Job Opportunities in New Zealand for International Students

New Zealand student visas usually allow full-time students to work up to 20 hours a week during the academic session and up to 40 hours a week during the summer break. These work hours apply to both secondary and tertiary students. Students who are in their masters or PhD programs can work 40 hours in total in a week.

Working while you study in New Zealand

There are numerous rules and limitations for international students who want to work in New Zealand. Students can work on campus, or outside like a store assistant, salesperson in a supermarket, waiter, or Customer Service Representative. Many international students also find clever opportunities to make some quick money by working as progressional assignment writers by consulting their peers in writing their reports or offering services for MBA assignment help or engineering assignments.

Eligibility Criteria For International students to work part-time

• The duration of the course should be 2 years minimum
• The student must have an IELTS score of 5.5 or above
• The score must have an equivalency to a New Zealand qualification that gains a grade in the Skilled Migrant Category
• During the New Year and Christmas holidays, students are permitted to work full time
• Freelancing and self-employment is prohibited for students
• A minimum of 18.90 NZD salary is entitled to international students working part-time jobs

What do New Zealand employers look for?

When you are searching for a new job as an international student, it is essential to know what the employers want from you. 

English skills

• English language aptitude in listening and speaking is the main skill that employers are looking for. However, not every job stipulates a high IELTS score, thus some jobs prioritize writing and reading skills.
• When you decide to work in New Zealand, your ability to be fluent in the English language would develop rapidly. Your employer may contrast your English proficiency to that of a native speaker, thus an IELTS score is necessary to show your employer that you are more than capable of communicating in English.

Work experience 

• An empty CV is not a good impression for your job interview. Therefore you should make sure that your CV has some work experience in it, especially if the experience is related to the job you are applying for. For eg, if you have worked as a Customer Service Representative (CSR) in your home country before coming to New Zealand, you might find it easier to land a job in the customer care service sector in your host nation.

• If your work experience is lacking, you could consider volunteering in the New Zealand community and obtain experience, and foster significant networks with locals.

Knowledge 

• You should be more than capable to narrate and discuss the knowledge you gained in your coursework or your former jobs.

• Display how your studies are relevant to the job and how it positively impacts the organization.
• Having good grades is a no-brainer, so ensure you are studying hard and effectively. 

Your Rights as an employee in New Zealand

As a student searching for a job, you should be aware of the rights awarded to you by your host nation. The New Zealand government has rules enacted to safeguard your working rights. For instance, you have legal rights to ensure your safety and protection at the places you choose to work in. You also have a right to a minimum wage. International students have the same rights as a citizen when working in New Zealand.

Employment agreements

Every employee must have a signed, written employment agreement with their employer. Verbal acceptance of a job offer is not enough, and you must sign a written document before commencing your new job.

Carefully read your contract

You should carefully read your agreement before you put your signature on it. If there is something you are unsure about, you can take the document with you back in your dorms and give it a thorough read, or consult a friend or an experienced individual. If you want to make adjustments to your agreement, do not hesitate to discuss it with your employer.

Leaves and Holidays

Most New Zealand worker, are privileged to have a sufficient amount of work leaves relative to the rest of the world. This is especially great for you as an international student as you can use this leave period to your benefit by exploring your host country or even visiting your family back home from time to time.

You will have access to atleast four weeks of annual leave. And you can even opt for swapping your one week’s leave for cash. Moreover, aside from annual leave, there are 11 public holidays in New Zealand. You are also allowed to have certain amount of paid leaves such as sick leave etc.

Working on a public holiday in New Zealand

If you so choose to work on a public holiday, your employer is obliged to pay you extra. So not only you can work full time on public holidays according to New Zealand law, but you can also make more money.

Discrimination and harassment

Treating anyone less well than others because of their race, gender, religion or other reasons is discrimination. Discrimination is illegal in New Zealand.

Sexual harassment, including any kind of offensive or unwelcome sexual practice, is also against the law in New Zealand, so you do not have to worry about these workplace barriers while working as a student as you are fully protected by law and can report any workplace discrimination or harassment to the law enforcement authorities.

Terminating your employment

If you for any reason choose to resign from your job, you are required to notify your employer in advance. You have to keep working till the end of the notice period agreed to in your signed agreement.

If your employer opts to terminating your employment through dismissal, restrcutre or redundancy, they are required to comply with the formal process. If they fail to do so, you could be entitled to compensation.