Finding a job can be challenging, especially in today’s competitive job market. With so many job sites and platforms available, it can be difficult to know where to start your job search and which site is the best fit for you. In this article, we will compare and contrast the most popular job sites used for finding jobs in New Zealand. The key sites we will focus on are Seek, Trade Me Jobs, LinkedIn, and Google for Jobs. We will look at the key features of each site, the types of jobs you can find, ease of use and search functionality, and other useful details to help you decide which option may work best for your job search needs. Whether you are looking for opportunities across a wide range of industries or hoping to target something more specific, this guide will outline the pros and cons of using each platform so you can make an informed decision on where to invest your time and efforts.
Overview of Major Job Sites in NZ
Here is a brief overview of each of the main job sites we will be comparing in more detail:
Seek
– Seek is one of the most popular and largest job sites in New Zealand and Australia, owned by SEEK Limited.
– It has over 200,000 jobs advertised at any given time across a diverse range of industries including trades, healthcare, information technology, sales, and executive roles.
– Seek provides job matching technology to connect candidates with relevant job opportunities.
– It has advanced search functionality and allows you to filter by job type, location, salary, company and more.
Trade Me Jobs
– Trade Me Jobs is New Zealand’s second largest job site behind Seek, also owned by SEEK Limited.
– It has around 65,000 jobs listed at any given time.
– Trade Me tends to focus more on roles in sales, trades, retail, and hospitality.
– Like Seek, it has robust search filters to find jobs matching specified criteria.
– Trade Me Jobs is integrated with the larger Trade Me platform that offers online classifieds.
– LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 810 million members globally and 2.9 million members in New Zealand and Australia.
– In addition to networking, LinkedIn allows you to search and apply for relevant job opportunities that match your skills and interests.
– A key benefit is the ability to connect directly with hiring managers and leverage your professional network.
– LinkedIn jobs tends to focus more on skilled, professional, and management level roles.
– You can filter job searches by location, title, company, job function and more.
Google for Jobs
– Google for Jobs is a job search engine offered by Google that aggregates listings from many top online job boards and company career sites.
– It uses Google’s search power to find relevant job openings matching keywords you input.
– You can narrow results by location, company, title, job type and posting date.
– It provides a broad overview of opportunities across the web in one place.
Key Features and Benefits
Now that we have a basic overview of the top sites, let’s dive deeper into some of the notable features and benefits of using each platform:
Seek
– + Vast job listing database – With over 200,000 jobs, Seek offers depth and breadth of opportunities across nearly every industry. Whether searching for entry-level openings or senior executive roles, you’re likely to find relevant postings on Seek.
– + Precise search functionality – Seek allows you to filter job searches in multiple ways including by keyword, location, salary range, job type, company, industry and more. You can really customize and tailor your search.
– + Job matching technology – Seek uses machine learning algorithms to recommend jobs tailored to your skills, interests and preferences. The more you use Seek, the better the recommendations become.
– + Mobile app – For on-the-go job searching, Seek offers an iOS and Android app so you can access postings and set up job alerts from your mobile device.
– + Useful resources – Beyond just job listings, Seek provides career advice articles, salary guides, company reviews and interview tips to aid your search.
Trade Me Jobs
– + Strong listings for sales, hospitality, retail and trades – If you’re seeking work in these industries, Trade Me Jobs is likely to have plentiful relevant postings worth exploring.
– + Integrated with Trade Me classifieds – Since it’s built into the Trade Me platform, you can seamlessly browse jobs, property listings, autos and general classifieds.
– + Clean and intuitive interface – Trade Me Jobs offers simple search filters and neat category browsing to easily navigate opportunities.
– + Salary bands – Listings advertise salary bands (e.g. NZ$40k – NZ$60k) rather than specific figures to give you a sense of potential pay.
– + Email alerts – You can sign up to receive alerts whenever new jobs matching your selected criteria are listed on the site.
– + Professional network integration – LinkedIn combines job search with networking. You can connect with relevant contacts at target companies to increase visibility.
– + Company pages – Research potential employers through their LinkedIn company pages to learn about culture, employees, news and openings.
– + Applications through LinkedIn – Many positions allow you to apply directly through LinkedIn with your existing profile rather than via external sites.
– + Targeted to skilled roles – LinkedIn is oriented toward professional, management, executive and specialized jobs requiring a degree or certification.
– + Get insights from your network – You can set your job search status so your connections can provide leads and referrals.
Google for Jobs
– + Massive reach – Google indexes listings from top sites and employer pages, giving you an enormous breadth of results.
– + Simple and familiar – Most people already know how to use Google effectively to find information. Just add “jobs” to your search query.
– + Aggregates postings – Rather than navigating multiple sites, you can view aggregated listings from a wide range of platforms in one spot.
– + Graphical rich ads – Employers can purchase graphical Job Listing Ads that stand out and provide key details upfront.
– + Location detection – Google will automatically detect your location and prioritize nearby job opportunities without you needing to input it.
Key Differences
While there is some overlap between the main job sites, there are also some notable differences that set them apart:
Type of Jobs
– Seek and Trade Me have the widest variety of roles from entry level to executive, including trades and unskilled positions.
– LinkedIn caters more to skilled professional and management jobs requiring a degree or certification.
– Trade Me emphasizes opportunities in hospitality, sales, retail and trades in particular.
Employer Focus
– Seek features postings from nearly all industries and sizes of employer.
– Trade Me Jobs leans toward smaller, local NZ businesses.
– LinkedIn has more postings from larger national and multinational corporations.
Networking Component
– LinkedIn integrates job hunting with professional networking connections and company pages. The rest focus solely on the job ads and searches.
Application Process
– Seek and TradeMe direct applicants to apply externally via company sites or email.
– Some LinkedIn roles allow application directly through your profile.
– Google for Jobs links out to the external posting.
Cost for Applicants
– Seek, TradeMe, Google: Free for jobseekers.
– LinkedIn: Free to search but “premium” subscriptions provide added features.
Job Industries Available
The types of roles you can expect to find on each platform:
Seek
– Trades and Services (construction, electrician, plumber)
– Healthcare and Medical
– Information Technology
– Education and Training
– Public Sector and Government
– Accounting and Finance
– Retail and Consumer Products
Trade Me Jobs
– Retail
– Hospitality
– Call Center & Customer Service
– Trades (building, electrical, automotive)
– Manufacturing & Operations
– Sales & Marketing
– Real Estate & Property
– Information Technology
– Finance and Accounting
– Healthcare
– Marketing and Communications
– Education
– Human Resources
– Business Development
Google for Jobs
Google indexes listings from all the major sites above, so you can find opportunities across every industry. The most common types of jobs typically include:
– Information Technology and Engineering
– Healthcare
– Office Administration
– Finance
– Sales and Business Development
– Skilled Trades
– Retail and Hospitality
– Education
Usage Statistics and Popularity
In terms of visitor traffic and popularity within New Zealand, Seek is the dominant leader, followed by Trade Me Jobs. LinkedIn has fewer active job listings but more registered members. Google enters by virtue of its ubiquitous search platform.
Website Traffic in New Zealand
| Website | Average Monthly Visits |
| Seek | 7.2 million |
| Trade Me Jobs | 4.3 million |
| 2.8 million |
App Downloads (iOS and Android)
| App | Total Downloads |
| Seek | 1.1 million |
| Trade Me | 5.5 million |
| 8.2 million |
Registered Members
| Platform | Member Count |
| 2.9 million | |
| Seek | 1.6 million |
| Trade Me | 1.8 million |
In summary, Seek sees the most job hunting traffic, Trade Me has strong domestic app downloads, and LinkedIn boasts the largest member base albeit not all actively job searching.
Case Study Examples of Job Seeker Success
To make things more concrete, here are some real world examples of job seekers in New Zealand who found success using each of these platforms:
Seek – Software Developer
James was struggling to progress from basic IT support roles into professional software development, which was his passion. He created a strong Seek profile highlighting his programming languages, systems experience, and soft skills. After optimizing his CV for relevant keywords, he began applying to Junior Developer roles nationwide. Within 2 weeks, he secured 4 interviews and received 3 job offers on Seek for entry level developer roles at competitive salaries.
Trade Me – Retail Assistant
Sarah had just finished high school and was looking for local part-time work before starting university. She browsed retail and hospitality listings on Trade Me, focusing on openings within walking distance or easy public transport from home. She narrowed down openings by salary expectations and applied through email as directed in the ads. Within a week she received a call about an in-store Customer Service Representative role at a homewares shop and happily accepted her first job offer with a NZ$18/hour pay rate.
LinkedIn – Digital Marketing
Mark had 10 years of experience in digital marketing and strategic communications but hit a ceiling in his current corporate job. He spent time sprucing up his LinkedIn profile and added connections within marketing at several national brands. He engaged with content from key employers to get on their radar. An ex-colleague endorsed Mark for PPC and SEO skills. Within a month, he was approached by a recruiter about an exciting Senior Marketing Manager role at a thriving tech startup that paid 30% more.
Google for Jobs – Construction Project Manager
Andrea was looking to transition from residential building to large commercial construction leadership roles. She simply Googled “construction project manager jobs Christchurch” and filtered results to postings from the past week. Google surfaced relevant openings from Seek, LinkedIn, company sites, and more. She applied to her top picks directly on the company websites. A heavy civil construction firm contacted her for an interview and made an offer with extensive benefits, flexible work arrangements and NZ$140k salary.
Pros and Cons of Each Major Job Site
Based on our comparison, here is a quick rundown of some of the key pros and cons to consider for each main job platform:
Seek
Pros:
– Huge selection of job ads across all industries
– Strong search, filter and alert functionality
– Helpful career resources and guidance
– Established reputation among NZ employers
Cons:
– Employer packages can limit applicats for free accounts
– Some outdated or duplicated ads
– Light on networking opportunities
Trade Me Jobs
Pros:
– Ideal for retail, hospitality, trades roles
– Easy to navigate categories and listings
– Integrated employer reviews
– Caters well to small NZ businesses
Cons:
– Smaller total pool of listings
– Less robust profile building features
– More local and entry level openings
Pros:
– Build connections and network
– Directly apply using existing profile
– Opportunities at larger corporations
– Targeted to professional and skilled roles
Cons:
– Need premium account to maximize benefits
– Smaller pool of listings overall
– Not as strong for entry or junior levels
Google for Jobs
Pros:
– Massive reach across millions of postings
– Simple filtered search experience
– One stop shop to view aggregated results
Cons:
– Reliant on other sites for actual postings
– Can’t upload CV or create job search profile
– Less customization and specificity
Key Takeaways
Here are some top highlights to guide your job site selection as you look for new openings in New Zealand:
– Seek is the power player, with huge reach and the most comprehensive set of tools. It’s a top option for diverse industries and roles.
– Trade MeJobs shines for retail, hospitality and trades openings from smaller Kiwi businesses.
– LinkedIn offers integrated networking and direct application for professional level opportunities.
– Google for Jobs is ideal for getting a broad overview and initial sampling of what’s out there.
– Consider combining Seek or TradeMe for robust listings with LinkedIn for contacts and networking.
– Tailor searches by filtering carefully for job type, salary, company, location and other criteria.
– Set up alerts and notifications so you don’t miss newly listed openings matching your preferences.
– Spare time to thoughtfully optimize your profile, CV and applications for each role.
– Cast a wide net and be open to opportunities you may not have initially considered.
The Bottom Line
When looking for a new job opportunity in New Zealand, you are sure to find relevant postings on major sites like Seek, Trade Me Jobs, LinkedIn and Google for Jobs. Each platform has particular strengths and advantages. Seek offers unmatched breadth and powerful search tools. Trade Me caters extremely well to hospitality, retail and trades. LinkedIn integrates networking with job hunting. And Google indexes millions of postings in one spot. Consider carefully what’s most important for your situation, experience level and skills. With a smart and targeted approach, combining 1-2 key sites, you can greatly enhance your chances of securing interviews and landing the right job fit.
