How to find a job in Rotorua

If you have skills in forestry, hospitality and high-level office jobs then there's plenty of job opportunities for you in Rotorua.
There are few level-entry jobs available in Rotorua but the forestry and hospitality industries are screaming out for staff.
Rotorua recruitment agencies are finding there are few jobs on offer for people without skills but lots of work is available in quality roles for high-level employees looking for work in offices.
Work and Income have 124 job vacancies on offer - mainly in the forestry and hospitality industries for the 1365 people registered and looking for a job.
In March, Rotorua recruiters were seeking both skilled and entry-level employees to fill job vacancies but currently there were few vacancies for entry-level jobs, according to Rotorua's recruitment company Personnel Resources.
Team leader Angelique Tizard said jobs they currently had on offer were for experienced office staff to fill personal assistant, reception, human resources, health and administration roles.
"It's changing all the time but we don't seem to be getting as many entry-level jobs as we were. There appear to be more high quality roles for senior accountants, receptionists PAs and office managers," she said.
"They are taking people with experience."
There were currently some good candidates seeking work who were being snapped up by employers, Ms Tizard said.
"We had one lady we saw who can type 109 words a minute. That's so rare these days. Typing speeds are not as fast as they use to be," she said.
As for school leavers wanting work, Ms Tizard advised them to do further studies.
"Go straight to Waiariki and do a National Certificate in Business Administration," she said.
"We are getting so many older people with experience that employers just aren't taking on young people. I'd say go and do a couple of years of study and get ready for the work force."
Tradestaff Northern Operations manager Grant Kedian said they were receiving requests for staff right across the board - from timber mill workers to qualified diesel mechanics.
However, they were finding it difficult to fill positions with few qualified staff on the books which highlighted the need for training, Mr Kedian said.
"While there is work out there for these candidates with limited skills and experience, the reality is these candidates are a little more difficult to place into positions," he said.
"New Zealand will soon be heading into a skills shortage and if people want to secure a solid future for themselves then education, training and relevant qualifications are an absolute must."
At the moment, there are 124 jobs on offer through Rotorua's Work and Income Jobs Search office and there are 401 jobs listed advertised on www.seek.co.nz - 45 in Rotorua. Jobs on offer through the website include a dental assistant, store managers, factory workers, security staff, office workers, a pilot, a commercial helicopter pilot, a freefall extreme manager, first-aid tutors, nurses, lawyers, restaurant managers, technicians and restaurant workers.
In The Daily Post last Saturday, there were 36 jobs advertised including vacancies for a motel cleaner, logging truck drivers, media consultant, supervisors, electricians, administrators and even one seeking a Japanese speaking tour guide driver. Today, there are at least 45 jobs advertised.
Ministry of Social Development regional commissioner Mike Bryant said since January, 2000 people from the Bay of Plenty had found work - many taking seasonal jobs in the kiwifruit industry.
There are 47 jobs in the forestry industry and 61 in hospitality on offer in Rotorua but most required qualified staff, Mr Bryant said.
Many Rotorua clients looking for work have multiple skills.
There are 225 people registered for work in Rotorua with corporate management skills, 174 with customer service skills, 189 with driving skills, 169 with building or construction experience and 1273 labourers.
However, sometimes it wasn't about experience for some employers looking to fill vacancies, Mr Bryant said.
"[Employers] would rather someone turn up with the right attitude and a willingness to continue turning up every day to do the job. It shows the employer they are keen," he said.
Anyone interested in a particular job should phone an employer and find out what training or experience was required, Mr Bryant said.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Area Total
2011
Rotorua 1365
Kawerau 456
Taupo/Turangi 157
Whakatane 625
Opotiki 61
2010
Rotorua 1177
Kawerau 343
Taupo/Turangi 154
Whakatane 568
Opotiki 55
2006
Rotorua 1374
Kawerau 452
Taupo/Turangi 135
Whakatane 634
Opotiki 263

WHERE THE JOBS ARE
-  Forestry
- Hospitality
- High-level office jobs
TIPS FOR SECURING JOBS
- If you're looking for work, study a business administration course
- Get work-force ready by studying for a couple of years
- Have the right attitude and a willingness to continue turning up every day to do the job
- Prove you are keen
- Phone an employer and find out what training or experience is required for jobs being advertised