Hiring: Someone to Help Me get a Job

It’s trimester two and your summer funds have dwindled to meagre pennies. You are feeling settled with your course load and unsettled by the increasing cost of living. It’s time to enter the workforce and join the 50% of Aotearoa students that partake in paid employment while they study. 

This might prove more difficult than first thought. Whether you’re re-entering the arena or it’s your first time on the hunt, you’ll notice that the market is tight. Student Job Search, a free online recruitment service for Aotearoa students, told Salient that advertised vacancies have decreased by 36% from last year between January and June. In return, the service has seen a 61.30% increase in applications per vacancy from the same period in 2025, meaning that positions are now far more competitive to land. 

So how can you find a job when the world is against you? As someone who has been employed 19 times, from florist, to dog walker, to line cook, let me tell you what I’ve learnt.

Revise that Resume 

If you’re still using the same CV you made in high school, chances are that you’re being automatically fast-tracked to the “no” pile. For a part time non-corporate job your resume should be no longer than a page. Avoid repetition of the same skills, mentioning hobbies unless they are related to the job, and lengthy descriptions. Managers want to skim through in 30 seconds and decide whether to hire you on the spot. 

In hospitality, I hate to break it to you, no one’s calling your references. In retail, be more careful and let your references (whether they are real or fake) know to expect a call before you list them. Keep your cover letters short and non-generic, and at the very least remember to change the name of the business in the heading. Tailor the letter to the job listing by using the same keywords and remember to include your availability and when you’re ready to start. Finally, check your spelling and grammar, or get a friend to do it for you (Thanks Salient Sub-Editor) for a stellar first impression.

Apply Aggressively

You’ll want to apply to a job as early as possible, and if that means refreshing online listings multiple times a day, so be it. Talk to the staff at your local bar, supermarket, gym, and café to get early leads before vacancies are made public. If you see a sign up in a window, don’t put it off, and get in contact immediately. If you’re looking in hospitality or retail, I hate to say it but your parents were right when they told you to just barge in with your CV. 

Managers love something tangible, and seeing someone who is ready and willing to work will fill their run-down hearts with delight. There is great success to be had by eyeing listings on Student Job Search and then contacting the business directly or physically dropping your resume rather than going through the site's recruitment process. Go in confident, friendly, and neat during off peak hours. The worst they can do is hold on to your details for further opportunities (put it in the bin when you walk out). Treat it like rejection therapy!

Widen your World

That being said, it’s all too easy to box yourself in by applying for only physical storefronts. Widen your realm beyond Cuba Street and consider options like online tutoring, babysitting, freelance editing, gig work, pet sitting, gardening, the list goes on. Often casual and one-off employers pay better hourly wages, are less selective about who they employ, and can lead to ongoing opportunities down the line. 

Alongside Student Job Search and physical bulletins, join Facebook groups like Wellington Hospitality and Wellington Hospo Group to nab last minute events and shift covers. Don’t forget to use nepotism to your advantage and tell everyone you know that you’re looking for work. Often a flatmate's sister’s boyfriend will need a vacancy filled, or a team mate’s uncle’s goldfish will need sitting. A personal recommendation and good word put in can go a long way to making your application stand out.

Most importantly, don’t lose hope. It’s hard when you have to hustle to land the hustle, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, or in this case, an appealing minimum wage opportunity. Good luck out there and remember what The Smiths said: 

“I was looking for a job and then I found a job, and heaven knows I’m miserable now.”By Martha Schenk

It’s trimester two and your summer funds have dwindled to meagre pennies. You are feeling settled with your course load and unsettled by the increasing cost of living. It’s time to enter the workforce and join the 50% of Aotearoa students that partake in paid employment while they study. 

This might prove more difficult than first thought. Whether you’re re-entering the arena or it’s your first time on the hunt, you’ll notice that the market is tight. Student Job Search, a free online recruitment service for Aotearoa students, told Salient that advertised vacancies have decreased by 36% from last year between January and June. In return, the service has seen a 61.30% increase in applications per vacancy from the same period in 2025, meaning that positions are now far more competitive to land. 

So how can you find a job when the world is against you? As someone who has been employed 19 times, from florist, to dog walker, to line cook, let me tell you what I’ve learnt.

Revise that Resume 

If you’re still using the same CV you made in high school, chances are that you’re being automatically fast-tracked to the “no” pile. For a part time non-corporate job your resume should be no longer than a page. Avoid repetition of the same skills, mentioning hobbies unless they are related to the job, and lengthy descriptions. Managers want to skim through in 30 seconds and decide whether to hire you on the spot. 

In hospitality, I hate to break it to you, no one’s calling your references. In retail, be more careful and let your references (whether they are real or fake) know to expect a call before you list them. Keep your cover letters short and non-generic, and at the very least remember to change the name of the business in the heading. Tailor the letter to the job listing by using the same keywords and remember to include your availability and when you’re ready to start. Finally, check your spelling and grammar, or get a friend to do it for you (Thanks Salient Sub-Editor) for a stellar first impression.

Apply Aggressively

You’ll want to apply to a job as early as possible, and if that means refreshing online listings multiple times a day, so be it. Talk to the staff at your local bar, supermarket, gym, and café to get early leads before vacancies are made public. If you see a sign up in a window, don’t put it off, and get in contact immediately. If you’re looking in hospitality or retail, I hate to say it but your parents were right when they told you to just barge in with your CV. 

Managers love something tangible, and seeing someone who is ready and willing to work will fill their run-down hearts with delight. There is great success to be had by eyeing listings on Student Job Search and then contacting the business directly or physically dropping your resume rather than going through the site's recruitment process. Go in confident, friendly, and neat during off peak hours. The worst they can do is hold on to your details for further opportunities (put it in the bin when you walk out). Treat it like rejection therapy!

Widen your World

That being said, it’s all too easy to box yourself in by applying for only physical storefronts. Widen your realm beyond Cuba Street and consider options like online tutoring, babysitting, freelance editing, gig work, pet sitting, gardening, the list goes on. Often casual and one-off employers pay better hourly wages, are less selective about who they employ, and can lead to ongoing opportunities down the line. 

Alongside Student Job Search and physical bulletins, join Facebook groups like Wellington Hospitality and Wellington Hospo Group to nab last minute events and shift covers. Don’t forget to use nepotism to your advantage and tell everyone you know that you’re looking for work. Often a flatmate's sister’s boyfriend will need a vacancy filled, or a team mate’s uncle’s goldfish will need sitting. A personal recommendation and good word put in can go a long way to making your application stand out.

Most importantly, don’t lose hope. It’s hard when you have to hustle to land the hustle, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, or in this case, an appealing minimum wage opportunity. Good luck out there and remember what The Smiths said: 

“I was looking for a job and then I found a job, and heaven knows I’m miserable now.”