New Zealand has a unique working culture as most enterprises assume small business culture—this means that you will be tasked to be quick to learn, take up new responsibilities and take on high-responsibility roles much sooner than what you would probably expect.

So how can a foreigner land a job in New Zealand? Like many countries, start your job hunt online through websites like Workhere, Working In, TradeMe or Seek.

If you want to start your job hunt with your current expertise or industry in mind, go over the complete list of websites for job hunting (by industry) on the NZ government website.

Once you’ve found the job that piques your interest, do begin constructing your CV, New Zealand style. There are generally two types of resumes that is acceptable in the country, a skills-focused and a work-focused one.

Common fields expected from both formats include:

• contact information
• education
• name
• personal skills
• qualifications
• references
• technical skills
• work experience

Make sure to not include your birthday, age, pictures or martial status and religion.

If you do land a job interview, expect it to be informal, much like Kiwi culture. You could be interviewed by up to 4 people at any given time. Most interviews will look at how you will react to specific situations, so be prepared to articulate how you would solve a problem.

It’s always a good idea to do some networking. It is crucial to your job hunt as almost 80% of job vacancies won’t even be advertised and are filled up through word of mouth.

Here’s a list of minimum wages in New Zealand:

• 70 NZD (12 USD) per hour
• 60 NZD (94 USD) per day
• 708 NZD for a (467 USD) 40-hour week
• 1,416 NZD (934 USD) for an 80-hour fortnight

Most in-demand jobs in New Zealand: – Accountant – Anesthetic Technician – Arborist – Baker – Beekeeper – Building Contractor or Manager – Business Analyst – Chef – Data Analyst – Electrician – Engineers (Automotive, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Etc.) – Game Developer – Gynecologist or Obstetrician – Information Technology Manager – Medical Laboratory Scientist – Midwife – Physician – Project Manager – Psychologist – Purchasing/Supply Officer – Registered Nurse – Security Analyst – Software Developer – Systems Administrator – Tertiary Lecturers – Veterinarian It would be of your best interest to familiarize yourself with the business culture of New Zealand. Know that it is a country that values work-life balance, and that many companies only have 14 employees or less. The culture is more or less informal and every voice is heard. Hierarchy is rarely an issue as well. Being pro-active means that you will advance fast in the organization. Do ensure that you address everyone, even clients and bosses by their first names. The social security system in New Zealand does not rely on contributions as must social services are funded by the nation’s taxes. Here’s a list of all the benefits you can expect from the NZ government. Here’s a list of what those benefits are: – Unemployment or disability – Living expenses – Health and disability – Education and Training – Childcare Make it a Stress-Free Process with Our Essential Relocation Services There are four types of parental leave in New Zealand that is applied to female employees, their partners, spouses, foster parents or guardians who care for a child of 6 and below. Types of parental leaves: – Primary carer leave – Special leave – Partner’s leave – Extended leave A “primary carer leave” is for women who have recently given birth and their spouses. Caregivers for non-biological children through adoption (e.g., a grandparent) can also claim leave credits. Maternity leave in New Zealand is 22 weeks and is worth a maximum of 564.38 NZD (351.49 USD).