How to Find a Temporary Job in New Zealand as a Visitor

Some people wish to visit New Zealand as tourists and work simultaneously to improve their scope of sustaining in the foreign land. The good news is, there is a scope for that in New Zealand with a visa category. New Zealand offers work opportunities in multiple sectors to foreigners. The diverse range of temporary work opportunities and the New Zealand employment visa for vacationers have positioned the country as a popular destination among the youth. 

The country has a stable economy with tourism, healthcare, and technology industries. Flexible policies, remote work programs, and seasonal work opportunities have empowered and progressed the work culture in New Zealand. 

Thus, you will be able to find temporary working opportunities in New Zealand while cherishing your trip to the island country. Go through this guide to find a temporary job in New Zealand as a visitor. 

Understanding Legal Requirements for Working as a Visitor

To work as a visitor in New Zealand, you must comply with the rules and meet the legal requirements. 

You can obtain a Working Holiday Visa to work in New Zealand. It is a temporary work visa that young foreigners can get to travel and work in New Zealand. The visa stays valid for up to 12 months, but for the citizens of the United Kingdom, the validity of the working holiday visa remains up to 23 months. The facility of the visa gets activated upon the first arrival of the applicant, and it allows visa holders to leave and re-enter the country. 

Eligibility Criteria to Work with a New Zealand Employment Visa

New Zealand has diplomatic agreements with many countries across the globe that allow tourists aged between 18 and 35 to stay for a year or more to work. Though the main purpose has to be tourism, keeping work and education as secondary goals. This is called a working holiday visa. 

Who Can Apply?

• Citizens of a nation with a working holiday visa agreement with New Zealand can apply.
• The age of the applicant has to be between 18 and 30, or 18 and 35 for people from some select countries.

General Visa Conditions  

• A valid passport to prove your identity 
• Good character certificate obtainable from the police
• Good health certificate as certified by the approved panel
• Within the specific age range
• Citizenship of a country that is eligible to opt for this visa
• Have enough capital to sustain in New Zealand.
• Not have a New Zealand working holiday visa before 

Country Specific Conditions

• For most countries, the length of the stay is 12 months.
• For most countries, the age range is between 18 and 30 years old. 
• English language requirements.
• Educational qualification
• Place of residence 
• Medical insurance requirements

Employment Conditions

• You must not have a permanent job offer letter from New Zealand.
• You must pay tax on your earnings. 
• It is not necessary to have a job before arriving.

Documents Required to Obtain the New Zealand Employment Visa

To successfully travel around New Zealand and work temporarily, you must have all the documents we have mentioned below:

• A valid passport (It has to be valid at least 15 months beyond the latest arrival date in New Zealand)
• A return ticket to leave New Zealand 
• Proof of sufficient capital 
• Medical insurance
• Certificate of good character from approved medical professionals
• Certificate of good health from the relevant authorities
• Evidence of education 
• Evidence of work experience

Types of Temporary Jobs Available for Visitors

New Zealand is full of temporary job opportunities for foreign visitors. So you just need to discover a type of job that suits your preferences, academic background, as well as previous work experience. 

Seasonal and Agricultural Work

You can indulge in the farmland of New Zealand and seek agricultural work. Fruit picking, vineyard work, and other relevant farm jobs are some less complex work opportunities with ample scope that you can grab for the short term. Some popular regions for seasonal and agricultural work are Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, and Bay of Plenty. 

Hospitality and Tourism Work 

If you have an educational background in hospitality and tourism, then you can seek working opportunities in the hospitality and tourism industries. There are plenty of cafes, hotels, and restaurants where you can secure a job as a chef or in other departments. Auckland, Rotorua, and Queensland are some places full of such job vacancies. 

Retail and Customer Service

You can get temporary job opportunities in the urban cities of New Zealand if you have job experience or an academic background in retail and customer service. Find temporary positions in stores and shopping centers that are largely available in the holiday season due to demand in major urban areas and stores. 

How to Get Temporary Jobs in New Zealand

Nowadays, there are numerous ways to find temporary jobs from the comfort zone. Take full-fledged advantage of the internet. 

• Search for online job portals that are popular in New Zealand. 
• You can also check out online freelancing sites to get project-based gigs.
• Utilize social media platforms to network with the citizens of New Zealand. 
• Do not ignore the advertisements related to work opportunities in New Zealand.
• Engage in relevant Facebook groups and community pages.
• Utilize LinkedIn, which is the best social media platform for working professionals.
• Contact recruitment agencies that specialise in offering short-term placements specific to New Zealand. 

Tips for Applying and Interviewing for Jobs

If you follow these tips, then you will be able to improve your chances of securing temporary jobs in New Zealand.

Crafting a New Zealand-Friendly CV

Only provide relevant information on your CV, and don’t list every job or course you have done. Make sure to include your technical skills, personal skills, work experience, qualifications, community, and volunteer experience.

Local employers in New Zealand may not know the organizations where you have worked in your home country. That’s why you should include short descriptions of your previous employers. 

You must also focus on making a cover letter, which will serve as a sales pitch. Write the cover letter cleverly. Introduce yourself in a few words (remember, concise is cool), and elucidate why you are the perfect fit for the company and designation. 

Also, mention your qualifications, which will help the employer understand your relevancy and interest. 

Preparing for Interviews 

Just like you need to prepare for the visa interview to obtain the New Zealand employment visa you must also be well-prepared before appearing for the job interview session. Job interview questions will depend on the industry, designation, and organization. We have listed some common questions you may face: 

• Tell me about yourself
• Why do you want this job?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Tell me how would you solve a critical problem or deal with conflict?
• What’s your greatest professional achievement?
• Why are you seeking a job in New Zealand?

Staying Safe and Informed While Working

As it will not be your home country and you will be working abroad, you must be informed and careful. You should know the minimum wage, work hours, and breaks. In case you face exploitation or witness a breach of employment law, you can report it on the official employment website of New Zealand anonymously. File taxes with an IRD number is a compulsion.

Apply for a New Zealand Employment Visa & Secure a Temporary Job

The work culture in New Zealand is good enough, so no need to worry. Step 1 is to meet the New Zealand employment visa requirements for temporary workers. If you are planning to travel and work simultaneously in New Zealand, a working holiday visa is your only option.

Once your visa gets approved, you can land in New Zealand without securing a temporary job in advance. We have mentioned quite a few temporary job opportunities and ways to find and secure them. Don’t forget to craft your CV that suits the style of New Zealand’s work culture and prepare for the interview questions. Stay safe and well-informed to stay hassle-free. Good luck with your future job in New Zealand.