Jobs and internships

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the “two-degrees” of separation works to our advantage - we’re connected and mobile enough to grow our networks quickly. 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.

• Discover How to tap into the hidden job market

Informational Interviews as a job-search strategy 

Informational interviews are a great way to paint a picture of an occupation, company and the industry. They are also an excellent opportunity to expand your network and practise your interview technique.

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, the interview can help you to establish whether the profession or company is a good fit for you and, if so, how you might get to a similar position.

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.

• How to prepare for an informational interview
• Questions for informational interviews (PDF 420KB)