How to Apply
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Advice to applicants
This section will give you information about applying for a position with NZAID:
Vacancies within NZAID
NZAID's current vacancies are listed in the Vacancies section of our website. Position descriptions and the NZAID application form can also be downloaded from this section.
We also advertise these positions on www.jobs.govt.nz and in some national newspapers and international publications.
Applying for a position
When applying for a position at NZAID you should include the following documents:
- a completed NZAID Application Form
- a cover letter that outlines your motivation for applying for the position and relevant experience
- your curriculum vitae (CV).
There is no standard format required for a CV but it should include the following information:
- full details of your employment history and formal qualifications you have gained
- skills, knowledge and attributes relevant to the position you are applying for
Please note that we do not return CVs.
You can email, post or fax your application to us.
The selection process
Shortlisting
Once the vacancy has closed, the panel will meet to determine who will be invited to come in for an interview. This will be decided using the information provided in the applicants' CVs, application forms and cover letter.
If you are selected for an interview
If you are selected for an interview you will be contacted to arrange a time for you to come in and meet with the panel. We will then send you a letter that provides further information on the interview, including the types of questions that will be asked.
You are welcome to bring whanau or other support people to the interview. Please let us know if you intend to do this prior to the interview, as we will need to ensure that the room is set up appropriately. Applicants are responsibile for making travel arrangements for whanau or other support people and meeting their costs.
Please advise us if you have any special needs (e.g. accessibility).
The interview
The interview is your opportunity to demonstrate the skills that you could bring to the job. Interviews usually take between 45 minutes and one hour.
Over this period the panel will ask you a set of structured questions. The panel will usually share responsibility for asking you questions. They will take notes on your answers.
The questions asked are behavioral and will be based on the position description. When answering these questions you may want to keep the following tips in mind:
- use real examples that show when and how you have used the skills/knowledge that you are being asked about
- describe the situation, task or action you undertook, as well as the results or reaction you achieved
Practise answering questions before the interview. Talking out loud and about your skills and experience will help you to remember the different places you have used those skills.
Remember you want to be able to give good examples and keep to the point.
Additional selection tools
For some roles additional selection tools may be used. These could include psychometric assessment and work sample exercises.
Reference checks
The NZAID application form has a section where you can list your referees. If you choose not to complete this section, please bring the names and contact details for your referees to your interview.
We will ask your permission prior to contacting your referees.
Referees are only contacted when the successful candidate is known.
If we do call your referees, they will be asked a set of structured questions. It is important that you provide referees who can talk from experience about your skills, knowledge and attributes.
Any information provided by referees will remain confidential to NZAID.
Following completion of the recruitment process, the successful candidate will be contacted by NZAID's HR team.
Other helpful information
Security clearances
All offers of employment made by NZAID are subject to an appropriate New Zealand government security clearance being gained and kept.
The security clearance process will take approximately three months. You will not be able to start working at NZAID until you have been cleared to an appropriate level.
Postings
To be considered for an offshore posting you will need to have worked for NZAID in a similar position for a number of years.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Although all NZAID employees are employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), this does not mean NZAID employees can move into MFAT roles. NZAID employees would have to apply for a position with MFAT like everybody else.
We are not able to keep CVs on file. Please do not send us your CV unless you are applying for an advertised position.
Equal Employment Opportunities
NZAID is an equal employment opportunity employer. We value diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from any suitably qualified people.
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