Step 1: a skills audit
- Write down every job, volunteer role and major responsibility you've had (including parenting, caring, sport and community).
- Under each, list what you did day to day, tools you used, problems you solved and results.
- Circle what you enjoyed and were good at. Tahatū has a 'Know your skills' tool to help.
- Group into skills: people, organising, technical, practical, creative, leading, analytical.
- Note licences, tickets and certificates (forklift, first aid, driver's licence, Site Safe, food safety).
Step 2: map to new roles (examples)
| From | Skills that transfer | Possible roles |
|---|---|---|
| Retail or hospitality | Customer service, upselling, cash handling, rostering, working under pressure | Customer support, bank teller, reception, sales rep, account coordinator, call centre |
| Admin / office | Scheduling, document control, data entry, Microsoft 365, email, minute-taking | Project coordinator, payroll clerk, executive assistant, health admin, compliance support |
| Trades / construction | Safety, estimating, reading plans, supervising, troubleshooting | Site supervisor, building inspector, estimator, health and safety advisor, trainer |
| Manufacturing / warehouse | Process improvement, quality control, logistics, forklift | Supply-chain coordinator, quality assurance, inventory planner, dispatch |
| Corporate / finance | Analysis, reporting, stakeholder communication, budgeting | Business analyst, accounts, grants officer, council or iwi roles |
| Teaching / care | Communication, patience, planning, assessment, safeguarding | Training coordinator, youth worker, support worker, HR/learning and development |
| Military / police / security | Discipline, teamwork, leadership, risk | Emergency management, security manager, trainer, logistics |
Look at the actual language of job ads in the new field. Pull out the keywords and note which you can honestly claim.
Step 3: test before you jump
- Ask 3-5 people in the new field for an informational chat (see the hidden job market guide).
- Volunteer or work-shadow for a few days.
- Take a taster course. Many NZ providers offer short online courses; check free options through Tahatū and Work and Income.
- Look at the growth outlook and pay for the job. Tahatū shows job outlook and typical pay for many occupations.
- Consider a bridging role at a lower level in the new industry. It can lead quickly to more.
Step 4: tell the story
Employers hire people they can picture doing the job. Your CV and interview need to make the link obvious.
- Lead your CV with a profile that names the new target role and the skills that transfer.
- Put 'Relevant skills' above work history, with examples.
- Rephrase old duties in the new field's language: 'managed rosters for 15 staff' becomes 'workforce planning and scheduling'.
- Add new training, volunteering and projects to prove commitment.
Career change pitch (30 seconds)
"For eight years I've run a busy kitchen, so I'm used to managing a team of ten, controlling a $400,000 food budget and staying calm when things go wrong. I'm moving into logistics because I enjoy the planning side, and I've completed a Level 3 certificate in logistics. I can bring my organisation and people skills and I'm eager to learn the systems."
Common pitfalls
- Applying for everything. Choose 2-3 target roles.
- Underselling soft skills: employers consistently say they value them.
- Spending months retraining without checking demand. Ask employers first whether the qualification would get you hired.
- Waiting until you feel 'ready'. Apply when you meet about 60% of the requirements.
- Ignoring pay cuts: be clear about the minimum you can live on (see the Money Runway tool).
Sources
- Work and Income: Direct Career Service (opens in a new tab)
- Tahatū Career Navigator: Looking for a job (opens in a new tab)
- Tahatū: Know your skills (opens in a new tab)
General information only. Confirm with the agency for your situation. Spotted something out of date? Email help@unemployed.nz.