Jobs Available in New Zealand

Types of Jobs Available in New Zealand

New Zealand is in need of specific skills both immediately and in the long term. You can find lists of immediate shortages and long-term shortages online along with estimated salaries. Here are a few of the jobs on the immediate list:

• Accountants
• Architects
• Assistant farm/herd managers
• Beekeepers
• Butchers
• Dentists
• Graphic artists
• Land surveyors
• Doctors
• Skydiving instructors
• Telecommunications engineer/technician

Immigration, Where to Live, and More

There's more to working in New Zealand than simply finding a job. You need to know how to apply to work there at all, then you need to find out where to live and how much it'll cost. It's always wise to have as many details in your back pocket as possible when it comes to deciding on a new job and a move.

Immigration and Visas

If you've found jobs available in New Zealand that you feel you already possess the skills to do, you're one step closer to packing up and starting your life in a new country. Next, you'll need a visa.

The Skilled Migrant Visa is for those who are between the ages of 20 and 55 and meet other immigration requirements like a proficiency in the English language, health requirements, and character guidelines.

You fill out an Expression of Interest form and it is then rated. You may be sent an application to apply for your visa. Finally, your application will either be rejected, you'll be granted a visa, or you'll be granted permission to try to find a job.

New Zealand's immigration site will get you started on the application process.

Where to Live

Once your residence is approved, you're going to need a place to live. Start from the city and narrow it down to the actual home itself from there. Check out WorkingIn-NewZealand.com for an informational breakdown of some of the bigger cities. Want to live in a place of art, color, and creativity? Consider Wellington. Just want a little of everything available for every whim you may have? Maybe Wanganui City is your destiny.

You can live in a trendy villa; a standalone modern house; a "lifestyle block" designed to give the owner the best of both the city and the country; or even an apartment or townhome.

Finances

The obvious thing to look for when you're looking for any new job is the salary you'll earn. According to EmigrateNZ.org, the average salary of an employee in New Zealand was $22.36. Broken down further, the site states that men on average worked 38.5 hours per week plus 1.3 hours of overtime and women worked roughly 35.9 hours and .5 hours of overtime; per week they earned, on average, $920 and $735 respectively.

To investigate further whether or not the move is worth it, try the Cost of Living in New Zealand Calculator.

Find Your New Employer

Here are a few job search tools to help you find potential employers online:

• Seek.co.nz
• SeasonalJobs.co.nz
• WorkingIn-NewZealand.com

As with all jobs, be sure to research the company before jumping in with both feet.

New Zealand Government Jobs

If you're interested in a government job in New Zealand, jobs.govt.nz is a good place to begin. You'll find jobs within the state sector (those that report to the crown) to include a cross-section of almost all the jobs in New Zealand, from farming to office jobs.

The state sector offers equal opportunity employment as well as good and safe working conditions. There's no pay chart based on experience, but your employer will negotiate a salary with you individually.

In some cases, you may even find that you're offered on-site child care, job sharing, rooms for breastfeeding mothers, and other accommodations to make trying to balance life easier and less stressful. The state sector realizes and appreciates the importance of family.