With unemployment at the highest it has been in nine years and job listings receiving hundreds of applicants, the ability to stand out from the crowd is more important than ever.
October was a record-setting month for student engagement on the Student Job Search website, with more than 41,000 job applications submitted. This was up 28% from the month before as students look to secure employment for summer. Young people are certainly feeling the pinch.
McLaren Recruitment Director Kirsty McLaren has led the recruitment for roles all over Aotearoa, from entry-level administration jobs to chief executives, so she knows a thing or two about what impresses employers.
The first step is deciding what jobs to apply for, and her advice is not to overthink it.
“Every job teaches you something valuable about people, teamwork, time management, or simply how you like to work. Even if a role isn’t directly related to your studies, you’ll gain transferable skills and experiences that will make you a stronger candidate later.
“That said, wherever possible, try to choose work that builds your confidence and aligns with your values. Think of every job as a steppingstone, not the destination.”
Her advice when writing a CV is to keep it clean and simple; tell the employer who you are, what you’ve done, and what you can bring. And of course, proofread it!
“The most common mistakes I see are spelling and grammatical errors, so proofreading is so important. Another big one is layout and readability – keep the formatting clean, consistent and easy on the eye. Clear structure and white space are your friends.
“Make sure you include your contact details; you’d be surprised how often I see these accidentally left off. And make sure your email address is professional – set up a new one if you need to.”
Kirsty is a “huge advocate” for a well-written cover letter.
“If you can write one yourself, then I would suggest that every time. If you need a little help from AI, that’s fine, but make sure you personalise it and add your own flavour to it. I can spot an AI-written cover letter from a mile off because they’re typically so generic and lacking in personality.”
The next step is impressing potential employers during the interview process, and Kirsty says good preparation is essential.
Candidates should take the time to research the company and study the job description, then practice.
“Run through a few mock interviews with a friend or even in front of a mirror. Think about questions you might be asked and how you’d answer them, but equally, don’t over-rehearse – you still want to sound natural.
“During the interview, maintain positive body language, smile, make eye contact, and show genuine interest. Employers are looking for people who are engaged, curious, and self-aware, not necessarily those with the most experience.
“You’ll really stand out if you ask thoughtful, tailored questions at the end. This shows that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the opportunity.”
While the job market is competitive, Kirsty says job seekers should still have hope.
“Employers still need motivated, adaptable people, and they value those who show initiative, reliability, and a willingness to learn. What’s changed is that you may need to approach your job search more strategically and stay open to roles that aren’t a perfect match on paper.”
Student Job Search Chief Executive Louise Saviker says the gap between the number of jobs available and students looking for work remains.
“As we head into summer, students are out in force looking for employment to fund their studies and their lives,” she says.
“We encourage those students to keep an open mind and give anything a go. With the current market, where we are seeing more part time and casual work available, students may need to consider picking up multiple jobs to get the hours they want.”