Backpacker Job Board

You can't work as a backpacker in New Zealand without holding a working holiday visa.

You must secure your visa before you arrive in New Zealand, as you'll need to supply a number of original documents as part of the application, and it will be checked at the airport on arrival.

Having arrived in the country with visa in hand, your first job is to get a Kiwi mobile number. Head to the nearest mobile operator store and grab a SIM card so that you can make contact with and be contacted by employers. Pick a SIM with plenty of data - you'll need it!

When was the last time you gave your resume a spit and shine? It's important that it is up to date, and highlights the skills, qualifications and experience that aligns with the type of job that you'll be looking for while travelling. You may well have been a lawyer in your home country, but that experience won't be super helpful in finding a job behind the bar in Wellington or fruit picking in Christchurch. Instead highlight any relevant experience and transferable skills.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and ideally yours will yell "Employ Me!" 500 times over. Make it professional, captivating, and unmistakably you.

As New Zealand's number one backpacker job marketplace, signing up with Backpacker Job Board will grant you access to a huge number of potential jobs. It only takes about a minute to register as a backpacker, and it's totally free!

Once you've registered with Backpacker Job Board you're ready to start browsing! We have lots of new jobs posted every day, so keep checking your preferred job category pages often. All our jobs are also posted to our Facebook page. Follow us on Facebook for more updates.

Have a read over job descriptions for any specific eligibility criteria.

Some jobs will require specific qualifications or experience. Save time in the long run, and apply for the most relevant jobs first

Is the employer legitimate? Do they have a good reputation? Will they follow through on their promises? It's important that you get a good sense of the employer before you get too far down the road. Check the employer's online presence for things like a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN), contact details and an address, and do your best to search out former employees to get first hand info on what they're like as a boss (Google, Facebook and Glassdoor reviews are a great place to look). It's important that you stay safe.

Cover letters are important. They have the job of personalising your resume, explaining exactly why you, with your skills and experience, are perfect for this particular job. You need to spend time getting it right. If you feel as though your English isn't as good as it needs to be, get a friend to take a look!

Once you've found some good jobs from good employers and developed a knock-out resume and cover letter, it's time to send out applications!

While you don't want to be overeager - the employer will likely be busy, as they're currently looking for help - it's smart to follow up within a day or two. This demonstrates initiative, and shows that you're eager to work.

The job market is competitive in New Zealand, so it's important that you respond quickly to any correspondence from a potential employer. Reply to their questions in a polite and professional manner, and be sure to ask any more that you might have - this is your chance to clear up any confusion.

You want to know a healthy amount about the job, the employer and the industry before you sit down for an interview. You will probably be going for plenty of jobs that you don't have much experience in, but if you can show that you've learnt a little bit about the field before you've gone to the interview, it'll demonstrate real initiative.

A job offer is on the table, but this is your last chance to decide whether this is the right choice for you, so take it. On top of your earlier due diligence, which ensured the employer was trustworthy, you should take the opportunity to look at the area that you'll be working in, and the type of work, the pay and the work conditions, to ensure that this is the right move. All of these things should be clearly laid out by the employer before you accept.

Congratulations - the job has been offered and you've accepted! But before you get to work, you need to make sure you have everything you need.

The first items on your checklist will be any certificates and qualifications you might need in your new job. Your employer will be able to advise the specifics, but common qualifications include the White Card / Site Safety Card certificate for labour and construction jobs.

You also may need to have clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE). Check what, if anything, the employer supplies, then go shopping for the extras. This is particularly important for labouring, fruit picking and farm work.

You've done it! It's time to put in the hours and get paid.

There's one final step in the process. Getting paid is great, but it does mean that the government gets paid too, by taxing your income. You want to be sure you're not passing too much money on to them, and our backpacker tax calculator helps you to do just that. Simply pop in your income and the tax you paid, and we'll let you know what you can expect to get back at the end of the financial year!