skills Work Visa
For roles considered in shortage, like tech, trades, and healthcare, this 1-5 year visa can be obtained with a verified job offer in that occupation.
Work to Residence Visa
This 2 year visa can lead to permanent residency. It requires an offer for a role with high remuneration and scarce local talent availability.
Working Holiday Visa
For young people from certain countries, this 1 year visa allows open work rights to fund travels and gain experience in New Zealand.
Post Study Work Visa
International students completing 1-2 years of academic study in NZ can apply for a 1-3 year open work visa depending on their qualification level.
Application Process for Foreigners
Here are some tips for smoothly navigating the New Zealand job application process as a foreigner:
– Have all visa and work rights information ready to communicate to employers upfront. Be clear on your ability to legally work for them.
– Address visa/foreign status in your cover letter and provide relevant details on current/future eligibility.
– Use resume templates recognizable by Kiwi employers and emphasize transferable skills.
– Show a strong understanding of the employer’s industry and demonstrate enthusiasm for the role.
– If relevant, note interest in learning te reo Maori language and integrating with Kiwi workplace culture.
– For face-to-face interviews, research expected cultural norms regarding greetings, dress, dialogue, body language.
– Ask employers early on if they have sponsored foreign workers before and their ability to support visa applications.
– Be prepared to submit police certificates and medical checks if required for Work Visa assessment.
– Have qualification certificates, portfolio materials, and reference contacts ready if requested by the employer.
– Maintain an optimistic, patient, and respectful attitude throughout the recruitment process.
Job Market Challenges in New Zealand
While New Zealand presents lots of upside for foreigners seeking work, some challenges to be aware of include:
Competition for Roles
New Zealand’s job market can be quite competitive, especially in major cities. Locals will often be given priority which means foreigners need to stand out.
Parsing Job Advert Wordings
Some listings marked “NZ citizens/residents only” imply foreigners are not under consideration, despite skills.
Securing Interviews Remotely
Physically being in New Zealand provides a notable advantage to connect in-person during the recruitment process.
Winter Hiring Periods
November to February see fewer new openings advertised. September-October tend to be peak hiring months.
Lack of Local Network
Without professional contacts or references in country, this can hinder boosting credibility with employers.
Employer Hesitance on Visas
The administrative burden of visa sponsorship deters some smaller businesses without HR resources.
Language/Cultural Barriers
Kiwi slang, etiquette, understatedness, and banter can be hard to grasp as a newcomer.
Tips for Foreigners
Given some of the potential challenges, here are tips for foreigners to maximize their success finding work in New Zealand:
– Have realistic expectations around timeframes – the process requires perseverance.
– Make use of recruiters and immigration specialists to advocate to employers on your behalf.
– Be flexible around job function and industry – consider transferable skills.
– Market in-demand abilities like technology expertise, healthcare qualifications, engineering credentials.
– Get established on relevant professional association member databases employers utilize.
– Attend industry events, conferences, and meetups to start networking locally.
– Complete relevant short courses or volunteer work to boost NZ-specific experience before job seeking.
– Target employers with existing track records sponsoring foreign hires rather than those without.
– Frame foreign background as providing diversity and international perspective rather than as a barrier.
– Ensure language skills, both written and verbal English, are strong and job-ready.
Conclusion
New Zealand provides a high quality of living, robust economy, and exciting opportunities for foreigners interested in relocating. Using recommended sites like Seek, Trade Me Jobs, New Kiwis, and LinkedIn will allow access to the widest array of job postings. Understanding visa options and tailoring job search strategies as a foreigner will maximize success. With an open-minded, patient, and focused approach, foreigners can overcome challenges and secure satisfying New Zealand employment across many in-demand fields.