Finding a job takes more than applying online. The best opportunities are often found through a mix of job platforms, networking, employer events, and industry connections. Explore different ways to search for jobs, internships, and graduate opportunities to maximise your chances of success.
Job applications
Job interviews
Talk to a Career Educator to help identify your strengths, explore career options, and make a plan to reach your goals.
Graduate programmes, internships & clerkships
Different industries recruit in different ways. Some rely heavily on online advertisements, while others place greater value on professional relationships, industry events, internships, volunteering, portfolios, or direct approaches. Understanding recruitment practices within your chosen field can help you focus your efforts effectively.
Best for: Graduate jobs, part-time roles, and entry-level opportunities.
SEEK is one of New Zealand’s largest job platforms and is ideal for finding advertised roles across a wide range of industries. Job alerts, tailored applications, and early applications can help you identify and respond to opportunities more effectively.
Best for: Graduate programmes, internships, and student opportunities.
Prosple Prosple is New Zealand’s most comprehensive early careers platform, helping students explore opportunities and make more informed career decisions. Search graduate jobs and internships from a wide range of large and small employers.
Best for: Networking and building your professional presence.
LinkedIn is more than a job board; it’s a professional networking platform. Follow employers, connect with industry professionals, showcase your experience, and engage with content to increase visibility with recruiters.
Best for: Many organisations advertise opportunities directly on their websites before posting them elsewhere. Follow employers you’re interested in and check their careers pages regularly.
Other opportunities & ways to search for jobs
Not all opportunities are advertised on traditional job platforms. Exploring alternative pathways can help you build experience, grow your network, and uncover hidden opportunities.
Student Job Search
Find part-time, casual, seasonal, and graduate roles designed specifically for students and recent graduates.
Volunteering Canterbury
Build experience, develop transferable skills, and grow your network through volunteering opportunities in the community.
Employer Events
Connect directly with employers through information sessions, webinars, workshops, networking events, and on-campus/offsite engagement opportunities.
Career Fairs
Meet a range of employers in one place, learn about industries and roles, and explore current opportunities and recruitment pathways.
GoinGlobal
Access international job and internship resources, country career guides, visa information, and global employment opportunities.
The Hidden Job Market
Aotearoa New Zealand is a relatively small and highly connected country. Professional communities can often be more accessible than students expect, making relationship-building and industry engagement valuable job-search strategies. As a result, you’ll notice a significant amount of jobs are found through the hidden job market.
The hidden job market refers to jobs that are not advertised. This strategy to searching for opportunities is particularly important if you are seeking work in an environment where many organisations are relatively small or in highly competitive sectors. You may be familiar with the hidden job market, having successfully gained part-time work through networking or directly approaching an employer.
Informational Interviews as a job-search strategy
Informational interviews can help you explore career options, understand different workplaces, test assumptions about occupations, and identify opportunities for future learning and development. They are also an excellent opportunity to connect with people working in areas that interest you.
Unlike a job interview, it's up to you to ask the questions at an informational interview, so be prepared. This is your opportunity to speak candidly with a professional and gain an insight into their work life. It allows you to get a sense of what a general workday looks like and the typical responsibilities they have in their role. You can also learn more about the company they work for, how it operates, what challenges it faces and what the workplace culture is like. Ultimately, these conversations can help you decide whether a particular role, organisation, or industry aligns with your interests, strengths, values, and goals.
Whether emailing or calling, keep your request short and to the point, explaining what you're looking for and how you think they can help. If they're not interested, don't pursue it. If they're ok to help you, ask whether a phone, video call or email conversation is best and arrange a suitable time.
Professional connections can be built in many ways, including online conversations, community involvement, volunteering, industry events, mentoring relationships, and one-to-one discussions. Choose approaches that suit your circumstances, preferences, and communication style.
