A Graduate's Guide to Landing an ICT Role in Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington
Mō te hunga kua puta mai i te kura hangarau, anei tō aratohu ki te kimi mahi i Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Kia ora, and Welcome to the Tech Sector!
Congratulations on graduating! Earning an industry certificate, or academic degree or diploma in ICT is a massive achievement, and you could be heading for a vibrant and exciting career. If you’re looking to launch that career in Wellington, you’ve chosen well. Pōneke (the Māori name for Wellington) is a successful hub of innovation. At one time it was affectionately referred to as ‘Silicon Welly’ for its dense and collaborative tech community.
But the journey from graduate to employed professional requires a plan. This guide suggests practical steps to maximise your chances of landing that first crucial role.
1. Understand your Landscape
Before you fire off applications, take time to understand the local ecosystem. Each city has a unique flavour. This article will focus on Wellington’s ICT sector but the key principles suggested can apply anywhere with some research specific to your area.
Wellington’s ICT sector dominated by several key areas:
Government and Public Sector: As New Zealand's capital, Wellington is home to numerous government departments and ministries. Despite cuts in the years following a new Government being elected in 2023, they are still some of the largest employers of ICT professionals, focusing on everything from cybersecurity to digital transformation and data analysis.
Creative Tech & Film: Dubbed ‘Wellywood’, the city is a global centre for film and creative technology, thanks to industry giants like Wētā FX, and a number of successful games developers, such as PikPok which claims to be New Zealand’s biggest game development and publishing studio.
Roles in this sector span software development for visual effects, game development, and digital production.Startups and FinTech: Wellington has a flourishing startup scene. It’s a supportive environment where small, agile companies are tackling big problems. Fintech (financial technology) is a particularly strong niche. Notable examples include Xero and TradeMe.
Further Reading:
This 2025 video features four prominent people from the Wellington tech sector talking about how they see the sector growing.
According to WellingtonNZ, the city's economic development agency, the tech sector is one of the region's biggest contributors to GDP, employing thousands of people and showing consistent growth.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Enterprise (MBIE) is the main Government organisation that monitors industry trends
2. Sharpen Your Kete of Skills
Your qualification gave you the foundation, but employers are looking for a specific kete (basket) of skills. Think of your skills as a collection you need to constantly maintain.
Taha Pukenga Ngawari (Your Soft Skills Side)
Never underestimate the power of soft skills. In a collaborative city like Wellington, they are non-negotiable. It also pays to remember that the ICT community is quite ‘tight’ - you never know when you’ll be interviewed by someone you met at an event a few weeks before! Focus on demonstrating your ability in:
Communication: Can you clearly explain a complex technical concept to a non-technical person?
Collaboration: Do you work well in a team? Your group projects at university are perfect examples.
Problem-Solving: How do you approach a problem you’ve never seen before?
Adaptability and a willingness to learn.
Supporting Evidence
A recent analysis by major job platforms consistently shows that while technical skills get you the interview, it’s the soft skills that land you the job. Employers are hiring for potential and cultural fit, knowing that specific tech can be taught.
The Technical Taha
The specific technologies in demand are always evolving, but employers frequently seek graduates with exposure to:
Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning: Effective, efficient and ethical use of machine learning has always been a part of an ICT career. With 21st century resources AI has become part of every aspect of the industry and it is important to be able to use it well.
Cloud Platforms: AWS and Azure are dominant. Certifications or even just project experience here are a huge plus.
Modern Web Frameworks: Proficiency in JavaScript is a given, but experience with frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js will set you apart.
Back-End Languages: While Java and C#/.NET are still staples (especially in government and enterprise), Python and Node.js are incredibly popular in startups and for data-related roles.
DevOps & CI/CD: Understanding the principles of continuous integration and delivery (e.g., using tools like Git, Docker, Jenkins) shows you’re ready for a modern development environment.
Various recruitment firms survey employers every year to understand the in demand roles for digital technologies. Here is one 2025 report.
3. Build Your Whakawhanaungatanga (Your Network)
In Te Ao Māori, whakawhanaungatanga is the process of establishing relationships and building a sense of connection. It’s the most powerful tool in your job-seeking arsenal. You can’t just be a name on a CV; you need to be a face in the community.
Summer of Tech: This is a non-negotiable for any ICT student or graduate in New Zealand, with a strong presence in Wellington. It’s a programme designed to connect employers with students for internships and graduate roles. Their bootcamps and networking events are invaluable.
Join IT Professionals NZ (ITP.nz): As the professional body for the tech sector in New Zealand, ITP offers incredible resources. Their student/graduate membership provides access to networking events, a nationwide mentoring programme (Te Pōitara), and professional development opportunities. Being a member signals a serious commitment to your career.
Attend Meetups: Wellington has a Meetup group for almost every technology imaginable (Wellington.js, AWS User Group, etc.). Go to them! Listen to the talks, have a slice of pizza, and talk to people. Ask them what they’re working on.
Leverage University Resources: Your university's career services (e.g., Te Herenga Waka / VUW's Te Ratonga Rapu Mahi Wellington Careers and Employment) offer workshops, CV clinics, and employer events. https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/careers
Connect on LinkedIn: Find people working at companies you admire. Send a personalised connection request saying you’re a recent graduate interested in their work. Don’t ask for a job; ask for a 15-minute "virtual coffee" to hear about their journey. Free Wellington City Library membership can give you access to LinkedIn Learning - another source of online video courses.
4. Craft Your Kōrero (Your Story)
Your CV, cover letter, and online presence are your kōrero—the story you tell potential employers.
The Tailored CV: One CV is not enough. For every single application, tweak your CV and cover letter to highlight the skills and experience that match the job description. Use their language. If they ask for "a collaborative team player," make sure you use those exact words and provide an example.
The GitHub Portfolio: For developers, a GitHub profile is your new CV. It’s proof you can code. Make sure it’s tidy and includes:
Your best university projects (cleaned up and well-documented).
A personal project you’re passionate about.
A clear README.md file for each project explaining what it is and how to run it.
Supporting Evidence: A guide from a leading graduate recruitment expert highlights that a portfolio of work, such as a GitHub repository, can be the single most influential factor in securing a technical interview.
Summer of Tech have great blog posts to help you get started here. For instance if you are a designer this one on creating your Design Portfolio.
5. Nailing the Hui (The Meeting/Interview)
You've landed an interview. Ka pai! Now it’s time to prepare. Interviews are often in two or more parts.
The Technical Interview: Expect to be tested. This could be a whiteboarding problem, a pair-programming session, or a take-home challenge. Practice common algorithm problems (sites like LeetCode are great for this) and be prepared to talk through your thought process out loud.
The Behavioural/Cultural Fit Interview: This is where they find out if you’ll fit the team kaupapa (principles and values). They will ask questions like "Tell me about a time you had a conflict in a team." Prepare your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Importantly, prepare your own pātai (questions) to ask them. Asking insightful questions shows you are genuinely interested. This is where you might find whakawhanaungatanga experience can help you think or, or have an appropriate answer for, non-technical questions during this hui.
Summer of Tech offer mock interview practice.
Kia Kaha, Kia Māia, Kia Manawanui
The job hunt can feel like a marathon, not a sprint. You will face challenges and rejection. The key is to be strong (kia kaha), be brave (kia māia), and be patient (kia manawanui).
Wellington’s tech community is welcoming, and it needs your skills, your energy, and your perspective. By understanding the landscape, honing your skills, building connections, and telling your story effectively, you’re not just looking for a job—you’re starting a career.
Initial blog was created by https://aistudio.google.com/ using the author’s specifications. It was then heavily modified by the author.
Steve Cosgrove has over forty years experience in the Wellington ICT sector. About thirty years of that was tertiary teaching, most of which was at Whitireia NZ (now closely collaborating with WelTec). He was made redundant from Whitireia in December 2023.