Sophia Houben: Thanks Kirsty. Being an immigrant myself, I know that moving to a new country can be really daunting, especially if you're trying to assimilate into a completely different culture as well. There's lots of little differences that you don't realize until you're actually there. But overall, you know, you will gain and learn so much from working in a new country and learning a new culture. So if you are thinking of moving to New Zealand, that's great. You will love it and you won't look back. So in this section, I will be covering how to get situated in New Zealand. Just some of the main things that you need to prepare if you are coming here to work. So first, let's talk work visas. New Zealand offers a popular working holiday visa program for young adults aged 18 to 30 and sometimes up to 35 from eligible countries to work and travel in New Zealand for up to 12 months. You know, if you're from Canada, that can be up to 23 months or up to 36 months if you're from the UK. So whether you will be eligible for a New Zealand working holiday visa depends on the bilateral agreements between New Zealand and your country. To get this visa, you'll also need to undergo a medical assessment and a police clearance to just demonstrate that you don't pose any health or security risks to New Zealand. You'll also need to demonstrate that you've got enough money to support you upon arrival in New Zealand. So while this may differ, you know, between person to person, it's generally advisable to have around four and a half grand to cover initial living expenses until securing employment. In the current market with employment being a little bit harder to secure, I would also recommend saving a bit more just so that you have a little bit more of that security and just for your own peace of mind as well. So similar to the Australian working holiday visa, you must ensure that you have the visa secured before your relocation. So just make sure that you get all of your paperwork done and wait for the approval to come through before booking your flights. So, you know, before actually coming to the country, it's important that you do a bit of research about our country. Just familiarize yourself with New Zealand's geography, culture, and job market to set realistic expectations. You'll also want to try and secure some accommodation as soon as possible. While you can stay somewhere temporarily when you first arrive, such as in a hostel for a few weeks while you do some flat viewings, you know, you'll want to consider securing something more permanent for the duration of your stay. So you can have a look at rental listings online, shared accommodations, flatmate sort of situations just to make sure that it's a smooth transition when you get here. So for flatting, it's really good. We always use Facebook pages and flatting pages. So definitely have a look on there. That's where a lot of people advertise their rooms. And New Zealanders use Trade Me a lot, which is an online platform that Kiwis use to buy and sell, including cars and properties. So you'll also want to have a look at your budget. So definitely estimate your expenses and create a bit of a budget so you can comfortably support yourself during your stay. For a lot of people moving over here, they have said that New Zealand ended up at being a lot more expensive than they initially expected, especially in terms of rent, groceries and petrol. You might think, you know, that we produce a lot of milk and meat here, but you know, a lot of that goes to overseas exports. And so the groceries that we have available to us do end up being a lot more expensive. So you'll definitely want to keep that in mind as well and just give yourself a bit of leeway. You'll also want to research some job opportunities. While the, the working holiday visa allows you to work in various industries, it's helpful to research job opportunities in your field of interest before arrival. So look onto job websites. We tend to use Seek a lot, look into recruitment agencies that might be able to help you and some networking platforms such as LinkedIn, just to get a sense of the employment landscape and potential job openings. You will also want to prepare your resume and cover letter just to tailor it to the New Zealand job market and the types of roles that you'd be looking for. But stay tuned on some more tips on how to do that during this webinar with Scott. And then if you drive, you'll need to apply for an international driver's license in your home country before coming over so that you can drive here. So in New Zealand, a lot of people don't know this, but it's pretty crucial to have a car because a lot of us smaller towns don't actually have public transport. And Auckland isn't a very walkable city. So, I mean, if you're moving to Wellington, you know, you can get away with, with not having a car, but just definitely look into getting an international driver's license. Cool. So now we're going to talk about, you know, you've arrived in New Zealand. What do you do now? So it's always a good idea to start off by setting up a bank account so that you can access your money. So, yeah, definitely have a look at all the different banks and see their offerings to find one that suits your needs the best. Be sure to bring along the necessary documents such as your passport and proof of address and anything else that you'll need to set up your account. You'll also need to sort out your tax code. So this isn't, you know, tax isn't the most exciting part of your adventure in New Zealand, but it's a crucial step. So as a working holiday maker, you are subject to New Zealand's taxation laws. So you'll need to get an IRD number, which is an Inland Revenue Department number. So it's essential for employers to deduct the correct amount of tax from your wages, essentially. And you can just apply for this, you know, after you've arrived in New Zealand online, but it's always good to get that out of the way as soon as possible so that, you know, you don't have any delays in your employment. And then you'll obviously want to get a phone number. So, you know, in today's connected world it's going to be important that you have a New Zealand phone number for, you know, when you're job hunting, it's good to have a New Zealand number on your CV. When you're arranging accommodation, people are going to want to call you and do references. And when you are just accessing essential services just in general. So consider getting a prepaid SIM card when you arrive, which offers the flexibility without tying you into a long-term contract. So we've got a few different mobile providers with competitive plans that you can look into. And one of the big reasons why you should get set up with a phone number is so that recruiters can call you and help you in your job hunt. So another important thing to do is familiarize yourself with the public transport here in New Zealand, if you are, you know, living in a bigger city. So, you know, this includes trains, buses and it says tram routes, but I don't think we have trams here in New Zealand. So, you know, there's ferries as well. So definitely invest in a transportation card. So in Auckland here, that's called a hop card. You can just get it from, you know, your nearest dairy. And it'll just help you, you know, get around the city in a cheap way. Google Maps is super handy to sort of put in your A and B and sort of figure out, it figures out a route for you to get there and it tells you which buses and trains to take. So that's also really handy. And then you'll want to network. So definitely build connections with fellow travellers and working holiday makers, any locals that you come across and potential employers to expand your opportunities. So there are a lot of Facebook pages for expats that you can look into. So you can connect with like-minded people from overseas. You'll also want to explore your surroundings. So definitely take some time to, you know, really explore our beautiful country and immerse yourself in the culture and just learn about the history of New Zealand as well. So yeah, all in all, you know, while our job numbers are lower than usual, don't let this discourage you from moving here if it's something that you've always wanted to do. So it is important to stay open-minded. If you can't find a role in your usual profession, there are lots of hospitality, service, retail, and blue collar roles around. If you are at a high level in your profession back home, don't be startled to find that you might have to start from a lower level here in New Zealand, as a lot of companies are looking for that New Zealand experience. So to get a foot in the door, you will have to start more at that entry to mid level. But you know, all in all, there is no faster way to learn a new language and culture than going into employment in a new country. You will grow a lot as a person and you may find that you really enjoy it here and want to stay. So I wish you all the best in your new adventure. And here are my contact details in case you are in the HR and health and safety space and looking for a role.
Kirsty Henegan: Thank you so much, Sophia. It took me back to six years ago when I first moved to New Zealand and you've got to go through all of those tedious things of getting everything set up and you're not sure where to start. So I think that's really good to have covered some of those things. And I think the other thing, what you touched on was definitely, I think for the first year, we didn't have a car and it is a little bit more difficult to get around and it's definitely... Not the best public transport. They do the best. But yeah, if you want to get out of Auckland, it's definitely worth getting a car. Exactly. Thank you so much. And if anyone's got any questions around that initial kind of moving to New Zealand, then please do leave a comment in the Q&A box and we will come back to it at the end of the Q&A session. So we are going to continue along that career journey. And now we're going to be joined by Scott Bannister, who is going to talk to us around some of those strategies for writing CVs and subtips.
Scott Bannister: Thank you, Kirsty. So what we're going to speak about now is your CV, tailoring it to the job search you're doing and just going over some job search strategies. So what you need to do with your CV is focus on the relevance. So New Zealand employers value targeted applications. So take your CV to each job, highlight your skills and experience relevant to the advertised position. The length of the CV does matter. So in some other countries, a short CV is probably preferred. In New Zealand, as it's a little bit more relaxed, two or three pages of CV is probably preferred. So use the space wisely, focus on your achievements and quantifiable results. Try to keep it in a simple Word format. And for my sanity, please don't put Word all down into boxes. How I would structure the CV, I would put the contact details clear at the top and keep it professional. Have a profile. So keep it, again, clear, professional. Introduce yourself and what your career goals are. Use your skills. So list your technical and soft skills that are relevant to the job. In regards to the work experience, make it so that it is in the correct order. So your most recent work will be at the top of the CV, working its way down. Showcase your achievements, any specific examples you've been doing in the field that you're applying for. education and qualifications so just list what education you've got any achievements in there diplomas and degrees also I would put in there an optional section so this would include things like your voluntary work any awards or publications that demonstrate a well-roundedness within the industry if you're over here on a working holiday visa I would perhaps recommend putting down your visa details in regards to the expiry date of your visa and what type of visa you're on as well as any restrictions within that visa so if you can only work at a certain client or a certain place for three months six months or if there's no restrictions on that visa at all Keywords are key, sounds like a really weird thing to say, but a lot of people who are putting adverts up use a system called an applicant tracking system. So they look for keywords within CVs and applications and they match it to the job. So what you want to do is highlight those keywords throughout the CV. And yeah, that's really it on the CV front. Now, how do you go about the job search? So target the right job. So there are certain adverts on all sites and systems that you can use to help you find jobs. So careers.gov.nz is a good one to start with, as well as SEEK. These are probably the two bigger ones that we can use in New Zealand. Seek being the largest one. Network, as Sophia mentioned in the previous talk, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, attend the industrial events, and don't underestimate the power of informational interviews. So what an informational interview is, is a meeting in which you are looking for career advice rather than going in there and asking for a job. craft a compelling cover letter. So not as sort of relevant to a temporary job where you've seen a job on seek and it's advertised for two weeks work. Maybe we don't need a cover letter for that. If you've seen a fixed term contract for six months, nine months, then definitely do that cover letter. Personalize it to your application. Briefly explain why you'd be a good fit for the role and highlight key achievements within your CV. One of the most important things once you're searching for the role you've put your application is, is prepare for the interview. So research the company that you're interviewing with, have a look, see if there's anything online about any potential interview questions, practice your answers. If you have to ask yourself a question and answer it in the mirror, then so be it, or sit down over a coffee with a friend and just ask them. if they can interview you. Focus on your skills and experiences with the STAR method, which is situation, task, what the action was, and then the result. Be Kiwi-friendly. New Zealanders probably value authenticity and a can-do attitude over the hard skills of your experience. Be confident, articulate your answers and demonstrate your passion for the role. As Sophia said, being in New Zealand on a working holiday visa can be fun and a challenging experience, especially when it comes to finding employment. However, partnering with a reputable recruitment company such as Frog Recruitment significantly ease the transaction and enhance your job searching. We've got a network of clients who can help you find your next job basically. If you are looking for work in the supply chain and logistics field, please feel free to get in contact with my details on the screen.
Kirsty Henegan: Thank you so much for that, Scott. Yeah, I remember when, obviously we're both in the UK, coming over in the UK, interviews are very structured, very corporate, very professional. So it was a little bit different coming in for a Kiwi interview and having it be a little bit more relaxed, a chat, trying to get to know you. So yeah, there were a few cultural changes across the board. yeah definitely um coming from a company that's based in london um so the more relaxed style over in new zealand is just night and day yeah 100 well um thank you so much if anyone has any questions around job search strategies cv writing and tips and tricks then please do leave a comment and we'll come back to them in the q a session So last but not least, we are joined by Manish Ravikumar to discuss our interview preparation and cultural adaptation.
Manish Ravikumar: Kia ora, thank you Kirsty for the introduction. Today we are going to talk and sort of understand a little bit more about how to prepare for interviews. Obviously interviewing works differently in different countries so if you're moving to New Zealand you might want to understand what really works in New Zealand and what New Zealand hiring managers are looking for when they interview you. I look after the permanent and contract services within properties. So there'll be a little bit of specialized information on here, but I have tried to make it as general as possible to cover any area that you wish to work in. Cool. So we are going to start with interview preparation. So now you've done the hard work. Phoebe has been reviewed and your skills are a good match and you've got the interview. Before you go in for the interview, there might be a couple of things that you might want to prepare. So you put your best foot forward. Obviously you are going to prepare for the interview and the more prepared you are, the better the outcome is going to be. First, you're going to start by researching the company. So you're going to see what their mission and their vision is, what their values are, products, services. Also a very good tip is seeing who the hiring manager is and all the executive leaders within the company, where they've worked previously. So if you can find some common interests with the people who are interviewing you. you're able to establish a little bit of a rapport immediately before you go into the interview. The second one is you're going to practice some common interview questions. So every interview starts with a little bit of a small talk. This is where you establish that rapport and you can bring forward your personal abilities. So some of the common interview questions would be, why are you interested in this role or company? This one might be a bit further down the interview, but in one way or the other, the interviewer will ask you what your strengths are, what your weaknesses are. When answering questions like this, most people get a bit vague and they say, for instance, I can work very well in a team or I'm a really hard worker. These are all great traits and of course they expect these traits from you. But if you are able to tailor that towards that particular interview or that particular position, say in my specialization, if someone is going to go in for a property management position, instead of saying, oh, they're a great team player, or they're great with people, if they're able to say something along the lines of, I know the Auckland region very well, so traveling from one side to the other is going to be very comfortable for me, that is going to provide the interviewer with a lot of confidence in that candidate. So make sure you tailor your preparation towards the interview for yourselves. um third one you're gonna prepare some questions to ask um at the end of the interview in new zealand um the the interviewer will always give you uh the opportunity to ask a few questions if you're able to demonstrate your curiosity uh and engagement and interest in the role in company through the questions you ask that is going to bring you in a very good light so ask about the company culture who am I going to be working with what is uh what do the top performers uh do differently that makes them successful uh how can I grow within the company can you help me grow within the company all these are going to uh be very very um Very good questions to ask in an interview. And the next one. is mock interviews so like Scott mentioned before if you're able to sit down with a friend or a family member and prepare for the interview like give them a few questions to ask you in any particular order and try answering these questions it's better practicing with another person as opposed to you sort of practicing in front of a mirror because it just has that it just has the human uh sort of connection and it puts you at ease when you go in because you practice already um and they could obviously give you some some pointers on what they felt like as well which is which is always good um the last one is pretty common uh and this is universal for wherever uh you interview uh regardless of country dress appropriately uh if you're going in for a professional position make sure you're wearing a nice shirt and you're presenting yourself the way the successful people within the company are already presenting themselves. So they'll be able to see you as an employee straight away. We're going to talk a little bit about the cultural and workplace etiquette moving forward. I moved from india and in india the job market and even the interview process is quite different uh like a few before me mentioned it's a very it's a very hard technical uh interview uh the focus is mostly towards the technical ability in new zealand I feel like the technical skills are very important to have but the way you showcase your technical skills the way you if you're personable and if you demonstrate your culture fit to the hiring manager that's also just as important because the person who is interviewing you needs to understand that you can come into the team and it won't be disruptive So a few tips for that is, first, adopt an informal communication style. This would probably be more relevant at the start of an interview. It's just a casual conversation. You're networking. And also, once you go into a role, this can be very helpful. Workplace communication in New Zealand is very, very informal. It's quite relaxed compared to many other markets. address our coworkers and our superiors using their first name, which might not be the case in many other markets. So don't be afraid to engage in casual conversation and small talk. Work-life balance is a very big thing in New Zealand, always has been, at least over the last decade. New Zealanders value and respect work-life balance, and they prioritize their leisure time just so they can recharge and be at their best when they are in their working hours. Also, New Zealand's a very beautiful country to explore, so definitely, New Zealanders often want to explore the country on their leisure time and they have boundaries where working hours are working hours and the employer usually respects those boundaries and understand that they have a life outside the office. The third one is direct communication. New Zealanders usually appreciate direct communication and value honesty and transparency. If you're having a problem in the workplace or if you're having a certain situation that's come up, usually honesty is the best way to go. And if you're able to be upfront and genuine and have that conversation, more often than not, it's a pretty smooth conversation to have and used to the best outcome. The next one is diversity and inclusion. New Zealand's a very multicultural society, especially I live in Auckland. There's people from everywhere in the world, especially in the central business district. There's people from everywhere in the world. Every company has a very diverse workforce. So be open minded and learn to sort of understand other people's cultures, ask questions and get respect. the work environment and being inclusive and collaborative just makes you a better team member. And it's also nice to understand different cultures and different people. Functuality, the last one. I understand in many markets or in most markets, this is a very important thing. It's very highly regarded in the New Zealand workplace as well. Anything for interviews, meetings, appointments that you have, make sure you arrive at least five or 10 minutes beforehand. It's very appreciated. You're not in a rush, so you're able to be calm and deal with situations better. as opposed to just walking in the door one minute or two minutes or exactly on the time of the meeting. Cool. Once we have passed that, we are going to talk a little bit more about a few things to keep in mind while preparing for an interview. We touched upon a few of these earlier in the webinar. I'm just going to run through some of the more technical aspects of it. So there is a method called STAR method, which all of our candidates are trained on by the consultants, just so they can put forth and help the hiring manager visualize how well they're going to fit into the role or how they're going to deal with the situation. So with STAR, S stands for situation, T for task, A for action, and R for results. Say, for instance, an employer asks you in a customer service position, can you explain a situation you had when you had to face a difficult customer? Instead of giving them a generic answer or an unstructured answer, if you train yourself to adopt the STAR method, so this is the situation. They were quite unhappy. We were processing a return. This was what had to be done. That's the task. Tell them what action you took to resolve the situation and what results came out of it. Now, in a perfect life, you take the right action and you receive a good result. But life doesn't obviously work like that. Employers are very well aware of that. So it doesn't always have to be a positive result. What they want to understand is that you are proactive and you can think quickly on your feet and you can take decisions. Next one is a why me pitch. So this is basically your pitch opportunity. Think of it as a sales situation and you are in an interview and your ability is the service that you're trying to pitch to a client. So why me can be like a quick little three or four highlights of what you've done in your career that relates directly to the position. If you're able to think of examples from your previous roles that relate directly to this position, it is going to be a very, very strong pitch. So yeah, focus on your unique strengths, experiences, and achievements that you've done that might set you apart from the other applicants ask unexpected questions uh obviously within reason uh you can make yourself stand out by asking quite thoughtful and unexpected questions that most people who interview won't ask so they most interview interviewing can be quite a stressful affair uh so people when they want to when they finish the interview they'll ask a quick couple of questions uh very general ones um Do I have parking or questions like that? Or how's the growth within the role or what are the office hours? And those are all good questions, but something that is going to set you apart when they go away and think of you and two other candidates, this question is going to kind of make them remember you. Inquire about the company's long-term vision. or like if there's a team of five working there and you are interviewing to be the next team member, ask them what is the biggest challenge the team faces so they can see that you're forward thinking, you're thinking already into the future as to how you can solve those challenges. You might not have all the answers, but it's always based to ask the question like that. Then a thank you note after they've interviewed you. In New Zealand, first interviews are usually around 30 to 40 minutes. So someone's taking their time out to interview you. Regardless of the outcome, right after you finish the interview, later in the day, if you're able to pass on an email to them, say, thank you very much for taking your time. I really appreciated you taking time out of your schedule to see me. That can leave quite a lasting impression. It's a very nice gesture. Our company, Frog Recruitment, we also have our own interview guide that covers job seekers' interview journey from preparing for an interview, what you're supposed to do during an interview, and how to conduct yourself once the interview is done. To learn more about this, visit our website, frogrecruitment.co.nz. that is all about interview preparation.
Kirsty Henegan: Thank you so much. for joining us. If you do want to get in contact with any of the consultants from today's webinar, I'm not sure whether I was being heard then in the background or not, sorry. So thank you so much for joining us on today's webinar. If you do want to get in contact with any of the consultants, I think Jacob's going to put our details on the screen, but we'd love to hear from you. We'd love to be able to help. And if you've got any extra questions, just give us a call.
Featuring Kirsty Henegan
Season Three
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Join NZ Temporary and Contract Services Team Leader Kirsty Henegan for a special edition of our employment and job seeker market update, as we take a look back at a recent Frog Recruitment Talent Webinar: Finding your dream job in New Zealand.
Kirsty is joined by our recruitment experts, Sophia Houben, Scott Bannister, and Manish Ravikumar, to take an in-depth look at where the key opportunities lie for job seekers, the most common challenges working holiday makers can face when getting ready to settle down in New Zealand, how to overcome them and find your next dream job, as well as the following topics:
- New Zealand Market Update
- Getting situated in New Zealand
- Job search strategies & CV Writing Tips
- Interview Preparation and Cultural Adaptation
About our speaker

Kirsty is Team Leader for our Auckland Temp Team. She joined Frog in 2018 from Manchester in the UK and quickly made her mark as a top temp recruiter. She is driven by a need to ‘make things happen’ for businesses and candidates, ensuring organisations meet new workflow peaks by providing urgent cover or long-term temporary or fixed-term solutions. No matter the situation, Kirsty’s efficiency and speed are underpinned by her personable approach which has become her hallmark."The most rewarding aspect of my career is building strong and lasting relationships with clients. This enables me to know exactly which candidates would be effective, add value to their business and fit their culture."
Kirsty has successfully built an impressive network of candidates at all levels and industries across New Zealand and abroad. Winner of the STRIDE people2people company Candidate Care Award 2020, the result of outstanding Net Promoter Scores, you can be assured you are in safe hands with Kirsty and her team.