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Work homepage
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Overview
Find out what services we can offer to help you find work and when you start a new job.
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Looking for work
We have jobs available now in various industries and you can search on our job websites.
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Help with your job search
From advice on making a plan, to tips on where to look and following up leads.
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Training and experience
Our programmes can help you get ready for work with training and work experience.
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Job Connect on Facebook
Find out how we can help you get ready to work, find work, and support available while you're working.
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CVs and cover letters
We’ve got great templates and advice for writing your CV or cover letter, and filling out job applications.
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Help with work costs
Get help to pay for the things you need to start work
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Job support and advice
Get all the support and advice you need to stay in work.
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Health and disability
If you want to work, we can support you to find the right job for you.
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Start your own business
We can help you get your business up and running.
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Job interviews
Get advice about how to prepare for and deliver a great interview.
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Help for 16-19 year olds
We’ve got extra support for young people to get ready for work and find a job.
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Benefits and payments homepage
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Overview
Take a look at the range of benefits and payments we have available.
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Not working
Redundancy, health condition or disability or another reason you can’t work
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Living expenses
Food, school costs, power, accommodation or other living expenses you need help with
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Relationship changes
You’ve had a relationship break-up, family breakdown or violent relationship end
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Health and Disability
Counselling, prescription and GP costs, medical alarms and other costs we can help with
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Seniors
Travelling overseas, how to apply, payment rates and dates, overseas pensions, income and other info for Seniors
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Caring
Caring for someone else’s child or someone with a health condition, injury or disability
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Urgent or unexpected costs
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Children
Childcare, school uniforms, stationery, having a baby and other costs if you have children
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Payment issues
Fixing issues with Accommodation Supplement, Special Benefit and other payments we’ve made
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16-19 year olds
Education, training, work and benefit help for 16-19 year olds
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Benefits and forms
A-Z list of benefits, forms, benefit rates
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On a benefit homepage
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Overview
Check out what you need to do when you're getting a benefit or other payment from us.
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Something's changed
Address, contact details, overseas travel, childcare, relationship or anything else that’s changed.
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Income
Declare income, wages deduction calculator and tables
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Childcare
Change in your childcare situation, continue childcare payments, cohort entry schools and other childcare information
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Re-apply
Re-apply for Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support, Temporary Additional Support and more
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Payments
Check or stop your payments, payment cards and other information
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Debt
Check your debt, repayments and other debt information
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Rights and responsibilities
Our commitment to you, obligations, complaints, benefit fraud and more
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Housing homepage
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Overview
Find out how we can help you with housing.
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Nowhere to stay
Get help if you have nowhere to stay right now.
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Find a house
Find out where to look for private housing, or apply for public (social) housing.
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Living in your home
Get help with accommodation costs, and advice on any housing issues and public housing tenancies.
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Move house
Find out how we can help if you’re moving house.
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Preparing for a job interview
When you get a job interview, be prepared. It shows an employer you're keen to work for them and increases your chances of securing employment.
Being prepared shows you have initiative and are motivated. Do your research on the company - showing you know about what they do and who they are might give you the edge.
Getting a job interview is an achievement. It shows that the employer wants to find out more about you. At the interview, the employer is trying to choose the best person for the job and you're trying to prove you're the right person. Practise what you want to say and plan what you want to ask.
Every interview is different but there are some types of questions that are often asked. We've listed some below, so you can think about what you might say. Write your answers down and practise with a friend or someone in your family.
Prepare for questions you don't want to be asked, for example, if you've ever been fired or convicted of a crime. Say briefly what happened, explain how you've changed or what you'd do differently now and ask for a second chance.
Typical interview questions
Why do you want to work for this organisation?
- What made you apply for this particular job?
- How did you hear about this organisation?
- What do you know about us as an organisation?
- What do you imagine a (role applied for) does?
- What do you see as the major issues facing our company?
- What challenges are you looking for in this position?
Behavioural interview questions
- Give me an example of your problem-solving style.
- What are the accomplishments/achievements that have given you the most satisfaction?
- Give me an example of how you've provided good customer service.
- Tell us of a time when you believe your communications skills were particularly good.
- What is a goal that you've set and how did you go about achieving that goal?
- Tell me about a time when you were part of a group or a team.
- Tell me about a time when you took a leadership role within a group.
Personal interview questions
- Outline your personal goals for this year.
- What experience have you had working with people from other cultures?
- How would your friends describe you?
- Why did you choose your particular course?
- Why did you choose to go to university/polytech?
- What do you do for fun?
- What current issues do you feel strongly about?
The questions you ask show that you're interested in making sure the job is right for you. Here are some suggestions.
- What would I be doing and what would a typical day be like?
- Which tasks are the most important ones?
- How would I be trained or introduced to the job?
- How long should it take me to get up to speed?
- How many people will I be working with, what do they do?
- When would you like me to start?
If the interviewer doesn't tell you things like wages, what hours and days you'd be working, holidays and sick leave, it's ok to ask. We suggest you do this towards the end of the interview - after you've had a chance to tell the employer how suitable you would be.
Tips:
- Take extra care with the way you look.
- Wear clean suitable clothes and shoes.
- Smile, shake hands firmly and look people in the eye.
- Address people as Mr, Mrs or Ms unless they say otherwise.
- Wait to be asked to sit down - be relaxed but sit upright.
- Turn your phone off before you get to the interview.
- Don't smoke, eat, use a water bottle or chew gum.
- Try not to fiddle with your hair, clothes or pens.
- Don't be critical of other companies or people.
Take your original CV, certificates and references (and spare copies), a copy of your application and any letters you've sent the employer - plus anything else they've sent you.
You can take any notes you've made and questions to jog your memory. It's ok to check your notes and to write notes during the interview.
Know the time and place of the interview and the name of the person who will be interviewing you (it may be more than one person). Arrive early so you have time to relax and feel confident. If you want to take family or whānau along, arrange this beforehand.
The impression you create in the first few minutes is important. The employer uses your presentation to assess your attitudes, values and how you'll fit in.
The interview is your chance to tell the employer why you're the right person for the job.
It's normal to be nervous but try to relax. Be friendly and polite and keep good eye contact. Listen carefully to questions you're asked and give positive, honest answers. If you don't hear or understand something, ask the interviewer to repeat it.
At the end, thank the employer for the interview and ask when they'll make a decision.