If you’re toying with the idea of moving to New Zealand, nailing down an employment opportunity will likely be your number one priority. While many people secure jobs before making the move, many people wait until they arrive, particularly if their partner already has a secure job offer.
Knowing where to look is half the battle, so here are the best places to find job vacancies in New Zealand (and a few bonus tips to help you succeed).
Seek
New Zealand’s biggest job site, you’re probably already familiar with the UK website of the same name. Here you’ll find the vast majority of positions advertised by large employers, although smaller businesses may list elsewhere.
TradeMe Jobs
New Zealand’s answer to eBay, on TradeMe you’ll find everything from used vehicles and furniture to, you guessed it, jobs. Most businesses will post their vacancies on TradeMe (often as well as a Seek or Indeed listing) as it’s an incredibly popular website for people to browse.
Indeed
Like Seek, Indeed is yet another global job site that has been taken up by New Zealand businesses. While it’s not as popular as Seek, it’s still worth keeping an eye on, as some vacancies may be posted on one and not the other. Indeed is also great for comparing salaries and looking at company reviews.
If you’re looking for casual or part-time work or live in a small town, Facebook is one of the best places to find a vacancy. Join the community Facebook page, where businesses will often post local positions to save time. Can’t find what you’re after? Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and tell people what you’re looking for.
Bonus Tip #1 – Upskill
Increasingly, organisations are looking for successful applicants to have an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and, ideally, some knowledge of te reo Māori (native language) and tikanga (Māori customs). There are plenty of online courses available to get you up to speed in these areas, so get ahead of the ball and start learning before you arrive.
Bonus Tip #2 – Reach Out
In order for a business to hire from abroad, they must have advertised the position for a certain period of time to be sure there are no appropriate domestic candidates. So, when scouring the job boards, if you see a position that has been advertised for more than three months, don’t be shy to drop them an email and ask if they’d consider hiring from abroad.
Bonus Tip #3 – Remote Work
If you’re looking for a position that allows you to work from home, you’ll have a very small pool of positions to apply for. Even post-Covid, remote working isn’t an option openly offered by NZ businesses. However, as the country has a skills shortage, most will entertain the conversation with the right candidate.
Sarah Todhunter is a writer, mother-of-two and a dual citizen of New Zealand and the UK. As the sole proprietor of Fyxen Copywriters, she has navigated the ups and downs of moving a business and family across hemispheres, sharing the lessons she’s learned along the way. Find her on LinkedIn or anywhere good coffee is served.
