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How to apply for a New Zealand public service job

Look for New Zealand public service jobs on jobs.govt.nz. You can apply for most there, but some agencies use their own sites. Send a CV of about two pages and a one-page cover letter, both shaped to the ad. By law, the person best suited to the job gets preference. Expect reference, right-to-work and sometimes security checks.

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Where to find jobs and apply

The Public Service Commission points job seekers to jobs.govt.nz. You can apply for most jobs there on the site itself.

Some employers ask you to apply on their own website instead. To apply or set up job alerts on jobs.govt.nz, you need a RealMe account.

How people are chosen: merit and values

The Public Service Act 2020 makes merit-based appointment a public service principle. When appointing, a chief executive must prefer the person best suited to the job.

The Act also sets five public service values. Good examples in your application show them:

  • Impartial: treating all people fairly, without personal favour or bias.
  • Accountable: taking responsibility and answering for your work, actions and decisions.
  • Trustworthy: acting with integrity, and being open and transparent.
  • Respectful: treating all people with dignity and compassion, and acting with humility.
  • Responsive: understanding and meeting people's needs and aspirations.

Your CV and cover letter

New Zealand's official careers advice, from Tahatū, says:

  • Update your CV for each job, using information and keywords from the ad.
  • Keep your CV to 2 pages if you can.
  • Add referees if the ad asks for them. You'll need contact details for at least 2.
  • Keep your cover letter to 1 page, and don't repeat everything in your CV.

At the interview

For questions about something you've done, the interview advice is to use the STAR method. STAR stands for situation, task, action and result.

Describe one real situation, what you did, and how it turned out. Then have some questions ready to ask the employer. Your research can help you think of them.

Who can apply

For a permanent role advertised on jobs.govt.nz, non-citizens must hold New Zealand residence. The page uses the older term "Residence Permit".

For a fixed-term role advertised there, you need a current work permit that suits the job. Read each ad closely, as it may add its own rules.

Checks before you start

You may be asked for a criminal record check. You can ask the Ministry of Justice for your own record for free. It aims to reply within 20 working days.

If you're eligible for the Clean Slate scheme, some convictions are hidden from your record. In most cases, it is against the law to make you reveal your full record. Some jobs need it, such as police, prison or probation roles.

If the job means working with children, the Children's Act 2014 requires a safety check before you start.

Security clearances

Some roles need a national security clearance. The four levels are Confidential, Secret, Top Secret and Top Secret Special.

Normally you must be a New Zealand citizen or hold a suitable visa, such as a Resident class visa.

Your background must usually be checkable for a set time. That is 5 years for Confidential, 10 for Secret or Top Secret, and 15 for Top Secret Special.

The NZSIS can check time you've lived in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the USA.

An interview answer that shows the values

Here is a made-up answer, in STAR form, to a question about meeting people's needs.

Made-up example

Jordan, applying for a customer service role at a government agency

Question

“Tell me about a time you changed how things were done to help someone.”

Situation

I worked at a community library. An older man kept missing out on computer time, because bookings were only online.

Task

I wanted him, and others like him, to get a fair chance at the computers.

Action

  • I asked him what made booking hard, and listened.
  • I checked our rules and found nothing stopped us taking bookings by phone.
  • I suggested we keep 2 computers each morning for phone and desk bookings.
  • I made a simple sign and told our regular visitors about the change.

Result

Within a month, about 15 people a week were booking by phone or at the desk. The man told us he no longer felt left out.

The answer shows two values: responsive, by meeting a real need, and impartial, by giving everyone a fair chance.

Questions

Do I need to be a New Zealand citizen?

Not always. jobs.govt.nz says non-citizens need New Zealand residence for a permanent government role. A security clearance normally needs citizenship or a suitable visa.

How long should my CV and cover letter be?

Keep your CV to 2 pages if you can, and your cover letter to 1 page. That's New Zealand's official careers advice.

What is a checkable background?

For a security clearance, the NZSIS must be able to check your past for a set time. It is 5 years for Confidential, 10 for Secret or Top Secret, and 15 for Top Secret Special.

Can an employer see my full criminal record?

Not the convictions hidden under the Clean Slate scheme, in most cases. It is usually against the law to make you reveal your full record. Some jobs, such as police, prison or probation roles, need it.

Sources

Written by Seal the Offer from these pages, last checked on . Rules change, so check the employer's own page and the job ad before you apply.

When you have a job ad

Your CV and cover letter, shaped to the ad

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