NZ JOB SEARCH STRATEGY

Transcription

NZ JOB SEARCH STRATEGY
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO FIND A JOB IN NEW ZEALAND.
Job searching in New Zealand is very likely to differ from the way in which you job
searched in your country.
The information provided is a guide to searching for a job in New Zealand including how
to write a great CV, where to go to find out about your industry and occupation and how
to survive those tricky interviews!
JOB SEARCH PREPARATION
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
To find a job, you need a well-conceived STRATEGY.
Every strategy starts with RESEARCH. It is vital that you know what job you are seeking
in a New Zealand context, what the rules and norms are in the industry and devise a
suitable ACTION PLAN.
In this section you will discover what you need to prepare to find a job in New Zealand.
This includes the right attitude, the right official documents and accurate information
about the working environment. You will also need to be very clear about what your skills
are and what you have to offer an employer.
QUIZ
Question:
Before you begin your NZ job search, it is important to prepare.
What can you do?
a) Research your industry in New Zealand and understand what skills are required
here.
b) Call another migrant who has been working in New Zealand for over 1 year and
ask them questions about the local job market
c) Use the Internet to find out as much as you can about New Zealand’s
employment practices, job availability, skills shortages and recruitment
practices.
d) All of the Above
Answer: d) All of the Above
Those New Kiwis that gain employment the fastest are those who take responsibility for
their own job search, and put in the most preparation. Information is essential for a
positive and informed start to your Job Search!
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Job seekers register at www.newkiwis.co.nz
© 2011 Auckland Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Be positive – the right job is out there for you but along the way, there will be job
applications that never get answered, rejection letters and interviews that don’t go well.
So how do you stay positive when the process is so painful?
 Be optimistic – an employer is searching for you right now.
 Expect some disappointments and believe that employer decisions are not personal.
 Find a mentor or friend who can motivate you when you are feeling down.
 Arrange fun activities and take time out from your job searching.
Patience and perseverance
 Finding the right job might take some time. Job searching requires these two
elements – patience and perseverance.
QUOTE
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties
disappear and obstacles vanish.” John Quincy Adams
Proactive
 You will have to go out and find that great job – it is not likely to come looking for
you. This takes courage because you will be talking to strangers and probably in a
second language.
 Employers are attracted to people who are proactive, outgoing and positive.
 Don’t listen to negative stories – make friends with new and old Kiwis who are
successful and working in great jobs. These people will be your role models and will
give you sound advice.
Looking for work is a job
 Looking for work is not something that can be done in your spare time. You need to
spend at least a few hours each day looking for jobs, visiting and phoning
businesses, writing your job applications, answering calls from possible employers,
updating your job log and preparing for interviews.
 Spending hours looking for a job can feel like a waste of time but try to remember
that you are also learning about New Zealand, improving your English and gaining
experience in dealing with the people and the culture.
QUIZ
Question:
True or False: One day per week should be spent not job searching, but sight
seeing, exercising, seeing friends and family.
Answer:
TRUE!
You have 5 days in a working week to job search and 2 days on the weekend.
3Commit yourself to 5 days of various job -search
activities, and ensure you take one
day off to re-charge yourJob
batteries
and getatto
know your community. Indirectly, you
seekers register
www.newkiwis.co.nz
will also be building
up Auckland
your own
support
network and
resources
by getting out and
© 2011
Chamber
of Commerce.
All Rights
Reserved.
meeting other New Zealanders in your community.
PAPERWORK
IRD NUMBER
 Everyone working in New Zealand is expected to pay tax to the Inland Revenue
Department (IRD).
 Depending on how much you earn this can be 19% - 39% of your earnings.
 Before you can work legally, you need an IRD number, so organise one of these
before you look for a job.
 For more information on applying for an IRD number, visit www.ird.govt.nz.
http://www.ird.govt.nz/library/publications/geninfo/ir595.pdf
WORK PERMIT
 Companies that employ illegal immigrants or people who are not permitted to work,
can face serious charges and fines.
 Employers will want to see proof of a work permit or permanent residency papers –
you should apply for these (and ideally get them) before you start your job search.
 Most job advertisements will specify that applicants must be eligible to work in New
Zealand.
 Visit the New Zealand Immigration Service at www.immigration.govt.nz to find out
about New Zealand’s criteria for entry. For more information about the immigration
process visit http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz/lists/advice/immilist.htm
BANK ACCOUNT
 Wages and salaries will be paid directly into your bank account, usually fortnightly or
monthly.
 You will need to have a bank account with a New Zealand bank.
CASE STUDY:
Ali and Zenat apply for the same job as production supervisor. They have the same
training but Ali has a little more on-the-job experience. The company decides to offer the
job to Ali but then they find out he has no IRD number and no work permit. Rather than
wait for Ali to arrange these things, the company decides to hire Zenat instead.
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NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
There are around 300,000 businesses in New Zealand
89% of them employ less than six people.
You are very likely to work in New Zealand for a small business in a
small team.
MANAGEMENT STYLE
The structure of New Zealand companies is typically flat and not hierarchical which
means there are not a lot of layers of management and everyone is respected and
valued. This has two major effects for you as a job seeker:
 You will need to show employers you are comfortable relating to co-workers as a
peer group (as equals) and not just that you can give orders or follow orders.
 Managers refer to their “team” or “staff”, never as “workers” or “subordinates”.
 Employees and managers refer to each other by their first name.
 Some jobs may seem to be junior to your experience, but because of a flat company
structure the job could still give you room to use your skills and be involved in
company decisions.
LIMITED INDUCTION AND TRAINING:
 Learn as much as you can about your new job role and company before you start
because employers are looking for people who can do the job, right from the first
day!
 Once you start, pay attention, ask questions and then try to do the job for yourself –
your new company will realise everyone takes a while to get used to a new job so do
not panic if you forget how to do something.
 Also check if you do not understand instructions, to avoid making mistakes.
MULTI-SKILLED
 New Zealand employees are multi-skilled rather than specialists.
 You may be expected to do a large variety of tasks and take responsibility for many
areas.
GENDER EQUALITY
New Zealand prides itself on giving men and women equal opportunities and respect in
the workplace:
 It is very likely some of your job interviews will be with women who will be your
manager or co-worker if you are given the job. You should expect this and your
attitude should show that this is not a problem for you.
 Signs of disrespect or harassment towards women in the workplace based on their
gender are treated very seriously in New Zealand and can result in a person losing
their job.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES:
There are several key cultural differences between New Zealand and some other
cultures:
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Direct eye contact that is maintained is seen as a sign of confidence and employers
will look for this in prospective employees.
Employers will also look for confident body language – so when meeting employers
you should stand tall, with your shoulders back and your chin and head level, not
bowed.
Do not speak too softly.
New Zealand has larger “personal space” boundaries than some Eastern cultures.
When you are greeting, standing or sitting next to someone, there should be room for
another person between you and them.
New Zealand workplaces are very social, so be prepared to talk about your personal
life and be interested in others.
QUIZ
Question:
Your employer comes to you with a problem. The receptionist has gone home ill with
the stomach flu and you have been asked to cover the front desk for the next 2 hours.
You are the staff accountant.
You would respond:
a) No, I’m too busy working on a report for my department.
b) Yes, I’m happy to help in an emergency. I do have an important report due,
however I can always work on it between phone calls at the desk.
c) No, I’m too senior to sit at the front desk answering the phones.
Answer: b)
Demonstrating your willingness to help and ability to be flexible. This will earn the
respect of your employer and team.
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EMPLOYER’S PERSPECTIVE
DO THE JOB
 Employers need people who can do the job, often from the first day.
 They value work experience over qualifications.
 Job seekers must convince employers they have done that job before and can
perform the tasks with limited training.
 Small businesses do not have the time or resources to do a lot of training for new
staff.
COMMITTED STAFF
 Employers are looking for committed staff, who are prepared to put in time and effort
to make sure their job is done well.
 Committed staff are happy to be at work, they focus on helping the business succeed
and they volunteer to take on extra responsibilities.
 Replacing staff is time consuming and expensive for any business. Employers are
looking for people who will stay a minimum of 2 years.
INDISPENSABLE PROBLEM SOLVERS
 Employers are also looking for problem solvers who have a “can-do attitude”. This
means you will always try to figure out a way to get your work done, and won’t rely
on others to solve your problems or do things for you.
RELIABILITY AND LOYALTY
 Being reliable and loyal means that your employer can count on you to arrive on time
and to get your work done.
GOOD SOCIAL SKILLS
 Employers want to hire friendly people who will get along with their customers and
other staff.
 Even if your English is not perfect, you need to be prepared to talk to people and to
answer any questions that people ask.
CASE STUDY
A company has to decide between two job candidates.
A) Ali has better skills and training than the other candidate. In his interview, when the
employer asks Ali questions he gives “yes” and “no” answers and does not smile.
B) Zenat has good skills but only a limited amount of training. In her interview, when the
employer asks Zenat questions she looks at him, smiles and answers his questions
with full sentences.
The company chooses Zenat for the job because they know she will be able to talk to
customers and the other staff. They decide they can give her more training if there are
gaps in her skills.
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ENGLISH – VERBAL AND WRITTEN CONFIDENCE
 Only one language is spoken in most New Zealand businesses – English.
 Employers need all employees to be able to speak accurately and confidently to their
customers.
 If your English is not fluent, you need to work on making it better. The best way to
improve your English is to use it – ask your family to help by practicing at home, in
shops and with any friends that can speak it.
 Confidence can make up for some lack of English skills. In an interview situation, do
not rush, listen carefully, speak clearly and slowly, keep your head up and smile.
COMPUTER SKILLS
There are very few jobs in New Zealand that do not use computers and it is expected
that most employees will have basic computer skills:
 Microsoft is used in the majority of New Zealand businesses.
 You will be expected to have a good understanding of Microsoft Windows, Word
and/or Excel.
 A fast typing speed is not required or assessed for most positions.
 Email is a standard communication tool and most employers will expect you to be
familiar with Microsoft Outlook.
 Many job advertisements will ask you to submit a CV via email. Having an email
account is useful for the job search process. You can set up free accounts through
sites like www.hotmail.com or www.yahoo.com.
 Use of the Internet is also common in New Zealand. A basic ability to find information
through search engines like www.google.co.nz, and data sites like www.whatis.com
is useful and will also help you to research New Zealand and look for jobs.
QUIZ
Question: You arrive in New Zealand feeling confident and well prepared to get a
job. After attending a skills assessment at a large recruitment agency you are told
there are concerns about your English.
What do you do?
a) Go home feeling upset and try to forget it all happened.
b) Accept that you are disappointed in the results. The following day, take the
initiative to arrange an English as a Second Language assessment and get
some specific advice from ESOLNEXT
advisors.
c) Tell your family and friends to stay away from the recruitment company
because they are unfair.
Answer: b)
Getting feedback about your English can be a wonderful resource. Although you
may want to take It personally, you must instead use this information to improve. If
you choose to ignore the advice, you will not improve and therefore you may be
drastically lowering your chances at employment.
*Do NOT badmouth the recruitment company;
it is unprofessional and negative and
-8will not bring you closer to getting a job.
EMPLOYERS ARE RISK ADVERSE
Employers want to find employees with:
 the ability to communicate clearly
 the right skills for the job
 a friendly personality
 loyalty to their job and the company they work for
New Zealand has strict employment laws and it is very difficult to terminate staff.
Employers are therefore extremely careful when selecting a new employee.
As a New Kiwi, you face some barriers to employment and you need to deal with these
during the job search process.
LACK OF ENGLISH
 You need to demonstrate your ability in spoken and written English.
 Have your CV and cover letter checked by a native English speaker, to make
sure they have correct spelling and grammar.
 Practice your English regularly and then use it in the interview process with full
sentences and clear answers, not “yes” or “no” answers.
 If your English is poor, you will need to improve your skills and should consider
attending training.
http://www.tec.govt.nz/education_and_training/english_for_migrants/english_for_
migrants.htm http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz/lists/courses/alpha/calpfrm.htm
TEAM FIT
 You need to demonstrate to employers that you can get along with other
employees.
 You may feel shy but it is important that you still smile and make conversation
with other people. Shyness can be confused with unfriendliness and that is a
barrier to you getting a job.
 Before you go to a job interview think of three topics you could talk about if you
had to have a casual conversation with the employer or another employee – the
weather, the result of a recent national sports game or a big news story from the
newspaper that day.
FLIGHT RISK
 You need to show the employer you are committed to New Zealand and that you
are not likely to leave the country or the job after a short period.
 In the interview, if your employer asks about this you should explain why you
have chosen to make New Zealand your home and detail any other signs of your
commitment, for example if you have brought your family, if you have bought a
home or if you have gained permanent residency.
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You should also explain what it is you like about the job and the company you
have applied for, and why you can see yourself staying in the role.
This information should only be shared in the interview stage and not in your CV
and cover letter.
OVERQUALIFIED
 Don’t apply for jobs that you are clearly overqualified for; it wastes your time and
theirs.
 Employers must believe you are committed to the job they are offering and that you
are not just taking the position until something better comes along.
 So the employer knows you are serious about their job, tell them why you like their
job and what you think you can learn in the job.
 Explain why your skills are a good fit with their company and how they can help the
company.
 Never tell an employer that you want this job because you cannot get a more senior
position and that you are using their job as a starting point. Employers do not want
to feel that you are using them.
CASE STUDY
Ali and Zenat both apply for a job as an Accountant and they are equally capable of
doing the job.
A) Ali’s CV lists the skills and tasks he has done in his previous jobs, that
match what the employer is seeking.
B) Zenat’s CV says she was the Senior Accountant of the largest oil company
in her country and managed a staff of 30 people.
The employer chooses to interview Ali because he demonstrated that he could do
the job. The employer believed Zenat was too senior for the role and had staff
performing the functions.
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KNOW YOUR INDUSTRY
Before approaching anyone for a job or submitting a CV, you should learn about the
industry that you want to work in and what job opportunities are available in New
Zealand.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
 how big your preferred industry is in New Zealand
 who the main businesses are in the industry
 what growth is predicted in your industry
 where the bulk of the industry is based (location)
 what skills are required to work in your industry in New Zealand?
TO RESEARCH YOUR INDUSTRY YOU CAN:
 Study many Job Vacancies that are applicable to you. (How to identify
Transferable Skills is covered in the next section)
 Visit http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz or
http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz/lists/jobs/talpfrm.htm and carry out a search on
your preferred industry or job role.
 Ask your friends and contacts in New Zealand
 Speak to the industry group that relates to your preferred industry - ask them
whether they can provide you with any information about the New Zealand
industry and who else you should talk with to find out more.
 Call Universities and learning institutes who may also be able to give you
information about your chosen career in New Zealand.
 Find networking opportunities where you can learn about your industry – local
community newspapers are an excellent source of information about expos,
seminars and free events which may be relevant to your chosen industry.
Business organisations like the Chamber of Commerce also regularly host
industry events with networking opportunities.
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QUIZ
Question: Why is it important to research and understand your chosen industry
before job searching?
a) It is critical that you are able to speak confidently about the NZ job market to
demonstrate your knowledge of the competition and industry trends.
b) It is not important. My Masters degree will surely be enough to get me the job
I want.
c) I will start to figure things out once I need a job. The company who hires me
are responsible for training me on industry standards in NZ.
Answer: a)
Having a degree is not enough to get a job, for migrants or for locals. You must be
able to demonstrate to employers that you understand New Zealand business. It is
too late to begin your research when you need a job. Start in advance or risk looking
unprepared in the eyes of an employer.
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INDUSTRY GROUPS
ANZA
The Association of New Zealand Advertisers Inc
P O Box 9348,
Newmarket,
Auckland
Phone 09 300-5932
Fax 09 300-5931
[email protected] or www.anza.co.nz
DINZ
Designers Institute of New Zealand
PO Box 5521,
Wellesley Street,
Auckland
[email protected] or www.dinz.org.nz
DMA
New Zealand Direct Marketing Association Inc.
P O Box 47681, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone 09-303 9470
Fax 09-303 4787
[email protected] or www.dma.co.nz
ICANZ
Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand
PO Box 11 342,
WELLINGTON 6034,
New Zealand
Phone 04-474 7840
Fax 04-473 6303
[email protected]
IPENZ
Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand
National Office
Molesworth House
101 Molesworth St
Wellington
New Zealand
PO Box 12241
Wellington
New Zealand
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Ph: +64 4 473 9444
Fax: +64 4 474 8933
[email protected] or www.ipenz.org.nz
Industry Training Federation
PO Box 24 194,
Wellington
Telephone 04 499 8155
Facsimile 04 499 8156
www.itf.org.nz
ITANZ
Information Technology Association of New Zealand
Box 1710,
Wellington,
New Zealand
Phone 04-472-2731
Fax 04-499-3318
[email protected]
Financial Planners and Insurance Advisers Association
PO Box 5513
Wellington
Phone 04 499 8062
Fax 04 499 8064 or www.fpia.org.nz
MTA
Motor Trade Association
PO Box 9244
Wellington
Phone 04 385 8859
Fax 04 385 9517 or www.mta.org.nz
New Zealand Bankers' Association
P O Box 3043
Wellington
Phone 04 472 8838
Fax 04 473 1698
[email protected] or www.nzba.org.nz
New Zealand Law Society
PO Box 5041,
Wellington
www.lawyers.org.nz
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New Zealand Retailers Association
National Office
PO Box 12 086,
Wellington
[email protected]
or Auckland Regional Office
PO Box 41 076,
Auckland
www.retail.org.nz
PRINZ
Public Relations Institute of New Zealand
PO Box 5937,
Auckland
www.prinz.org.nz
TIANZ
Tourism Industry Association New Zealand
PO Box 1697,
Wellington
[email protected]
www.tianz.org.nz
TUANZ
PO Box 33 1014
Takapuna
Auckland
Phone 09 488 1885
www.tuanz.org.nz
For more industry associations visit: www.businessnz.org.nz/industryassociations
Universities and Institutes
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019,
Auckland 1020
Phone 09 373 7999
AUT
Private Bag 92006
Auckland 1020
New Zealand
Manukau Institute of Technology
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Private Bag 94006
Manukau City
Auckland
New Zealand
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin
Tel 64 3 479 1100
Fax 64 3 474 1607
Information Line 0800 80 80 98 (callers within New Zealand only)
Information Line 64 3 479 7000 (callers outside New Zealand)
[email protected]
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8020
New Zealand
University of Victoria
PO Box 600
Wellington 6001
NEW ZEALAND
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North
New Zealand
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TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Once you have completed your research about the industry you need to identify those
skills you have that are valued by the New Zealand employer.
WHAT SKILLS DOES THE INDUSTRY WANT:
 Carefully study 10 Job Vacancies and underline the skills, attributes, experience
and qualifications that are asked for in the ads.
 Create a list of the skills the industry is seeking and then write a list of the skills
you have that match. (Download PDF Skills Transfer Sheet)
 If you do have all the skills make sure they are clearly listed on the front page of
your CV.
 If you do not have all the skills you need, use the same research methods listed
above to find out where you can get the skills or whether there is a more junior
position you can take to gain entry to your preferred industry in New Zealand.
CASE STUDY
Ali and Zenat both apply for a position as a Human Resource Manager and have similar
experience in the roles in their country.
(a) Ali’s CV lists his skills and experience.
(b) Zenat undertook study in New Zealand Employment Law and states this in her
cover letter and CV – along with her existing experience.
The employer invites Zenat for an interview because she is familiar with New Zealand
employment law and that is an essential skill required in the job. Ali’s application is
rejected.
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BUILDING A SELLING CV
Your CV is your first introduction to employers, so it needs to make a great impression.
Your CV should show an employer that you have the skills for their job, it should detail
relevant experience and qualifications, and it should explain your personal strengths.
It should also be laid out in a clear format and it must be free of mistakes.
INFORMATION YOUR CV SHOULD CONTAIN:
 Personal data – your name, address, contact phone number and email.
 Other data – you may also choose to include your residency status, driver’s license,
but these are optional.
 Career objective – this is a statement about what you want to achieve through your
work. This paragraph needs to be short and specific. You should include your career
field and goals.
 Personal attributes – these are your personal traits and strengths that honestly
describe you. Limit yourself to six broad traits and back them up with a short
sentence that shows that quality. Your personal attributes will go towards helping
your employer decide on your fit with their company – so be aware of what the
employer is looking for and check that your attributes match what they want.
 Specific skills – these are your vocational and transferable skills. Transferable skills
include: skills working with people, skills working with objects, skills working with
information.
 Work history – list your most recent job first and work backwards. Write the title of
the position you held, who it was with and put the date on the right hand side of the
page. List the responsibilities of the role and the achievements you realised in the
position – focus on the responsibilities and achievements that are relevant to the job
you are applying for.
 Qualifications, education and training – list your highest qualification first, include the
institute you graduated from and the year you graduated. Put any additional training
and courses under a separate heading.
 Verbal referees – you should have verbal referees available on request. A referee is
someone that can talk about your skills and abilities and your qualities as an
employee – this is often a former employer and preferably should be in New
Zealand. Before listing anyone as a referee, you must check they are happy to do
this for you.
YOUR CV DOES NOT NEED TO CONTAIN:
 Marital status
 Gender
 Age/ Date of Birth
 Dependents (whether or not you have children)
 IRD number
 Salary
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
Nationality or place of birth
QUIZ
Question:
A good CV will “sell” your strengths to an employer, and should include:
a) All of your previous employers names and phone numbers
b) Your name, contact details and work history
c) Your name, age, kids names and work history
Answer: b)
Do not include employers name and details unless that person has agreed to be a
reference for you. Do not included details about your family – the employer needs
to know if they want to interview you for the job; let them make the decision based
on your skills, not your personal life.
REMEMBER
 Keep it simple. Your CV simply needs to let the employer know what skills and
qualifications you have. Keep sentences short and try to limit your CV to two
pages. Keep the format simple and easy to read.
 Your CV should make the employer want to hire you. It is not a list of everything
you have ever done and every skill you have. It should be a document that
shows the employer your most relevant industry skills, attributes and
qualifications – the ones that fit the job you are applying for.
 New Zealand employers generally place greater value on your work history
rather than your qualifications. They want to know you can do the job they are
advertising and that you have performed similar tasks in previous jobs. Give clear
examples of your experience and try to use the same language as the employer.
For example, if the ad asks for “data entry” experience, your CV should talk
about data entry and not data capturing as it may be known in your country.
 Your computer will only identify spelling mistakes – it won’t identify if you are
using words incorrectly or out of context. So make sure you have your CV
checked by someone who has excellent written and spoken English.
 Although you will have a standard CV, each time you apply for a new job you will
need to look at your CV and change it to suit the job and the employer. This may
mean using different language or focusing on different skills.
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CASE STUDY
A company receives thirty CVs and cover letters but is only going to choose five people
to interview.
C) Ali’s CV and cover letter are ten pages long and list everything he has ever done in
great detail. He uses the same CV and cover letter he has used for other
applications and does not change it to fit the job he is applying for.
D) Zenat writes a one-page cover letter and cuts her CV to two pages. Her letter and
CV include her most important qualifications and achievements and she makes sure
they match what the employer has said they are looking for.
The company does not read all of Ali’s application because it is too long and it is too
hard to see whether or not he has the skills they need for the job. They decide to
interview Zenat because all her skills seem to match what they are looking for.
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WRITING A COVER LETTER
A cover letter should always be sent with your CV for formal job applications.
It should only be a few paragraphs long and should tell the employer why you are the
right person for the job, briefly outline your most relevant skills and it may explain why
you want to work for their company. It is your opportunity to let the employer know why
they should pick you.
In your cover letter:
 Start the letter with your strongest selling point.
 Talk about the skills and experience you have that match what the employer is
looking for in their job candidate. Don’t waste space in your cover letter talking about
your experience as a Civil Engineer if you are going for a position as an Accounts
Payable Clerk
 Get straight to the point. The person looking at your application will probably be very
busy so they need to know what you have to offer right away. Start your letter with: “I
have 8 years experience as an engineer…”. Do not start your letter with: “I am
applying for this position because…”
 Do not oversell yourself – make sure the letter truthfully represents your skills and
experience.
 Keep it brief. Your letter should only be a 3 paragraphs and must not be longer than
one page.
 Keep sentences and paragraphs short and simple.
 Use good stationery (but not coloured or patterned paper).
 Always use a computer. Employers will expect to receive typed, formatted cover
letters and CVs. Anything else will look unprofessional and will reduce your chances
of getting an interview.
 Check your letter for mistakes. Then have someone else check it. Then use the
computer to check the spelling. Then check it again. A mistake in a cover letter
sends a bad message to the employer about your skills and your attitude.
 Make sure you address the letter correctly if it is being sent and if you have the name
of the person you are sending the letter to make sure you use it. Do not address the
letter to Dear Sir/Madam if you know their name.
 Finish the letter positively and with a request to introduce yourself in person. “I
believe I can make a valuable contribution to your company and would like the
opportunity to meet with you in person. I look forward to hearing from you.”
REMEMBER:
 Do not create one cover letter to use for every job you apply for. If you are
serious about getting an interview you should take the time to write a cover letter
for each new job you apply for. Personalising your cover letters shows you are
truly interested in the job being offered. The Internet is a great tool to use when
you are writing cover letters because you can find out facts about the company or
industry you are applying for and include it in the letter.
- 21 -

You will be expected to send your cover letter and CV by email for some jobs. So
be prepared to attach your cover letter and your CV to an email. Pay attention to
whether the employer wants the cover letter in the body (the main part) of the
email or as an attachment.
Sample cover letter
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/st_services/careers/job_hunting/cover_letters_format.html
QUIZ
Question:
You are looking for a job to support your family, preferably in management. After 2
months of unsuccessful applications, you decide you must now take any job, as things
are getting desperate financially.
You start to send your general management Cover Letter and CV out to apply for jobs as
a shop assistant, but you are not getting any interviews. Why not?
a) The employer feels you do not pay attention to detail, as you sent a Management
CV for a very junior role. She assumes you must have applied in error and
deletes your CV.
b) The employer reads your CV but assumes you will leave the shop assistant role
as soon as you get a better job offer in Management.
c) Your Management CV does not demonstrate any of the skills listed in the job
advertisement for Receptionist. Your CV gets deleted.
d) All of the above
Answer: d)
Regardless of the role you are applying for, you must tailor your CV to each individual
application and company to demonstrate you are committed to working for that company
in that specific role. Otherwise, the employer will assume you are using this role as a
“stepping stone” to something better.
- 22 -
JOB SEARCHING





Have you conducted extensive research on your industry and occupation
in New Zealand?
Do you know what employers are looking for and do you believe you have
those skills?
Have you undertaken training to fill and skill gaps that you may have?
Have you prepared a great looking CV and Cover Letter?
Now you are ready to start searching for job
This section of our website tells you where to look for job vacancies and outlines
networking opportunities – a very common method for finding jobs in New Zealand.
It also looks at the basic guidelines for applying for jobs, talking to employers and how to
prepare for job interviews.
WHEN JOB SEARCHING REMEMBER:
 Be open to job opportunities.
 Look at a number of different areas and locations, remember New Zealand
companies are generally small so try not to limit yourself to big corporate
employers.
 Do not dismiss jobs that are not labeled as full-time – contract positions can be
for 12 months or longer and smaller contracts and part-time positions can lead to
bigger roles and opportunities.
 If you get a rejection letter, remind yourself that job was not the right one for you.
 If the letter has any information about why you were not chosen or about a gap in
your skills, use the information to prepare for your next job application.
 If you got to the interview stage and did not receive any feedback about why you
were not chosen, go back to the employer and ask if they can give you any
advice to help your job search.
- 23 -
YOUR JOB SEARCH STRATEGY
Where you look for a job will depend on what kind of job you are looking for, and in what
industry.
80% of jobs are never advertised. Newspaper advertisements and online job sites are
only two of many places to look for jobs.
Think about where jobs in your industry are advertised and who you should contact.
 Contact your industry body (LINK to industry body list in “Know your industry”)
 Some industries also have their own job sites. Use a search engine like
www.google.co.nz to look for specific job sites.
 Some of the bigger employers advertise jobs on their own company website, so find
out who the major companies and organisations are in your industry and check their
websites frequently for updates.
ADVERTISED JOBS
Online jobs ads
 Online sites allow you to search by industry, position, location and whether or not
you want a full-time or part-time position.
 Many of the sites make the application process very simple as well, allowing you
to store a CV online and send it straight to an employer when you find a job you
are interested in – be aware that this means you are not adapting your CV to suit
the positions you apply for.
 Sites like www.seek.co.nz also let you set up “job alerts” which tell you when a
job in your industry/profession is being advertised.
http://www.worksite.govt.nz/
http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz/lists/vacancy/vaclist.htm
www.netcheck.co.nz
www.seek.co.nz
Newspaper job ads
 The New Zealand Herald (nationwide) lists job vacancies every day, and has
particularly strong offerings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in the
Careers or Workplace section.
 Regional newspapers such as the Otago Daily Times
 Community/local newspapers, these papers are often free and delivered in the
post. This is a particularly good option for job seekers looking for small, local
positions.
Notice boards
 Look out for notices in shop windows, and notice boards outside supermarkets
and community centres and inside universities and tertiary institutes.
 The advantage for the job seeker is that these positions often attract fewer
applicants and have a more immediate start date.
- 24 -

This is only suitable for job seekers looking for more junior roles.
- 25 -
QUIZ
Question:
Farrah is a 20 year old migrant looking to start her first job in administration. The best
place for her to look is:
a) www.netcheck.co.nz
b) Notice boards and community newspapers
c) She won’t need to look; she’ll hear of something. NZ has lots of jobs right now!
Answer: b)
A job will not come and find you! You must search and put in the effort. For a first time
junior level job, you should start by looking at Notice Boards and in community
newspapers. Don’t limit yourself to only looking on-line as these sites have very high
application rates and therefore increase the number of competitors.
NETWORKING
Industry expos are a great place to meet possible employers. Go prepared:
 Dress professionally.
 Express your interest in the industry and ask for information about the local
industry.
 If there is an opportunity, ask them where you should look and who you should
contact to find a job in their industry.
 If an employer offers to have a look at your CV, make sure you write down their
details and send it to him or her immediately with a brief note reminding them
who you are and what you are looking for.
Call employers in your industry.
 Introduce yourself and ask for a few minutes of their time to discuss the New
Zealand job market.
 Choose a good time for these phone calls – Mondays and mornings are
generally very busy, so try later in the week in the early afternoon.
 When an employer agrees to meet you, use the time to find out about the local
industry and what kind of skills required.
 Be professional – do not ask for a job or complain about the local job market.
Other contacts
 Contacting people in your industry is a great way to network but don’t forget
about your own contacts.
 List everyone you know in New Zealand and tell them you are looking for a job.
Tell them what you are looking for and ask them if they know anyone you can
contact about work like this.
- 26 -
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Friends
Family
Tutors
Neighbours
Parents of your children’s friends.
Bank managers
Religious associates
Sporting contacts
If you are given a name to contact, prepare what you are going to say before you ring
and/or meet the person, and be confident. When you talk to them, use phrases like:
 I believe you may be able to help me
 I am in job-search mode
 I would appreciate if you would look at my CV and make referrals
 Can you suggest anyone I should talk to or where I should look for a position
When you use personal networks, be careful not to abuse relationships by demanding a
job or by taking up too much time.
CASE STUDY
Ali and Zenat each decide to attend a local IT conference. Both are well presented
and make a good impression to the IBM representative, Bob. After a quick
discussion with each candidate, Bob gives each applicant his business card.
A) Ali calls Bob the same day as the Expo, and begins asking numerous
detailed questions about the New Zealand IT industry. He tells Bob he needs a job
and e-mails Bob 2-3 times per day with his CV.
B) Zenat waits for Bob to settle back into work following the Expo. She
emails Bob a brief introduction, which reminds him of her, and asks for a good time
to call him for a 5 minute informational interview. Zenat leaves her contact details in
her e-mails.
Bob deletes Ali’s emails and stops taking his phone calls, remembering his poor
timing and desperate approach.
Bob remembers Zenat and phones her right away to find out more. He is impressed
by her professionalism
- 27 -
APPLYING FOR JOBS
As soon as you find a job you are interested in applying for, take down the details,
research the position based on any information you have (for example the name of the
company) and apply immediately.







Read the job advertisement very carefully.
Write down the skills and qualifications the employer is asking for and make sure you
address these in your CV and cover letter.
Do not use the closing application date as an excuse to delay getting your
application ready – you want to be first not last to apply.
Before sending your application recheck your spelling and grammar and make sure
someone else has checked it for you.
Apply the way you have been asked to. If it says email only, do not post an
application.
You may follow your application with a phone call after a few days but keep it brief.
Do not phone the company if it expressly asks candidates not to.
Record your application and the details of the job in your “job application log” so you
can remember what you have applied for.
JOB APPLICATION LOG
You may apply for twenty jobs before you find the right one, so it is very important you
keep track of what you have applied for.
A job application log will help you remember all the important details about jobs you
have applied for. Keep your log near the phone, so when an employer calls you about
one of your job applications you can quickly figure out which job it is and what skills and
qualifications you need to focus on.
Every time you apply for a job you need to keep a record of:
 The job title/ name of the position
 The name of the company (if known)
 The name of the contact you applied to (if known)
 The date you applied for the job
 The closing date for applications (this will give you some idea of when you could
be contacted)
 A copy of the job advertisement for the position (if you are responding to an
internet or newspaper advertisement)
 Your application, including your cover letter and CV
 Any correspondence you receive about the job
 A list of the key skills and qualities that the job requires and a matching list of
your skills and relevant experience – this information can be used if you get a
initial phone interview and to prepare for a face-to-face interview.
- 28 -
TALKING TO EMPLOYERS
While you are job searching, your home phone and cell phone become business
phones.
Your family will be supporting you in your job search, so explain to them how important it
is for them to answer the phone clearly and to take specific messages if you are not
available.
 When you are job hunting, always answer your phone professionally, politely and in
English. Ask your family and friends to do the same.
 Script a polite, professional response for your family, when answering your calls.
“No I am sorry, Zenat is not available right now. Can I take a message and get her
to call you as soon as she gets back?”
 Leave your mobile phone number by the phone, so your family can pass it on to the
employer to contact you directly.
 Return calls immediately. If the employer is not available when you return their call,
leave a clear message and keep trying.
CASE STUDY
An employer has looked through all his applications and decided to make some followup phone calls. He is very interested in Ali and Zenat for the position of “site engineer”.
A) Ali answers the phone clearly and confidently but when the employer introduces
himself, Ali cannot remember which job he applied for with the company. The
employer asks Ali why he wants the job and what skills he has to offer the job. Ali still
cannot remember what the job is so he can only give a vague answer and he sounds
unsure.
B) Zenat answers the phone clearly and confidently, with her job log in front of her.
When the employer says who it is, Zenat quickly finds the right application and
answers that she is very pleased to hear from him as the position as a site engineer
for his company is something she believes she is well suited to. When the employer
asks her what skills she has Zenat is very specific and confident.
The employer tells Zenat he would like to see her for a face-to-face interview. Ali does
not get an interview.
- 29 -
INTERVIEW SKILLS
PHONE INTERVIEW
 Employers may “phone screen” a number of applicants before deciding who to
interview face to face.
 If the employer rings you it means they are interested, which is good news.
 You may have no warning the call is coming – so prepare your answers when
you create your application.
 Stay calm and speak clearly and slowly.
 Refer to your job application log so you know the skills the job requires and the
skills and experience you have that match what the employer wants.
 Listen carefully to what the employer asks you. Answer the question and do not
provide a whole lot of extra information that has not been asked for.
 Stand confidently and smile, as this will affect the way you sound.
FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEW
You will know this is coming, so there are no excuses for being unprepared. The best
way to prepare for an interview is to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW:
 Make sure you have the correct date and the time of the interview.
 When the appointment is made ask who the interviewer will be and if there will be
more than one person (i.e. a panel interview).
 Make sure you know where the company is and how to get there. Make sure you
have arranged transport and that you know how long it will take to get there.
 Decide what you are going to wear and get it ready.
 Research the company and the role. You may be asked questions about the
company and why you want to work there.
 Read the CV and cover letter you prepared for the job and take note of your skills
and achievements. The employer has chosen to meet you because of your
application and they will want to talk to you about what you have written.
 Think about the questions you might be asked and think about how you will answer
them.
 Be prepared to give specific examples of each of your stated skills and personal
attributes.
 Question: “Your CV says you have excellent analytical skills. Could you tell me
about a time when you used your analytical skills?”
 Question: “Your CV says you have great customer service skills. Can you give
me an example of dealing with a difficult customer?”
ON THE DAY:
 Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview.
 You do not want to be late nor do you want to arrive too early. Be at the reception
desk 10 minutes prior to the interview.
- 30 -
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




Greet the interviewer by name and introduce yourself with a firm handshake.
Remind yourself you have the skills for the job.
Do not rush through your answers. Take your time and speak clearly.
Listen carefully to what is being asked and answer the question.
Do not give “yes” or “no” answers, unless the employer is just checking a piece of
information with you.
Do not be repetitive or babble – too much talking may bore the interviewer.
Make sure your answers have a beginning, middle and end – concise and articulate
answers will impress the listener.
Be prepared to ask your own questions. Intelligent questions can help to show your
knowledge of the job, the company and the industry. Questions also show you are
interested in the company and the job and that you have been thinking about the
position.
PERSONALITY
If you are asked for an interview, the employer will already believe you have the skills to
do the job. A lot of what a face-to-face interviewer is trying to find out is if you will fit into
the company – your personality.
In a small business or small team in a large company, the personalities of the different
people are very important. Will the team get along with each other? Is this someone I
want to spend 40 hours a week with?
What to do:
 Relax, smile and be genuinely interested in finding out about this person and
company.
 Enjoy yourself, interviews can be fun – they are a learning experience and an
opportunity to meet new people.
 Be confident about your skills and experience.
 Be prepared to talk about things other than work – your family, the traffic, the
weather, parking, sports, the office décor, the beach, almost anything that will
interest you and the interviewer.
 Humour is a big part of kiwi culture, particularly if you make jokes about yourself.
 Your objective is to make friends with the interviewer.
 If there is more than one interviewer, make eye contact with everyone around the
table.
What not to do:
 Be so nervous that you are unable to express yourself.
 Be shy about using your English – words are always better than silence.
- 31 -
QUIZ
Question:
You arrive 10 minutes before your interview well dressed and confident in your
research. Your interview starts off very well, but you begin to have trouble
understanding the questions due to the accent of the interviewer.
You should:
a) Guess: nod and smile, and answer based on what you think they asked.
b) Politely ask, “would you mind repeating the question please?” If necessary, rephrase what’s being asked to clarify your understanding.
c) Respond, “what?” and “pardon” throughout your interview; it’s not your fault she
speaks too quickly. She should really learn to slow down!
Answer: b)
Do not smile and nod if you do not understand the question! You are making a fatal
error by demonstrating that you will not ask questions and that you will make mistakes,
rather than clarifying instructions. You will also appear to have very low
comprehension, as the employer may assume you don’t know how to ask for
clarification.
- 32 -
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Practice and preparation are the keys to a successful interview.
There are hundreds of questions an employer might ask, but they are all trying to assess
your skills and attributes, how you work and if you will fit into their company.
Answer positively and truthfully and stick to the question. Keep in mind the type of job
and the type of company you are talking to when you answer the questions.
Common Questions
 Why did you apply for this job?
 What skills do you have that make you suitable for this job?
 Briefly, talk to me about your work history.
 You have previously worked in a very different working environment, what do you
see the differences as being? How have you prepared for those differences?
 What achievements are you most proud of in your career so far?
 Do you prefer to work in a team or by yourself?
 What have you been criticised for at work? How do you respond to criticism?
 Are you a leader or a follower?
 Tell me about a difficult situation at work and how you dealt with it?
 Where do you see yourself in five years?
 How do you cope with stress?
 What would you describe as your biggest weakness?
 Why did you decide to work in New Zealand?
 Tell me what you know about this company and the job we are offering?
 What parts of the job we are offering excite you?
 How would you describe yourself?
 What do you want to know about the job and the company?
Some guidelines on how to answer these questions are available at:
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/st_services/careers/job_hunting/common_interview_questions.htm
l
QUIZ
Question:
A SKILL is the ability to do something. An ATTRIBUTE is a personality quality. NZ
employers need to see a good balance of both when they meet you.
Question: Which of the following are attributes?
a) Touch Typist 65 wpm
b) Independent
c) Chartered Accountant
Answer: b)
- 33promote
During your interview it is a good idea to
your attributes, as well as your
skills. Some common attributes
are
independence,
team player, strong work ethic,
welcoming personality,
discretion,
approachable….
© 2011 Auckland
Chamber
of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.
Do not only focus on your skills or you could be overlooked.
STARTING YOUR NEW JOB
Starting a new job is an exciting and sometimes intimidating step – especially if it is your
first job in a new country.
This section contains some basic information about what you can expect in your first
week, coping with the uncertainties of a new job and what your rights are as an
employee in New Zealand.
- 34 -
NEW ZEALAND EMPLOYMENT LAW
Employment Agreements
Every employee must have a written employment agreement. It can be either an
individual agreement or a collective agreement.
There are some provisions that must be included in employment agreements by law,
and there are also a number of minimum conditions that must be met regardless of
whether they are included in agreements. Employment law also provides a framework
for the process of negotiating additional entitlements.
Minimum pay
You must be paid at least the minimum wage if you are:

a full-time employee

a part-time or casual employee

a home-worker, or

paid totally or partly by commission or on a piece rate.
There are three minimum wage rates:

the adult minimum wage

the new entrants’ minimum wage, and

the training minimum wage.
The adult minimum wage applies to employees aged 16 years and over, who are not
new entrants or trainees. New entrants are 16 and 17 year olds who have been
employed for less than 200 hours or three months; who are not supervising or training
other workers; and who are not trainees. Trainees are employees aged 16 or over who
are required by their employment agreements to undertake at least 60 credits a year in a
registered training programme.
A small number of people hold an exemption from the minimum wage.
Minimum pay rates are reviewed each year. Information about the current minimum
wage levels is available on the Department of Labour’s website at
www.ers.dol.govt.nz/pay/
Your employer generally needs to get your written consent to make deductions from
your pay, or to pay your wages in a form other than cash. This consent can be included
in your written employment agreement. Some deductions, for example PAYE personal
tax, student loan and child support, are required by law and do not need your written
consent. Your employer can’t pay employees differently if the only difference is whether
they are male or female.
- 35 -
Break Entitlements
You are entitled to the following rest breaks and meal breaks during a work period:

one 10-minute paid rest break if you work for 2 hours or more but not more than
4 hours

one 10-minute paid rest break and one unpaid 30-minute meal break if you work
more than 4 hours but not more than 6 hours, and

two 10-minute paid rest breaks and one unpaid 30-minute meal break if you work
more than 6 hours but not more than 8 hours.
These requirements begin over again if your work period is more than 8 hours.
Employees and employers can agree to the timing of rest and meal breaks. If they
cannot agree on the timing, the rest and meal breaks must be evenly spread throughout
the work period where reasonable and practicable.
Employers and employees can agree to more and/or longer entitlements to rest and
meal breaks.
The new rest and meal break minimums will not apply to employees who already get
more or longer breaks under other laws, or are required to take breaks under other laws
(for example, drivers covered by the rest break requirements in the Land Transport Rule:
Work Time and Logbooks 2007).
Employers are also required to provide appropriate breaks and facilities for employees
who wish to breastfeed or express breast milk while at work or during work time where
this is reasonable and practicable under the circumstances. In determining what is
reasonable and practicable, employers can take into account their operating
environment and resources. These breaks are to be paid only if the employer and
employee agree they will be. Employers and employees can agree to use a rest or meal
break for the purposes of infant feeding.
More information about break entitlements is available on the Department of Labour’s
website at: www.ers.govt.nz/relationships/breaks.html.
Annual Holidays
You are entitled to four weeks' paid annual holidays at the end of each year of
employment with any one employer. If you leave your employer before completing a full
year of employment, you should get 8% of your gross earnings, less any holiday pay you
have already received.
You can agree to holiday pay on a “pay as you go” basis if you have:


a job for a fixed-term of less than 12 months
a casual job where you work so irregularly that it isn’t practical for your employer
to give you four weeks’ annual holiday.
This means that your employment agreement has to say clearly that this is how you will
be paid and the amount paid. Holiday pay must be at least 8% of your gross earnings
and recorded separately on your pay slip.
- 36 -
More information about annual holidays is available on the Department of Labour’s
website at www.ers.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/
Public holidays
There are 11 public holidays each year. If they fall on days you would normally work, you
are entitled to be paid for that day, even if you do not actually work on that day.

If you work on a public holiday, you:

must be paid at least time-and-a-half for the time you work

are also entitled to an alternative holiday, if the public holiday falls on a day that
you would normally work.

More information about public holidays, and when they occur, is available on the
Department of Labour’s website at www.ers.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/
Sick leave
After six months’ employment with an employer, you are entitled to five days' paid sick
leave a year. You can take sick leave for yourself or to care for your spouse or partner,
dependent child or parent. Unused sick leave can accumulate up to 20 days.
After three consecutive days of sick leave, an employer can request proof of the illness
such as a medical certificate. Sick leave cannot be exchanged for payment and are not
paid out at the end of the employment relationship.
Special eligibility tests apply for people with variable hours and in intermittent
employment. See our web page at www.ers.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/ for more
information.
Bereavement leave
After six months’ employment with an employer, you are entitled to paid bereavement
leave of:

three days on the death of a spouse or partner, parent, child, sibling,
grandparent, grandchild, or your spouse’s or partner’s parent, and

one day if your employer accepts that you’ve suffered a bereavement on the
death of any other person not included above.
You do not have to take all of your bereavement leave entitlement at the same time.
Special eligibility tests apply for people with variable hours and in intermittent
employment. See our web page at: www.ers.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/ for more
information.
Parental leave
You may be entitled to parental leave if you have worked for the same employer for an
average of at least 10 hours per week, and at least one hour in every week or 40 hours
in every month, for either the immediately preceding six or 12 months before the
expected due date of your baby or the date you first assume care of a child you intend
adopting.
If you meet the six-month employment eligibility criteria or have been self-employed for
six months immediately preceding the expected due date of your baby or the date you
- 37 -
assume care of a child you intend to adopt, you may be entitled to 14 weeks’ paid
parental leave (some or all of which can be transferred to an eligible spouse/partner).
If you meet the 12-month eligibility criteria, you may also be entitled to up to 52 weeks’
extended parental leave (less any maternity leave taken), which can also be shared with
a spouse/partner if they meet the 12-month eligibility criteria.
A spouse/partner with six months’ service may be entitled to an additional one week’s
unpaid paternity/partner’s leave, and a spouse/partner with 12 months’ service may be
entitled to two weeks’ unpaid paternity/partner’s leave. Up to 10 days’ unpaid special
leave for pregnancy-related reasons is available for a pregnant mother before maternity
leave begins.
It is illegal for an employer to either dismiss or discriminate against an employee on
grounds of pregnancy or for taking parental leave.
Other leave rights
You may also be entitled to other rights in some situations. For example:

If you are injured in an accident at work or somewhere else you may be eligible
for accident compensation. Your nearest ACC office can give you information about
this (see the blue pages in the front of the phone book) or call ACC Claims Enquiries
on 0800 101 996.

If you do full-time or part-time voluntary training in the armed forces, you may be
able to get unpaid leave.
Flexible working arrangements
Employees with caring responsibilities have a statutory right to request a variation to
their hours of work, days of work, or place of work.
To be eligible you must be caring for someone and have been employed by your
employer for at least six months prior to making the request. When making the request,
you must explain how the variation will help you to provide better care for the person
concerned. Employers must consider a request and can refuse it only on certain
grounds.
Equal pay & equal rights
Your employer can’t pay employees differently if the only difference is whether they are
male or female.
Also, in most cases, your employer cannot discriminate in hiring or firing, pay, training or
promotion because of your race, colour, national or ethnic origin, sex or sexual
orientation, marital or family status, employment status, age, religious belief or political
opinion, or if you have a disability, or participate in certain union activities.
Fixed-term employees
You can agree to be employed for a fixed-term rather than being a permanent employee.
Your job may be for a certain time (e.g. for six months) or until something happens (e.g.
when the project ends) or until work is completed (e.g. until the fruit is picked). You have
the same rights as other employees, except that your job will finish at the end of the
fixed-term. Your employer can only offer you fixed-term employment where:
- 38 -

there are genuine reasons for it (like seasonal work, project work, or where you
are filling in for a permanent employee on leave), and

your employer tells you the reasons and how or when the employment will end,
and you agree to this in your employment agreement.
Like other employment agreements, fixed-term agreements must be in writing.
Employees who are on trial periods of up to 90 days
A new employer – who employs 19 or fewer employees – can provide you with an offer
of employment that includes a trial period. A trial period is voluntary, and must be agreed
to in writing in good faith as part of your employment agreement. A trial period may be
agreed to only if you have not previously been employed by the employer.
If you are given notice of dismissal before the end of a trial period, you cannot raise a
personal grievance on the grounds of unjustified dismissal. You may, however, raise a
personal grievance on other grounds, such as discrimination or harassment or
unjustified action by the employer that disadvantages you.
If any employment relationship problem arises during the trial period, or if the employee
is dismissed, the employee and the employer can access mediation services.
Employees on trial periods are entitled to all other minimum employment rights in
relation to, for example, health and safety, employment agreements, minimum pay,
annual holidays, public holidays, leave and equal pay.
Extra rights for employees doing certain catering, cleaning, caretaking, laundry
and orderly work
Special rules apply to employees who do this type of work where their employer’s
business is sold or their work is contracted out or given to a new contractor. You can
obtain further information by visiting www.dol.govt.nz or by contacting the Department of
Labour on 0800 20 90 20.
Union membership rights
You have the right to decide whether you want to join a union and, if so, which union. It
is illegal for an employer to put unreasonable pressure on you to join or to not join a
union, or to discriminate against you because you joined or didn't join a union.
It is also illegal for anyone else to put unreasonable pressure on an employee to join or
to not join a union.
Union members may be nominated by their union to undertake employment relations
education on paid leave, and have rights to attend paid union meetings. You can also
require your employer to deduct union fees from your wages and pay them to your
union. You can ask your union about this.
Employment relationship problems
Sometimes you might be worried about something at work. Maybe you’re not sure if your
employer is paying you enough, or letting you have the leave you should get. Perhaps
- 39 -
you think your employer has done something unfair, or hasn’t stopped something unfair
happening.
First, you should check your facts, and talk about the problem with your union or a family
member or friend, or with an advisor. You could either visit www.dol.govt.nz or contact
the Department of Labour on freephone 0800 20 90 20 for information about your rights
and obligations, and what to do. You should talk about the problem with your employer.
You could take a union representative, a family member, a friend or other representative
to support you. If you and your employer can’t resolve the problem by talking, a mediator
or a labour inspector may be able to help. The service is free – call 0800 20 90 20 to find
out more.
- 40 -
QUIZ
Question:
During your interview, your employer asks your age and if you are married. These
questions make you uneasy.
What should you respond?
a) You tell the employer that it is none of her business
b) You provide your age and say that you are single, ignoring your own concerns
about the question.
c) You smile and gently suggest you are in excellent health with a stable home life,
which makes you a great candidate for the job.
Answer: c)
Although you have every right not to answer the question, it is better to handle the
situation politely. Some employers may not be aware of employment legislature.
- 41 -
STARTING YOUR NEW JOB








If you are feeling nervous about your new job remind yourself that the employer
chose you because they thought you were the best person for the job and because
you had the right skills. So, you can do it.
Get a good sleep the night before you start your job. In the first week and especially
on the first day you will be learning a lot – the names of the people you work with,
company procedures, how to use equipment and all the tasks that your job requires
– so you cannot afford to be tired.
Set your alarm clock. You do not want to be late to work in your first week (or ever!)
so give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Choose what you are going to wear the
night before and have it ready to put on. If you are travelling by public transport make
sure you know the timetable and what time you need to catch the bus or train to get
to your workplace on time. You should practice taking public transport to your work
before you actually start the job.
To help you remember all the information you learn in the first few days and weeks
you should carry a notebook and take note of important details about your job and
the people you work with. You may receive some basic training when you start your
job and it will help you remember and use the information if you take some notes.
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – it is a great way to learn about your
new job and your new company. If no one is available to answer your questions right
away, keep a list of them and then ask your manager or colleague when they next
have some time.
You may meet the people you will be working with for the first time. Remember that
you will be spending a lot of time with them from now on, so make an effort to smile
and be friendly and to talk to them. You should also learn the names of the people
you work with and learn how to say them correctly.
If you have not already signed a job contract, it is likely you will do this on your first
day. Your contract will contain information about what you are being paid, how much
leave you are allowed, what your job requires you to do and how much notice you
have to give your employer before you leave. Read it carefully and make sure your
contract gives you at least the basic rights listed under the “New Zealand
Employment Law” section.
If you have not already, you will probably be expected to fill out paperwork to enable
your employer to process your pay and your tax. To make this process as easy as
possible you should have your IRD number and your bank account number ready to
give to your employer. See the “Before you begin” section. Having these details
ready will ensure there are no delays for your first well-earned wages.
Good luck on your job search and congratulations on taking a practical step towards
your New Zealand working career.
- 42 -

NZ JOB SEARCH STRATEGY

Transcription

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