Graduate and internship programme applications are opening up all over New Zealand right now. Here are some great tips on how to put your best foot forward from 3 organisations looking for graduate and internship applicants. You'll find it isn't just about having a good CV - although that is important!
Read their top 10 tips for making a great impression in the application process.
1/ Attention to Detail
Paying attention to detail was something Audit NZ Talent and Recruitment Advisor Sandy Hoggarth (presenting right) emphasised strongly, pointing out the worse thing you can do is to list ‘attention to detail’ as a strength in a CV riddled with errors.
“Make sure your cover letter and CV are not full of mistakes such as different fonts and font sizes and spelling mistakes. Get someone else to check it.”
He also encourages students to think about how to keep the person reading the CV engaged in it. “Have white space, keep the CV to a couple of pages, don’t distract us from your content with errors.”
2/ Be succinct
Please don't feel the need to write a CV that is any longer than 2 pages, pleads Xero Graduate Experience Advisor Alice Williams.
“Keep it succinct and to the point. You don't need to list all your modules in your CV - you attach your transcript to your application anyway. Use your CV to tell us who you are, what you're currently doing, and what you want to be doing in the future.”
3/ Clearly articulate why you are applying
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE) Graduate Programme Manager Jemma Saywell wants to be able to clearly see what is motivating you to apply for the programme.
“Why are you interested in policy? What is it about MBIE that interests you? This information helps us when we are thinking about what team you are best suited to if you are successful so it is really important that you can articulate who you are and why you’re interested in MBIE.”
4/ Show your best side
Sandy says Audit NZ want to see a well-rounded approach to life – grades aren’t everything.
“A student with B- average grades, combined with good team and communication skills, offers more to Audit NZ than someone with straight As and no other experience. We need you to be able to work in a team and communicate with the team and clients. Yes, you do need to be able to crunch numbers but you don’t need to be a genius.”
Therefore, Sandy says Audit NZ is open to hearing from applicants who have a good reason for not meeting the B- grade criteria – but only if the applicant can articulate why their grades are a bit low.
“Own it, admit it, explain it. That is how I get a picture of you. For example, if Mum and Dad wanted you to study law, but you didn’t like it and failed or got low marks in those papers before changing tack and going into a Business and Accounting degree. Or if you failed a paper because of a situation out of your control. 
Tell me that, and then I will look at other specific papers to see how you got on.”
5/ Show your passion and flexibility
Don't just talk about it, show us, says Alice Williams.
“For example, show us your passion for coding via your Github profile or something similar.
And your flexibility. The grad program is rotational at Xero, so we want to see that you are ready to be flexible and willing to jump into lots of different areas of the business. If you can, show us how - and when - you have been flexible or able to deal with change.”
6/ Work out your values
Do your values align with the organisation’s values? This is really important says Sandy. Take the time to work out what your values are. You’re likely to be asked at some stage, but Sandy says it is also important that you can identify if you will fit into an organisation’s culture.
“We want people with the right values, and a desire to give back to NZ.”
7/ Make the most of the position description
Familiarise yourself with the competencies of the role and use them as a guideline, says Jemma. This information is in the job description and on the company website.
“Keep these in mind as you progress through the recruitment process because we know these competencies make great Graduate Policy Advisors and are looking out for them.”
8/ Use the S.T.A.R. technique
Jemma explains that all MBIE interviews are competency based, as are assessments and interviews for many other organisations' graduate and internship programmes.
“This means we are looking to hear about a specific time where you have demonstrated the skills we are looking for.
The best way to make sure you’re answering the question is with the STAR technique - Situation, Task, Action, Result,” explains Jemma.
9/ Look beyond Auckland
If you don’t have a real pressing preference for a location, widen your opportunities by applying to smaller offices as well as Auckland, suggests Sandy.
“Explain in your application you’re happy to go anywhere or that you are committed to a particular region because of partner, family, sport other commitments etc. It is important for us to know this.”
10/ Last but not least - Be yourself
Don’t try to be someone you’re not, advises Jemma.
“Be true to yourself and let this shine through your responses in your interview.”
Further general tips from employers
- Read questions carefully so you give answers that fit the questions and don't talk about a challenge when you've been asked about your interests, for example.
- Don’t leave gaps or blanks in your application form. The questions have been carefully created and if you miss an answer, you’ll put yourself at a disadvantage. Always try and answer.
- When you’re answering questions, draw on life outside your study, such as part time work, volunteering and personal responsibilities to build a strong all round picture of yourself .
MBIE, Audit NZ and Xero information
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) take up to 30 graduates each year into their Policy Graduate Programme and up to 10 interns into the Summer Policy internship. There are other channels into MBIE too through Procurement, GovTechTalent, ilovedata etc. Learn more here.
Xero is hiring around 45 grads this year across software engineering, security, data, salesforce, and design. Learn more here
Audit NZ takes 32 graduates into its graduate programme each year. Currently the Auckland office is looking for 4 graduates. Hamilton and Tauranga are looking for 1 graduate each. The agency also takes 12-14 students into summer internships across the country. For an Internship, students need to be in their penultimate (second to last) year of study. Last year 10 interns went on to graduate roles (applicants for graduate roles need to be able to meet the Chartered Accountants academic requirements for by March 2022). Learn more here.
Want help to prepare?
The Employability & Careers team run a number of workshops and career sessions each week to help you improve your CV and cover letter writing, interview skills etc. Book into a workshop by signing into Elab Online.
Not used Elab Online before? Just use your AUT user name and password to get into the site, then look for Events to find the workshops. Look at presentations and resources as well.
If you missed our first blog on applications, you can read it here: Stand Out - Graduate Programme
Read other informative articles from our Employability Blog here.
Compiled by AUT Employability & Careers; Careers writer Angela McCarthy
