Making the most of your skills

Can I use my qualifications?

• Some New Zealand employers don't recognise or understand foreign qualifications. You can get your qualifications assessed by New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).  They will tell you what level your qualifications are in New Zealand.  This will help you when applying for jobs as employers will understand whether your qualifications are suitable.
• You might find that your qualifications are not what is needed in New Zealand. You can add to your qualifications by doing some extra study or training in New Zealand.
• Check if there is a professional body that can advise you on qualifications in your industry.

NZQA website - getting your qualifications recognised
Search for course and training options in NZ

"I had to go to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. They check your skills, your work experience, your education, and they try to identify which level you are at in New Zealand. Then I could be more confident as I had a report saying what level of mechanical engineer I am."

Pedro Romero from Chile

Will my previous experience be helpful?

For some jobs, your experience will be useful wherever you work in the world because the job is the same. For other jobs your experience might not be enough because the job could be different in New Zealand. You might need to add to your qualifications or start at a slightly lower level. But most migrants find they catch up quite quickly.

• Search your job title in our jobs database. This will help you to understand the skills needed for the job. 
• Read the stories of people in this job. This will help you to see if the job is like what you were doing back home.
• Be aware that jobs in New Zealand might have a different title from what you are used to.

Search your job title and read real-life stories of people doing a job

"A computer is a computer. That’s what I like. I can work in Switzerland and I can come to New Zealand and immediately start work. I don’t need an introduction."

Sascha Schwinn from Sweden

What if my skills and qualifications are not enough?

• Are you are aiming for a job that is out of reach? Remember that you might have to take a lower level job and work your way up.
• Make an appointment to speak with a careers consultant. They can help you to identify skills you didn’t realise you had.
• By getting help from a career consultant you might find out about jobs that you didn’t know existed.
  

How important are English language skills?

English, Māori, and sign language are the official languages in New Zealand.

The level of language needed varies for different jobs but you need to be competent in English to get along in all aspects of life, including work. You should learn some English before you come to New Zealand. Once you are here there are many courses available to help you further improve your English.

Most migrants find that their English improves rapidly once they start working in New Zealand, so the sooner you get into a job, the better.

Immigration New Zealand requires migrants to have a certain standard of English. To find out about this go to their website.

Immigration New Zealand website - English language requirements

"I was working in kitchens for around two months. This was the biggest improvement to my English. I was able to be around people and meet English speakers. To improve your English you need to immerse yourself in the English language - read, write, and live with Kiwis."

Pedro Romero from Chile

What if my work is too specialised to do in New Zealand?

What if my qualification is too general?

• Identify the skills that you have from your qualification(s) and previous work.
• Think about how you can apply these skills in other jobs.
• Use our skill matcher to find job ideas that match your skills.
• Get your qualifications recognised so that you know what level they are.
• Speak to one of our career consultants by phone, email or face to face.
• They can talk to you about your skills and how you can use them in different roles.

Match your skills with a job
Chat online with a career adviser

How to add to your qualifications

Before you take on a new study or training course find out if it's really going to be useful.

• Find out what employers in your field are actually wanting – walk in and ask questions related to the jobs they have in their business and what qualifications and experience they look for. Do not talk about or promote yourself – it could be that they like you and hire you but don’t make that your main aim.
• If you discover that you do need to get more qualifications, find out if you can do a part - time course so that you can also work.
• Registration bodies might advise you about how to improve your qualification.

Immigration New Zealand website - find out whether you can become registered in NZ

What can you bring to the New Zealand workplace?

Foreign language skills are necessary in some organisations, especially where the work is directly with people. Often you don’t need to be a qualified interpreter.

• For example, tourism operators, education providers, banks, telephone call centres, prisons and courts, schools, libraries, customs and immigration services, social service organisations, and government agencies like Work and Income, Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), and NZQA all need people who are fluent in a foreign language.

Your foreign language skills could make a difference in other jobs, even if the employer hadn’t though of it.

• If you see a job that is close to what you could do, offer yourself and point out that you have language skills that could be a bonus for employers. This could be the crucial difference between you and other applicants, especially where a company is importing or exporting.

Businesses that employ a range of people are more varied and alive.

• Be proud of your cultural background. Point out that you can bring fresh perspectives, new ways of looking at challenges. Diversity is good for business.