The specific skills and experience needed to fulfill a government role will of course depend on the job itself.  The desired skills and experience  for an Executive Assistant position for example, are different to what is needed for a Technical Writer.  Usually government employers provide helpful, comprehensive job descriptions which will clearly outline what is required.

For roles in the policy space, prior policy and governance experience is sought after, or experience working in a community role with local Iwi and Hapū.

More broadly, previous public sector experience is highly desirable. Employers have a preference for candidates who understand the machinery of government. Overseas public sector experience is also useful.

A strong understanding of Tikanga Māori, Te Tiriti O Waitangi, and/or the ability to converse in Te Reo is highly regarded, and for some positions, is a firm requirement.

As per the experience question above, individual roles may require distinct qualifications, with many government entities having a preference for tertiary level qualifications. For example, HR roles will generally have a requirement for tertiary qualifications in Human Resources. For some jobs in Corrections, employers like to see Criminology qualifications.

Public policy study in general, ands post-grad qualifications, such as the Masters of Public Policy  can often be a requirement for policy roles.

Qualifications in Te Reo Maori are highly regarded.

Recruitment processes for government roles are necessarily rigorous, and there a variety of checks and balances you may need to meet. This could include checks such as  Ministry of Justice (criminal conviction), standard safety checking under the Vulnerable Children’s Act (VCA) or the serious misconduct test.

Your Madison consultant will be able to advise you what is required for a particular role.

Long before the pandemic forced the private sector to adapt to flexible work practices, the government as a workplace has supported and promoted flexible work—and so this continues. The government is a great place to work, and certainly for the majority of office-based roles, there is a lot of flexibility available to employees.  Flexibility is embedded in the culture and ethos, and is here to stay.

It depends the nature of the work and job itself, as to what form this flexibility takes. It may be working from home WFH days, early/late hours, evening or weekend work, or simply the flexibility to take time when needed for personal commitments. Please ask your Madison consultant about flexibility for roles you are interested in.

It is true that government roles don’t typically offer at the very top of remuneration levels that you might see in private sector—but we think they still pay pretty well!

In addition, we believe that differences in salary are more than offset by the great opportunities and benefits that working in government provides.  Government is a rewarding place to work, and if you value learning and development, flexible work practices and real work/life balance, and being a part of an organisation that is focused on enhancing and supporting our country, Aotearoa New Zealand, then government may be for you.

The government is a great place to undertake temporary work, with some unique features that make it particularly enjoyable, and rewarding.

Temporary work (read more about types of employment contracts here) is a great way to ‘get your foot in the door’ in government.  A temp role is your place to learn, grow and make connections—while making a difference.

At Madison, we often place groups or teams of temps, so you can be making connections and building friendships, right from the start. You might even be able to find a job alongside existing friends!  For example, we work with a lot of Working Holiday Visa holders, who are traveling and working in New Zealand together, and then apply and work together in temporary government jobs.

Another benefit of temping through Madison, is the high chance of redeployment. Because we are a big agency, managing a large volume of temporary roles, we can offer our Madison temps a variety of assignments to try, and multiple placements, if and when an assignment finishes.

When you temp through Madison, we are your employer—and we provide our temps with some great benefits, such as discounts on dentist services, and eyecare.

When you choose Madison as your recruiter, you are in safe hands. We have consultants who specialise in recruiting for government with in-depth knowledge, extensive networks, and excellent government employers—meaning more exciting opportunities for job seekers like you.  Your Madison consultant will be able to provide you with insights and advice, working alongside you to help you find your next career opportunity. Your consultant will strive to truly understand your priorities for your next role, and will match you to employers and jobs that align with your career goals, expectations and values.

While local government experience is highly valued, our government clients are open to considering non-New Zealander applications, if job seekers hold the appropriate right-to-work Visas.

If you like the idea of moving to New Zealand, and want to know more about visa options, we recommend visiting Immigration NZ.  We also have some great resources right here at Madison.