Recruitment guides for employers and job seekers
Straight, practical answers on hiring, employment law, pay and careers in New Zealand, written from twenty years of placing people with Waikato and Kiwi businesses.
For employers
Employer guides
Hiring, retaining and restructuring in New Zealand, written for owners and managers of small and mid-sized businesses. If you would rather talk it through, here is how we work with employers.
- Recruitment agency fees in NZ: how agencies charge and what you actually getHow recruitment agency fees work in NZ: contingent, retained and fixed models, typical percentage ranges, what is included, guarantees and comparing quotes.Read the guide →
- How to choose the best recruitment agency in Hamilton for your businessHow to choose the best recruitment agency in Hamilton: specialist vs generalist, Waikato networks, process, references, ten questions to ask and the red flags.Read the guide →
- How long does recruitment take? Realistic timelines by role typeRealistic recruitment timelines in New Zealand by role type, from specialist and management roles to executive search, what slows a hire and how to shorten it.Read the guide →
- The cost of a bad hire: what a mis-hire really costs an SMEWhat a bad hire costs a small or mid-sized NZ business, with a worked example for a senior role, the warning signs to watch and how a proper brief prevents it.Read the guide →
- Job description template for NZ employers (with a worked Operations Manager example)A practical job description template for NZ employers with worked Operations Manager wording, plus how to write one that attracts senior and specialist people.Read the guide →
- 25 interview questions for managers and leaders, and what good answers sound likeTwenty-five interview questions for hiring managers and leaders, grouped by leadership, operations, people and change, with what good answers sound like.Read the guide →
- Onboarding process for senior hires: a 30/60/90-day plan that worksA practical onboarding process for senior hires: the first-week checklist, a 30/60/90-day plan with clear outcomes and why post-placement follow-up matters.Read the guide →
- 90-day trial periods in NZ: how they work and why they are not a hiring strategyHow 90-day trial periods work for NZ employers: what must be in writing, notice rules, what you can and cannot do, probation as an alternative and the limits.Read the guide →
- Staff retention strategies that actually work for NZ SMEsPractical staff retention strategies for NZ SMEs: pay bands, visible progression, better managers, flexibility, recognition and the early signs someone may go.Read the guide →
- The cost of employee turnover: how to calculate it for your businessHow to calculate the real cost of employee turnover, with a worked example for a $120k operations manager, the hidden costs most miss and how to reduce it.Read the guide →
- Salary benchmarking in NZ: how to do it properly for an SMEHow to benchmark salaries in New Zealand: the data sources worth using, matching roles on scope, Waikato vs Auckland, internal equity and how we do it.Read the guide →
- 20 exit interview questions and how to actually use the answersTwenty exit interview questions grouped by theme, how to run an exit interview that gets honest answers, and how to turn what you hear into retention changes.Read the guide →
- Succession planning for NZ SMEs: a practical guideSuccession planning for NZ SMEs: identifying critical roles, assessing readiness honestly, developing successors, capturing knowledge, searching externally.Read the guide →
- Redundancy process in NZ: a step-by-step guide for employersThe fair redundancy process in New Zealand step by step: genuine reason, written proposal, consultation, decision, notice, redundancy pay and outplacement.Read the guide →
- Restructuring process in NZ: how to plan and run a restructure properlyHow to run a restructure in New Zealand: building the case, proper consultation, fair selection criteria, team communication, keeping key people, outplacement.Read the guide →
- Contractor vs employee in NZ: the legal tests and when each makes senseContractor vs employee in New Zealand: the intention, control, integration and economic reality tests, the risks of misclassification and when contracting fits.Read the guide →
- Accredited Employer Work Visa: a plain-English guide for NZ employersPlain-English Accredited Employer Work Visa guide for NZ employers: accreditation, job check, wage thresholds, timelines, costs and the mistakes to avoid.Read the guide →
- New Zealand skills shortage list and the Green List: what employers need to knowWhat replaced the NZ skills shortage list: how the Green List works, which engineering and technical roles have featured, and what it means for Waikato firms.Read the guide →
For job seekers
Job seeker guides
CVs, interviews, resignations and salary conversations, from a recruiter who sees hundreds of each every year. Ready to move? Search current roles or submit your CV.
- How to write a CV in NZ (and get it read)How to write a CV for NZ employers: length, what to leave out, a section-by-section structure with examples, and the mistakes a Hamilton recruiter sees weekly.Read the guide →
- Resignation letter NZ: how to resign well, with two templatesHow to resign well in New Zealand: notice periods, a short and a formal resignation letter template, how to handle a counter-offer, and leaving on good terms.Read the guide →
- Interview tips for NZ jobs: how to prepare, perform and follow upInterview tips for NZ jobs from a Hamilton recruiter: preparation, the STAR method with manufacturing and engineering examples, interview culture and follow-up.Read the guide →
- Salary negotiation in NZ: how to negotiate a job offer without souring itHow to negotiate a job offer in NZ: use market data, get the timing right, value the whole package, borrow our scripts and know what a recruiter can do for you.Read the guide →
- How do recruitment agencies work? A candidate’s guide to working with a recruiterHow recruitment agencies work for job seekers: who pays, what registering involves, confidentiality, and how to get the most from a specialist recruiter in NZ.Read the guide →
Ready to talk?
Whether you’re an employer looking to hire, or a job seeker keen to share your resume, contact us today and we’ll get back to you soon.