The Complete Guide To Temporary Employment In NZ

​Whether you are in between jobs, exploring different career options, or travelling the world, short-term temporary employment or ‘temping’ is a great way to top up the bank account while gaining valuable experience and contacts within the industry, and at the same time maintaining a certain degree of employment flexibility. 

What is temping, and how does it work? Let’s take a look in to the benefits of temporary work and what it means to be a temporary worker in New Zealand.

What Is Temping?

In New Zealand, temporary work or ‘temping’ refers to short term work where employees take on fixed term employment, usually through specialist recruitment agencies. The agency takes care of finding the job and all the paperwork, including payment of wages, employment contracts, PAYE, ACC, holiday pay and other employment necessities. What this means is you are effectively employed by the agency rather than the organisation or business you are working for. This arrangement has benefits for both the job seeker and the business, which is why it works so well! 

Temp jobs can range from just a day or two at a time, several weeks, or could even last for a few months, depending on the situation. Some common reasons why temps may be required are when staff members are away on holiday, to meet unexpected workload demands (typical in the construction industry), or to fill in until a permanent staff member is found.

Temporary workers are almost always paid on an hourly basis, which usually reflects more competitive rates than permanent workers. They are also usually paid weekly due to the short-term nature of their jobs (getting paid on time is guaranteed if working through a temp recruitment agency).

Will Temp Work Suit You?

Temporary work doesn’t just have to be a filler in between permanent roles; for a lot of people, it is a deliberate lifestyle choice, and it can also be a strategic career move. What types of people could benefit from temp work? Let’s see if it could suit you!

• Travellers. Foreigners seeking temporary work in New Zealand are quite common no matter the season, and many take on temporary, seasonal roles to fund their travels around NZ and beyond (particularly common in the hospitality and horticultural industries).

• Career Transitioners. Tired of your current job? Looking for a new direction? Temping provides a valuable, low-risk way to maintain your income while testing out different jobs (without having to commit long-term).

• Returning Citizens. Returning home to New Zealand after your OE or from long-term overseas employment? Fixed term work can be a great way to re-enter the NZ workforce while getting your bearings and making decisions on where you want to live and work.

• Graduates. If you have just finished, or nearly finished your studies, temp work can be a great way to explore different industries, get a foot in the door at desired businesses, gain real world experience and strengthen your CV with valuable skills.

• Performers/Athletes. For people whose day job, as it were, is following their passion in sports or the arts, juggling training, practices, events and competitions can make it difficult to hold down a job requiring regular hours, temp work means less commitment, offering much greater flexibility. 

• Parents And Caregivers. Been on a career break due to family reasons? Temping offers the chance to re-enter the workforce on your own terms, allowing you to set your own days of work or take time off where necessary without repercussions.

• Unemployed. Lost your job or between jobs? Temping is the perfect option to maintain your work readiness, make valuable contacts within the industry and keep your skills up to date.

• Temping As A Long-Term Career. Many people start temping to fill a gap or as a temporary measure, but you can actually make a long-term career out of it! Working across various industries and businesses means career temps gain a wealth of experience, leading to a comprehensive CV and skillset, making you stand out in your chosen field.

Top 10 Benefits Of Temp Jobs

Short term jobs aren’t always about filling the gap, they offer a greater work-life balance, greater flexibility, practical development of technical skills and encourage adaptability and communication too - let’s take a look into the ongoing benefits of temp jobs.

1.       Greater Flexibility. The level of flexibility offered by temporary work (over permanent employment) is arguably the most attractive advantage of temping for most people. You can accept and turn down work to suit, choose not to work certain days of the week, set your own hours of availability to accommodate previous commitments, take holidays without needing approval, and leave without lengthy resignation delays.

2.       It’s Speedy! You can apply one day and be working the next! The rapid hiring process really sets temp work apart from permanent roles, where the hiring process can take weeks or months. Getting out on the job quickly reduces downtime and loss of earnings.

3.       Builds Experience. Using your experience as a temporary worker can help you develop a skill set beyond your normal range, offering continuous skill development. This applies to both technical on-the-job skills and soft skills such as communication and teamwork.

4.       Less Commitment. Want to take your time exploring different careers? Temping is an ideal solution to avoid being stuck in the same job for extended periods of time. Temp jobs can also add variety and interest to what might otherwise be tedious work.

5.       Good Networking Opportunities. Working in the temp industry can open up a wide range of networking opportunities (both personal and professional). You get to meet a wide variety of people from all walks of life and interact with a variety of businesses, gaining valuable connections along the way.

6.       Greater Variety. Not sure what direction you want to go in yet for your career? Prefer a bit of variety? Taking on some short term work allows you to get first-hand experience in a variety of jobs across a range of industries, which can help you figure out what the right fit is for you without the commitment of a permanent role.

7.       No Paperwork! Unlike contractors, temps are treated as employees (by their recruitment agency) this means you do not have to worry about managing any of the paperwork including taxes, long-term contracts, ACC or holiday pay. 

8.       Competitive Rates Of Pay. While temping may often be viewed as the lesser when compared to permanent roles, the reality is that short term workers often enjoy higher rates of pay than permanent staff due to the on-the-spot nature of their employment. Registering with a recruitment agency will help minimise downtime between roles too, providing more consistent employment where possible and ensuring you get paid no matter what.

9.       Exposure To Job Opportunities. Working for a business as a temp can sometimes help you get ahead of other applicants if any permanent vacancies arise that you might be suitable for.

10.   Ongoing Skill Development. Sometimes temping means being thrown in at the deep end a bit and being expected to learn on the job, which although daunting, has the benefit of broadening your skillset, learning new systems and adapting to new environments. 

How To Get Into Temp Work

To hit the ground running in temp work it is best to register with a recruitment agency that specialises in the type of work you want to do. There are agencies that focus mainly on the trades like construction, manufacturing, plumbing, transport/logistics, and general labouring, and some that focus more on office workers or medical recruitment. It’s worth doing some research online to find the one that matches your career interests and skillset.

When registering with a recruitment agency, you will in most cases be asked to submit a CV and show up for a short interview, this helps them get a better understanding of who you are and what you are looking for, making matching you with available jobs much easier. Generally speaking, that’s about it! You will be offered roles as they become available and start working as early as the following day in some cases. For longer term placements, you might find you have to meet with the business you will be working for an interview too.

In-Demand Jobs In NZ

Experience is the key to securing the job you are seeking in New Zealand, most employers are looking for people who can jump straight in and get the job done. Looking for work in one of the industries where shortages apply will make it even easier, these generally fall under the construction, healthcare, engineering and various trades categories. Here is a quick summary of the current in-demand jobs in NZ.

• Transport and Logistics

• Carpenters and Joiners

• Construction Project Managers

• Building Inspectors and Surveyors

• Manufacturing, Processing and Factory work

• Survey Technicians and Land Surveyors

• Painters and Plasterers

• Plumbers and Gasfitters

• Chefs and Restaurant Staff

• Electrical and Air Conditioning Specialists

• Trades Engineering and various other Engineering Specialisations

• Procurement Managers

• Various Medical Specialisations

• IT Project Managers

• Various Software Developer and Tester Roles

Experts in hiring temporary workers, Tradestaff are the people to see whether you’re exploring temping as a short or long term solution. We will connect you with the right jobs to match your experience and career goals while offering guidance and support when navigating the employment industry in NZ. Have a look through our current jobs to see if there is a role for you, or register with us to fast-track the hiring process.