How We Hire
Ready to step up?
Learn about GovTechTalent’s hiring process plus some tips and tricks to help you along the way.
Browse the questions we get asked the most, or get in touch with us at govtechtalent@dia.govt.nz.
Hiring Process
The GovTechTalent team is interested in you as a person and how you can apply your unique personality, skills, experiences and training to benefit New Zealand’s government.
1. Online Application
To apply simply follow the steps to complete the online application, including uploading a copy of your passport or permanent residency (must be NZ/AU citizen or permanent resident), an updated CV, and your academic transcript (unofficial transcripts will be accepted).
2. Video Introduction
You’ll receive an email invitation to complete a video introduction where you’ll answer some pre-recorded questions at a time that is convenient for you. This is an opportunity for us to get to know you better. (See Nailing your video interview)
3. Online Assessment
You’ll receive an email invitation for online assessments. The first is a series of short assessments that will test your literacy, numeracy, and abstract reasoning skills. Some candidates will be invited to complete a critical reasoning assessment and a personality assessment.
4. Panel Interview
Interviews will take place at an assessment centre with multiple participating agency representatives in attendance. We’ll confirm times and dates with as much notice as possible to shortlisted candidates.
5. Offers
Post reference checks, successful graduates will receive their official letter of offer. Congratulations!
Keep reading below or see our FAQs for more info and tips.
CV Tips
Kiwis are not known for shouting about their achievements – this is one time it is all about YOU. Don't be shy! Here’s our advice on how to nail your CV. You’ll also find a few resources for creating a relevant and attractive CV that’ll help get your foot in the door.
What to include
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Contact details
Clear contact information is essential. We need to know who you are and how to contact you. You should include:- Your first and last name
- Email address
- Mobile number
- LinkedIn profile link (if you have one)
Double check your details are correct and there are no typos!
This is a good time to check if you have your voicemail set up and that it’s clear and professional. It’s also a good time to swap out that slightly embarrassing email address that you created when you were nine.
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Personal statement
This section is an opportunity to show us what you’re looking for and what your key skills and attributes are. Think of it as your written ‘elevator pitch’. It should be a succinct summary of you and why you’d be a great fit for the programme.
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Experience
List your work experience, starting with your most recent position. This section can include jobs, internships, and volunteer work. Start with:- The company name.
- Your position title.
- When you were employed there.
For each role, include a summary of what tasks you undertook and any accomplishments or skills you developed while in the role. If you have any metrics to give us an even clearer idea of what you did in this role, that’s great.
Example:
Checkout operator
Countdown Supermarket, Pukekohe South
June 2019 - August 2020
Day-to-day tasks included operating the checkout, packing groceries, balancing the till and answering customer queries.
I regularly served over 100 customers each day.
I was responsible for organising the staff breaks rotation.
Key skills required were friendly customer service, great time management and the ability to remain calm in a busy environment.
What if I don't have any work experience?
If you don’t have any previous work experience, don’t worry! You can include your involvement with clubs, sports teams, community groups or other extracurricular activities that may have given you skills that are transferrable to a paid work environment, like leadership experience, collaboration skills, planning skills etc.
Example:
Marist Rugby Club
As well as playing, I helped coach our youngest teams.
I was responsible for organising our annual fundraising initiatives. This included organising sessions to brainstorm ideas from the players and present these to seniors in the club.
I sold the most raffle tickets for the last two years.
Skills
Include any special skills that relate to the job you're applying for, like software experience, language skills, or experience gained from non-work activities.
Example:
Microsoft Office Suite
Google Analytics
Beginners level Mandarin
Full Driver’s Licence
Strong written and verbal communication
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Education
List your education and qualifications, starting with the most recent. You should include your current course of study too. Include:
- Your qualification.
- The name and location of the institution or school you studied at.
- The years you attended, or your expected graduation date.
- You can include your high school education if it's still recent and relevant.
Example:
Bachelor of Design
Massey University, Wellington
Graduated: 2022
How to present your CV
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Keep it short and stay relevant
It’s OK if your CV is only one page. For students and people with limited work experience this is common. As you get more experience, two or three pages is typical.
Remember, the point of a CV is to get you an interview – so only include the stuff that’s relevant to the job at hand!
Here are some tips on writing about relevant skills (Government Careers website)
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Use plain language and short sentences
Make it easy for us to pick up on your key points. You will stand out from the crowd if your CV is snappy and to-the-point.
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Have a clear layout
Another way to help us to easily digest your CV is to be smart with your layout. Use bold headings to clearly mark each section and consider where bullet points or tables are a better way to present your skills or work experience.
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Proofread, and then proofread again
If there’s one time to make sure your spelling and grammar are on point, it’s when you’re writing your CV. Writing isn’t everyone’s strength; luckily there are loads of online writing assistants like Grammarly. You can install it on your computer to proofread as you write or upload the document when you’re done. It’s a good idea to make sure it’s set to New Zealand English (not US English) first.
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Read about the GTT pathways
Read up on the various pathways available in the programme and familiarise yourself with the type of skills we’re looking for. Use this as a starting point for your CV to make sure it’s as relevant to the programme as possible.
Other considerations
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Get a second opinion
It’s a good idea to ask a good friend or family member to review your CV. They will want to see you succeed and may see you differently to how you see yourself, and spot some experience or skills that you could add in.
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Social media
It’s common for employers to look at prospective future employee's social media accounts. What do your social media profiles say about you? If there’s anything that might negatively impact your chances of getting an interview, consider removing it.
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Should I include a photo?
It’s less common to include a photo these days. If you do choose to, make sure it’s recent and professional.
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Writing a cover letter
As part of you GovTechTalent application, instead of a cover letter you'll be asked to complete a ‘video introduction’, which involves videoing yourself answering a few questions. Get tips on nailing your video introduction here.
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Careers New Zealand resources
Careers New Zealand has some great resources and examples to get you started. Check out these for some more inspiration and guidance.
CV builder (Government Careers website) helps you create your CV step-by-step
Nailing your video introduction
If your online application in successful, we’ll send you a link to answer a couple of questions via a video introduction.
Talking to a camera can feel daunting, but your video introduction is when done well. The difference between average and strong is preparation.
Start with the practical setup.
Record in a quiet space where you will not be interrupted. Let people in your house know you need 10 minutes. Close windows. Silence notifications. Make sure pets are settled.
Test your camera and microphone before you start. Record a short trial and play it back. Check that we can hear you clearly and that your face is well lit. Light should be in front of you, not behind you. Have a quick look at what is visible in the background. Keep it tidy and appropriate for a professional setting. Nothing distracting.
Once the environment is sorted, focus on your message.
Think about what genuinely motivates you. What are you curious about. What experiences have shaped your interest in public service. How do your strengths and interests connect to making real impact for New Zealanders.
Do not memorise a script. Prepare your key points and practise saying them out loud, but aim to sound like yourself. We are not looking for perfect wording. We are looking for clarity of thought and self awareness.
One important request. Please do not use AI to write or generate your video response.
We don’t want to hear what a tool says about you. We want to hear from you. When responses are generated or overly scripted, it usually comes across as stiff or impersonal. Reviewers can sense when someone is not speaking naturally. It doesn’t strengthen your application. It weakens it.
And finally, take the pressure off.
If you stumble on a word, that is fine. If you pause to think, that is fine. If you need to start a sentence again, that is fine. This is not a talent show. We are not assessing performance skills.
We are interested in what drives you, what you care about, and how those motivations could translate into meaningful contribution to the public service.
Prepare thoughtfully. Set yourself up well. Then show up as yourself. That’s what stands out.
