Getting a job when you graduate

Graduates from the University of Auckland are employed in every sector of industry and commerce. In New Zealand the graduate job market is made up of mostly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) – approximately 97% of New Zealand companies employ less than 20 people. And SMEs with less than 20 employees account for 40% of New Zealand’s economic output.

It is important to work on improving your English language skills if English is not your first language. Try to take every opportunity you can to interact with native English speakers and to read and listen to English. Joining a few University clubs is a great way to meet other students and improve your English.

Besides communication skills, employers are interested in your career motivation, academic achievement, personal qualities and potential.

Graduate training programmes are usually offered by bigger employers. These programmes provide you with structured training usually over one or more years. You may work towards further relevant professional qualifications (for example, in accounting, actuary, valuation or marketing). Applications are usually open at the beginning of the year before you start work.

Direct entry positions can be offered by any type of employer and are advertised at any time of the year, whenever a position becomes available. You may be offered training towards a professional qualification, depending on the type of work you are doing. Some of these jobs may require prior experience.

Other options to gain experience in New Zealand after graduation include temporary work, volunteering, or through a paid internship (Visa dependent).

• Find out more about internships and work experience

There is no definitive list of companies in New Zealand that recruit international students, but with a little research you can start to identify likely employers. Some job boards (e.g. NxtStep, Seek and Indeed) have listings of jobs for international applicants, though some experience is often required as the jobs are not specifically for graduates. 

Some employers are unsure of what the visa regulations are for international students, so you may need to let them know. Common misconceptions that employers may have include:

• The process is too complicated
• Recent graduates are not entitled to work in New Zealand unless the company sponsors them
  

To help you communicate with employers, you can start with the following sentence in job applications (adapted and expanded to suit your particular visa and circumstances):

"I currently hold a student visa which allows me to work [insert number of hours] hours per week during term time, full-time during holidays and I can apply for a visa to work in New Zealand for up to [insert number of years] years after my studies."

• For up-to-date information on visas visit New Zealand Immigration
• For personal advice contact the University's International Office