Career and Employment Service - specific information for international students
Introduction
As an international student at Massey you are welcome to access the full range of careers advice, information and resources available on the Masser campuses. Career-related re sources include reference books, journals, audio-visual materials and articles on finding and applying for work or further study in New Zealand and in a host of other countries.
Our service also includes the option of meeting with a careers adviser to discuss issues that include choosing a career; finding job opportunities; researching roles and employers; identifying options that might use your subject; development and review of your CV; interview skills and other related career matters.
In addition, you may find the information and links that follow to be of interest to you. In addition, remember that help is available from Massey International and from the university's International Student Support team.
New Zealand's job market
When applying for work, employers will expect you to have researched them and the role for which you are applying. In addition, it is important that you know something about the sector in which they operate. Indeed, sector information may well be a factor in your choice of a career.
So too will be an understanding and analysis of factors such as your skills, values, interests and personality. The information and resources in the 'what might my career options be?' section of this site will help with this self-analysis.
Having considered the types of work that might suit and interest you, the following websites will give you a detailed insight into the New Zealand economy; sectors that are growing or contracting; skill shortage areas and related topics
- Immigration New Zealand - Before applying for work it is vital that you check out the latest immigration regulations and Immigration New Zealand's information on the skills needed by the country; on finding a job and on the work environment.
- Labour Market Reports from the Department of Labour - These incorporate analyses of labour market information and future trends from a number of sources and provide timely and accurate summaries of information about key developments in the labour market.
- The New Zealand Treasury - Select this link for access to the Treasury's annual New Zealand Economic and Financial Overview. This describes the structure, performance and history of the New Zealand economy.
Can I work in New Zealand once my studies are over?
It should be stressed from the outset that many New Zealand employers will only consider job applicants who hold New Zealand citizenship or permanent residence. However, it may be possible for you to work in New Zealand after graduation if you meet the current criteria set out by the New Zealand Immigration Service. It is strongly recommended that you access these criteria through their website or by contacting them directly.
Although employers will be interested in this they will also look at the quality of the application that you have submitted; your abilities in spoken and written English; the extent to which you have acclimatised to life in New Zealand; how you present yourself in person; your self-confidence and maturity; your motivation for the role and for working for them; the extent to which your career plans are well thought out and the relevant skills that you can offer them.
Vital too, will be the strategies that you adopt to find work. These may well be different in New Zealand to those that you would use in your ‘home’ country.
Can I work in New Zealand during my studies?
Again it is vital that you check the current Immigration New Zealand regulations before seeking work during your studies.
How do I find work?
Advertised jobs - Any job search that you undertake should include accessing vacancies that have been advertised on the internet and/or in the press. The links that follow should be useful for your job search:
The ‘hidden’ job market - You may be surprised to learn that a high percentage of job opportunities in New Zealand are never advertised. Instead, many people find work through connections that they have - their networks - or by directly approaching organisations to enquire about possible opportunities.
For more information on this you should access:
As has been stressed, it is vital that you do research before submitting a job application or before approaching an organisation or individual to look for work. This research will be into the sector, the organisation and the role. Furthermore, you will have to develop job applications suited to the New Zealand job market and to prepare well for possible interviews. For help with this see:
What do New Zealand employers look for in job applicants?
There is a practice in New Zealand that ‘employers choose people not papers’. What this means is that although your subject of study may be important, so too will other factors. Perhaps the most important of these will be ‘will you fit in?’
It should be stressed that the factors that are important will depend upon the organisation; the role and the people deciding who to interview and appoint. These factors could, however, include:
- Your subject, level of qualification (e.g. degree; diploma; masters etc) and grades
- The relevance of your knowledge and skills to the job concerned
- Your competence in spoken and written English
- Whether or not you have work experience and, if you have, the relevance of it to the role you now seek.
- The extent to which you have integrated into New Zealand
Where possible, you should try to find work experience whilst you are studying. This could be part-time; vacation work or voluntary (i.e. unpaid) work. Employers value this experience and it can be a useful way for you to make contacts; to demonstrate that you have had contact with New Zealanders; to develop your skills; to try out different work practices and environments; to generate and explore career ideas and to practice your English. You may find Massey University CareerHub useful when seeking such work but should also make contact with Student Job Search.
English competence must be seen as proficiency in speaking, writing, reading and listening. Any opportunities that you have to develop this proficiency must be taken up - e.g. work; by joining clubs and societies; my mixing with native speakers of English; by using the university’s language services etc. It is worth noting that many New Zealand employers have a preference for job applicants who do not have a very foreign sounding accent.
Finally, it is also worth stressing that most organisations in New Zealand are very small. As a result, potential employers will want to see what you can do for them and that you can make a positive contribution early. As a result, think of everything that you have that might be relevant to them - your skills; knowledge; experience; awareness of how NZ workplaces operate and are structured; motivation; commitment; energy and a good command of English for example.
Do you plan to return home?
Are you an international student from one of the countries listed below? If you are, and you are planning to return home, these guides may be of use to you: They were written for international students in the UK but are still a valuable source of information and advice.
Country Guide to Australia (622 KB)
