Get Recruitment Ready 2025 Semester Two
This employer-led event series is here to guide you through the application and recruitment process for internships and graduate roles.

Are you graduating or looking for internships?
Our 'Get Recruitment Ready' (GRR) series will help you if you're applying for internships, graduate programmes, and other roles.
This series kicks off with a half-day bootcamp (aimed at penultimate and final year students), where a wide variety of employers will talk about their application process, how you can get to the top of their 'yes' pile, and give you inside information on the types of candidate they look for.
We'll be hosting several employer-led workshops following our bootcamp, which are open to all students. These workshops will focus on topics relating to the application and recruitment process.
By the end of the series, we hope you have:
- A better understanding of the graduate and internship recruitment process
- Increased your confidence when it comes to applying (e.g. knowing what you should/shouldn’t include on your application)
- Better awareness of the capabilities that employers look for in their new grads/interns
- Expanded your professional network and learnt about a variety of career paths
Get Recruitment Ready Bootcamp
Date: Wednesday 16 July
Time: 9.30am-2pm
Location: Engineering Building 405-460 Lecture Theatre, 20 Symonds Street, City Campus, Auckland CBD
Participating Organisations: Auckland Council, Edge Impact, EY, International Working Holidays, KiwiRail, KPMG, Mental Health Foundation, New Zealand Police, Northern Districts Cricket Association, Public Relations Institute of New Zealand, PwC, University of Auckland and Watercare.
Register now. Spaces are limited.

Time | Session |
---|---|
9.30-10am | Registration |
10-11am | Welcome Panel one: Shine your light in the workplace in 2025! |
11-11.45am | Panel two: What employers really look for in the recruitment process |
11.45am-12pm | Comfort break |
12-12.45pm | Panel three: Understanding the New Zealand employment landscape |
12.45-2pm | Networking (Refreshments sponsored by KiwiRail) |
Get Recruitment Ready workshops
We're hosting three weeks of employer- and CDES-led workshops themed around finding work opportunities and the application process. Register for as many workshops as you like!
Week 1: Getting job search fit
Week 2: Smash your applications
Week 3: Interviews intensive
Week 4: Getting workplace ready
Week One
Optimise your LinkedIn Profile - with CDES
Enhance your professional online presence with LinkedIn. You will observe a demo with a professional career consultant. Please bring a device with web access if possible (e.g. a laptop, tablet, or phone).
Date: Tuesday 22 July
Time: 1-2pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Get Ready for the Internship and Graduate Expo - with CDES
You are going to the CDES Internship and Graduate Expo – good for you! You might have attended a few employer events in the past, or this might be your first one. Regardless of your level of experience with employer events, join us for this interactive workshop to learn what to expect, how to prepare, and how to turn conversations at the expo into meaningful connections.
Date: Wednesday 23 July
Time: 4-5pm
Location: Engineering Building 405-470 Lecture Theatre
Register now.
Discover your career - with CDES
Feeling uncertain about where to start your career journey? The first step to making a good career decision is reflecting on who you are. In this session, a professional career consultant will guide you through a reflection activity, followed by sharing in small groups.
Date: Thursday 24 July
Time: 2-3pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
How to stand out as an applicant! What do companies really want in their grads? - with Mainfreight
Find out what skills are in demand in 2025, and how you can demonstrate these throughout the application and recruitment process with Mainfreight.
New Date: Friday 25 July
Time: 12-1pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Researching early career opportunities - with CDES
Unsure about your career steps after university? Come ready to explore the question, “What problems do I want to solve and who is hiring people to solve those particular problems?”
Date: Friday 25 July
Time: 2-3pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Week Two
Mastering Effective Communication - with FDM
Sharpen your communication skills and stand out in interviews with this expert-led workshop with FDM. Learn practical strategies to craft compelling CVs, ace interviews, and avoid common pitfalls—with a touch of GenAI to give you an edge.
Date: Monday 28 July
Time: 12-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Register now.
Networking: Making connections! - with CDES
Be ready to engage and interact with others as we explore what it means to network. You will participate in activities, such as speed networking, to develop your confidence.
Date: Monday 28 July
Time: 1-2pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Cover letters covered. How to show your motivation in a cover letter! - with Mainfreight
There is an art to writing a compelling and effective cover letter and answering application questions; so learn with Mainfreight how to 'cover' what employers are looking for!
Date: Wednesday 30 July
Time: 11am-12pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
CVs that get you interviews! - with International Working Holidays
Applying for internships, graduate or work opportunities? Learn how to target and customise your CV for the job you want and get your CV to the top of the pile!
Date: Wednesday 30 July
Time: 1-2pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Establishing your professional presence and communication with employers - with Downer
Join our speakers from Downer to learn more about presenting yourself to employers through networking, and building on various communication skills. Pick up a few tips and tricks to shape your professional brand in a way that conveys who you are and what you have to offer.
Date: Thursday 31 July
Time: 11am-12pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
AI in a recruitment process - with EY
Learn about how organisations use AI and automation in the recruitment process to understand how you can best prepare your application. Recruitment professionals from EY reveal their secrets and give their views on the positives and pitfalls of using AI in your job application.
Date: Thursday 31 July
Time: 12-1pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
CV and Cover Letter Review - with CDES
Join us for a group peer-review session to work on your CV or cover letter. You will share your CV and cover letter with a small group of fellow students and get peer feedback, facilitated by our career consultants. You will also contribute to the peer review of other students’ CVs and cover letters.
Date: Friday 1 August
Time: 2-3pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Week Three
Demystifying talent assessments – how to put your best foot forward - with PwC
Why do employers use talent assessments and psychometric tests? What tools are recruiters using now for grad roles – and what’s on the horizon? Come along to this seminar with the team from PwC, to learn about how to prepare and improve your performance.
Date: Monday 4 August
Time: 11am-12pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Interview Practice - with CDES
Join us to practice and improve your interview skills with other students. After a brief overview of interview preparation you will work in small groups, asking and answering mock interview questions and giving each other feedback.
Date: Monday 4 August
Time: 2-3pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Assessment centres and group case study interviews - with the University of Auckland
Whether you’re looking for a role in the private or public sector, assessment centres/group case studies are becoming more and more popular with employers to use as part of their interview process. But what are they, and how do you prepare for them?
Date: Wednesday 6 August
Time: 11am-12pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Master in-person interviews - with KPMG
Prepare for your next interview with this Hiring Manager Panel workshop, and bring along your questions and concerns in face-to-face interviews! KPMG team will walk you through crafting effective interview answers to behavioural and competency-based questions.
Date: Thursday 7 August
Time: 12-1pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.
Video-recorded and online Interviews - with Deloitte
Prepare for your next video-recorded and online interview with this interactive workshop. Madi from Deloitte will walk you through crafting effective interview answers – even for those unusual or unexpected questions.
Date: Friday 8 August
Time: 1-2pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101
Register now.