What's the process?

This section provides information for jobseekers who would like to know more about the application process, and the various opportunities for tertiary students and graduates.

Qualifications and experience

You might bring formal qualifications or relevant life experience to a career in the State sector. The State sector has graduates with degrees in nearly every discipline, including accounting, business, economics, engineering, environmental science, geology, law, public administration, social work, the arts, and veterinary sciences.

In many areas of the State sector, you don’t necessarily need a formal qualification. The State sector also has employees who have learned their skills on the job or by managing their families, marae or small businesses.

The application process

Each State sector organisation advertises for and appoints its own staff below the position of chief executive, according to its needs. All vacancies must be advertised and appointments made on the basis of the impartial selection of suitably qualified people. The application process is explained when jobs are advertised and can vary between organisations. You will need to provide a curriculum vitae (CV), and there is often an application form to complete in hard copy or by email. Short-listed candidates will be interviewed and may need to complete some form of testing.

Interviews

At an interview, you can be expected to show some knowledge of the organisation you are applying to join. You should read the job description for the position carefully and follow this up by reading publicly available information about the organisation, which you can usually find on its website or through the Government web portal newzealand.govt.nz.

State sector organisations usually allow candidates to bring a whānau or support group to their interview, if they wish. This gives candidates personal support and lets others speak of their merits, when it is culturally inappropriate or difficult for them to do so themselves.

What if my application isn’t successful?

There are no guaranteed strategies for obtaining employment in the New Zealand State sector. It is helpful to learn from the application experience, even when you are unsuccessful. It is always worthwhile to seek feedback on your application and/or interview performance and to draw on this feedback when looking for jobs in the future.

The Careers Service website contains a wide range of information and web links to useful sites to help you think about your career, prepare your CV, improve your interview techniques and more.

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