Job search bootcamp

Semester 2 2025 details coming soon. Please check back for updates.

Job Search Bootcamp will help you understand how to approach job seeking in New Zealand and how to present yourself as a desirable candidate. In our workshops, you will:

• Learn about new ways to find and create job opportunities in New Zealand
• Get advice on how to write CVs that stand out to New Zealand employers
• Discover that cover letter writing can actually be quite fun and learn how to use AI in a way that serves you
• Learn more about the skills, attitudes and experiences that New Zealand employers look for
• See how consistent networking can not only help you promote your personal brand but also shape your career
• Get advice on how to nail those tough interview questions and practise, practise, practise
• Understand how to articulate your value proposition to prospective employers

The series includes two types of sessions:

• Informative workshops on essential career development and employability topics
• Peer and practice sessions that allow you to implement and get feedback on what you have learnt in the workshops (conducted in person; limited spaces)

Please note that you can only attend a peer review/practice session if you attended the corresponding workshop.

Although we highly recommend it, you don’t have to commit to all the workshops in the series: feel free to pick and choose based on your needs, knowledge, interests, and schedule. Please register for each session in MyCDES (registration links will be added to this webpage and MyCDES shortly).

So, you are ready to look for a job in New Zealand – but where do you start? You might have heard of a few websites, but you are wondering how effective they are and if there is anything else you should know. In this interactive session, we will explore effective job search strategies that put you in the driver’s seat. You will learn how to approach New Zealand employers proactively and combine different strategies using them to your advantage.

Date: Tuesday 25 February
Time: 10.30am-12pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101

You may have a great-looking CV that worked really well in your country but for some reason you haven’t had much luck with it in New Zealand. That’s because every culture has its distinct CV writing conventions and expectations. In this practical session, you will discover what hiring managers in New Zealand expect to see when they pick up your CV and how to convince them that you are the person they need to interview.

Date: Monday 3 March
Time: 10-11.30am
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101

This session is only available if you attended the corresponding workshop.

Complete the CDES Canvas module "Writing an effective CV".

Bring the CV you have worked on to this session. We will be practising what you’ve learnt from both the workshop and the Canvas module.

Do people still read cover letter these days? And if so, what do I include in one? Do I need a template? Who do I address it to? Can’t I simply generate a cover letter using ChatGPT? We are sure you’ve got a lot of questions about writing cover letters – and we will try to answer as many of them as possible in this practical session. Join us to learn how to showcase your experience, skills, qualifications, and attitudes and come across as a desirable candidate.

Date: Thursday 6 March
Time: 2-3.30pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101

This session is only available if you attended the corresponding workshop.

Complete the CDES Canvas module "Creating your cover letter".

Bring your cover letter you have worked on to this session. We will be practising what you’ve learnt from both the workshop and the module.

To be able to prepare and submit a good job application, you have to know how employers think and what they look for. Employers want their problems identified, solved and, if possible, prevented – and that’s where you come in. In this workshop, we will explore what and how NZ employers think about hiring the right people and how to address their questions and concerns in the process.

Date: Monday 10 March
Time: 9.30-11am
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101

Have you ever heard of the ‘hidden’ job market? Research says that it could be as many as 70-80% of all available jobs! The most effective ways to tap into this market are carefully crafting your personal brand and developing a strong and diverse professional network. Sounds great – but where do you start? Join our interactive session and we’ll guide you through this process.

Date: Thursday 13 March
Time: 1-2.30pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 4, Room 420

What do you feel when you get invited to a job interview? Are you nervous? Excited? Hopeful? Wherever you are on the feeling spectrum, you can always benefit from a more informed and purposeful approach to interview preparation. Join this interactive and practical workshop to learn how to prepare for job interviews, tell impactful career stories, and manage your interviewers’ first impression.

Date: Thursday 20 March
Time: 2-3.30pm
Location: Kate Edger Information Commons, Level 1, Workshop 101

This session is only available if you attended the corresponding workshop.

Complete the CDES Canvas module "Navigating interviews".

We will be practising what you’ve learnt and experimenting with ways to implement the learning.