How can American citizens find a job in New Zealand?

In comparison to other countries, American citizens will find it relatively easier to find a job in New Zealand.

Americans are known for being well-qualified, and the American labour market is considered vastly comparable to the New Zealand job market.

The fact that you will not have to worry about a language barrier will give you another advantage.

However, there are a few distinct differences specific to jobseeking in New Zealand, and being aware of them will make a huge difference to your job hunt success.

Having a partner on the ground in New Zealand will help you identify job openings and approach the key players in the job market: employers and recruiters.

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The 'Hidden Job Market'

In New Zealand, only 30% of all job opportunities are advertised.

The remaining 70% are not visible on job boards, platforms or company websites.

These 70% of job openings represent the Hidden Job Market.

For you as a jobseeker this means that you will miss out on 70% of all available jobs, if you don't know how to tap into the Hidden Job Market, and it also translates into tougher competition for the remaining 30% of 'visible' jobs.

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View our short video about the Hidden Job Market in New Zealand and its implications on your job hunt success.

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Networking is key to accessing the Hidden Job Market.

We are well-connected in the New Zealand job market and will make a difference when approaching New Zealand employers and recruiters.

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Feedback from a successful American client:

"When we first started our job hunt with NZIC we thought the hidden job market was a bizarre concept.

We worked with our Job Search Consultant and found the perfect role in our professions by learning how to network and approach key players in our industry.

It worked! 

Our strong advice to anybody looking for a job in New Zealand: Work with NZIC and follow every single piece of advice you will be given.

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Our Job Search Consultant says:

"Developing a strategy on how to access the hidden job market through networking should be on every job seeker's list.

Once your Licensed Immigration Adviser has identified your visa pathway to working in NZ, your Job Search Specialists will work with you on uncovering the many less obvious opportunities of the Hidden Job Market."

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America's job market is huge in comparison to the New Zealand job market.

Strategies that have worked for you in America may not be successful here.

‍In New Zealand you might only get one chance at impressing the employer of your choice.

Sending out 100 generic CVs and cover letter templates, or simply relying on job boards can cause more harm than good in New Zealand.

Getting this right is of the essence and having a strong job search strategy right from the start will allow you to use your full potential when you target a specific role.

‍You need someone you can trust and who knows the ins and outs of the NZ job market.

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Do you have what it takes to impress New Zealand employers?

If your previous job hunt was in America, your professional profile is probably optimized for the local job market in the USA, using American terminology to describe your professional background.

Will your professional expertise be recognized and fully appreciated in New Zealand?

Do you have a convincing Cover Letter that will impress on the New Zealand job market?

An employer takes about 30 seconds to read a résumé before deciding if they should shortlist your application.  Experienced recruiters will take even less time.

For your job application to go through to the next stage of the recruitment process, it is vital that you present your résumé, in New Zealand we call it a CV, and your cover letter in a format that is appreciated and understood in New Zealand.  

Remember: Passing the 30-second test is crucial if you want to be successful with your job search.

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Maj Hallwass, Job Search Consultant at NZIC, shares her insight:

"Do not start your job application with a 'Generic' CV.

Your CV is your first impression that could lead you to that perfect job and ultimately realise your dreams of moving to New Zealand.

Take your time in developing a plan of how to write your CV.

You need compelling and proven examples of achievements. You need to present these facts in a clear and precise way without over cluttering your CV."

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Do you have an All-Star LinkedIn profile?

• LinkedIn has over 760 million members in more than 200 countries worldwide.
• Searching for a skilled person with a specific area of experience through this huge social media platform is now common practice.
• It is no surprise to see that 87% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn.
• 122 million people have scored job interviews through this platform.
• In New Zealand there were 2.2 million users in December 2020, which accounts for 45% of the country's entire population!
  These are amazing numbers, and it becomes very clear that, when used correctly, LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for a job seeker.

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But using LinkedIn comes with a number of challenges:

With 45% of the entire NZ population using LinkedIn, it is obvious that it will be paramount to build a profile that will stand out from the crowd. 

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Our Job Search Consultant says:

"Don't underestimate the importance of your LinkedIn Profile.

New Zealand employers use LinkedIn as one of their main candidate search tools.

Having a high-ranking profile puts you ahead of your competition.

So creating an all-star LinkedIn profile will make a huge difference for the success of your job hunt."

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How can NZIC help?

At NZIC, we are well-connected in the New Zealand job market.

We have a large network of key players, employers and recruiters and the know-how to target key positions in New Zealand.  

‍Find out more about our Job Seeker Service and why networking and connecting are the keys to accessing the full potential of the New Zealand job market.

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