Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have an IT or digital background to be considered?
What type of graduate are you looking for?
Will I get to choose where I work and what type of work I do?
Where is the GovTechTalent Graduate Programme and when does it start?
How many graduate roles are available?
What career pathways will the programme open for me?
Will I be guaranteed a permanent job at the end of the graduate programme?
What support will I have throughout the application process?
What support is available during the programme?
What tips can you give me for my video introduction?
What tips can you give me for my online assessments?
Will you support with relocation costs?
What's it all about?
You will work full-time for 18 months within two different government departments for nine months at a time. Agencies who participate in the GovTechTalent programme vary from year to year but have previously included:
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Accident Compensation Corporation
- Ministry of Education
- HealthNZ – Te Whatu Ora
- Ministry for Social Development
- Education Payroll
- Department of Internal Affairs
- Oranga Tamariki
- Civil Aviation Authority
You’ll be exposed to career pathways with a unique digital focus, so an interest in the digital world is important - but you don’t have to be from a technology or digital study background.
It’s a unique programme where you get to dip your toes in various roles of interest across multiple government agencies.
Am I eligible?
To be considered for this programme, you must:
- be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- be living in, or willing to relocate to, Wellington
- are in their final year of tertiary study; have graduated within the past 24 months with a bachelor’s degree or above; or have graduated with a graduate diploma or postgraduate certificate, level 7 or above, within the last 12 months
Do I need to have an IT or digital background to be considered?
No, not at all. It is helpful to have an interest or expertise in technology, but applicants are encouraged from all backgrounds.
“I was worried as I did not come from a digital/technical background. I now realise you don’t need a technical background, if you have an understanding of the technical details of the project at a high level and are willing to learn, there are many project areas that you can work in.”
- Lisa Zondag, GovTechTalent alumni
What type of graduate are you looking for?
If you’ve graduated recently or are due to graduate soon (see FAQ “Am I eligible?”), and you’re looking for an opportunity to influence the way government engages with whānau and community, GovTechTalent could be the perfect next step for you.
You don’t need to have a qualification in a technological or digital field, but interest in the digital world we live in is a good thing. If you’d like to explore multiple career paths across government and have the support of your peers and seniors throughout the entire process, GovTechTalent is the perfect opportunity for you.
If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions below, we want to hear from you!
- Are you passionate about making society a better place for your whānau and community?
- Do you want to use your problem-solving skills, mana and positivity to influence government?
- Are you keen to explore how the digital world can improve society?
- Do you want to be part of a supportive, tight-knit community of graduates?
- Do you want to have the flexibility to try a few career pathways before you commit?
Will I get to choose where I work and what type of work I do?
Your first placement will be carefully selected for you, based on your skills, interests and positions available within each agency. In your second placement, you’ll be able to influence the type of role and which agency you work within.
Where is the GovTechTalent Graduate Programme and when does it start?
GovTechTalent is based in Wellington, New Zealand. The next Graduate Programme intake is yet to be announced.
What is the starting salary for the programme?
Information will be provided when the next Graduate Programme intake is announced.
How many graduate roles are available?
Information will be provided when the next Graduate Programme intake is announced.
What career pathways will the programme open for me?
You’ll be exposed to career pathways with a unique digital focus, so an interest in the digital world is important - but you don’t have to be from a technology or digital study background.
During the programme, you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of roles, or workstreams, such as user experience, cybersecurity, project delivery, information and data, technology and digital integration.
While these are the main workstreams you’ll be involved in, you won’t necessarily be doing ‘technical’ work – you could be working as a policy analyst in the cybersecurity team, for example, or as a project coordinator in the digital integration space. For more information on career pathways click here.
The programme will allow you to:
- develop your technical and ‘soft’ skills, such as your communication and people skills.
- try a variety of roles, tasks and work environments to help you find your ideal career path after the programme.
- feel supported by a community of other graduates and colleagues in your workplace.
"It has totally thrown out my original career aspirations. Every day another idea of what I could do comes up and broadens my thoughts. I have thought of doing UX, project delivery, programme management, policy, change management, the list just goes on"
- Kate Forward, GovTechTalent alumni
Will I be guaranteed a permanent job at the end of the graduate programme?
The GovTechTalent programme has been running for eight years and we are proud to say that all graduates in each of our cohorts are continuing with successful careers within their chosen fields.
As part of the GovTechTalent programme, you will complete workshops to actively develop your interviewing capabilities an CV preparation to ensure you land your dream role at the end of the Programme.
What support will I have throughout the application process?
If you or your whānau have any questions, big or small, email us at: govtechtalent@dia.govt.nz
What support is available during the programme?
You will have the support of a Team Lead who you can talk to about your adjustment into the programme, your career aspirations or anything else related to GovTechTalent.
You will be employed by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) for the duration of the programme and seconded to two different government agencies for nine months at a time. This means having the best of both worlds with dual support networks, firstly from within the agency you are seconded to, plus the continuity of support from your team at DIA.
In addition to this, the cohort of graduates that you start with, as well as GovtTechTalent graduates from previous years, will be there with you for friendly support and advice.
GovTechTalent sets graduates up for long-term career success and by the end of the programme you will have a good idea of where you want to go next, and you will have all the support you need to get there.
What tips can you give me for my video introduction?
Take time and care when answering the questions.
Be yourself!
This is a chance to highlight your unique personal strengths and interests, and outline why you would be an outstanding candidate. We value your unique perspective and experience.
It goes without saying but remember to dress and communicate professionally!
For tips on how to prepare for a video introduction, check out Careers New Zealand's video interview tips or find a summary on our How we Hire page.
What tips can you give me for my online assessments?
We know applying for a graduate programme and completing online assessments can be a bit nerve-wracking so to give yourself the best chance of success, here are some tips to help you prepare and understand what to expect from the assessment process.
Abstract Reasoning:
- Untimed assessment with 12 diagrammatic shapes and images.
- This assessment is intended to measure your ability to pick up new learning and is a good indicator of learning potential, trainability, and pace of learning.
Numerical Reasoning:
- 25 questions and timed for 25 minutes.
- This assessment is intended to measure your ability to understand and critically analyse numerical concepts, identify logical relationships in numerical information and to evaluate and make inferences from numerical information.
Verbal Reasoning:
- 25 questions and timed for 20 minutes.
- This assessment is intended to measure your ability to understand and use of a wide vocabulary of words and critically analyse complex written and verbal information to draw conclusions.
Personality Assessment:
- This final assessment is untimed but should take approximately 20 minutes for you to complete.
- There will be a number of statements describing a person’s behaviour. You’ll be required to use a rating scale to describe how accurately each statement describes you.
- It’s all about you and your unique personality so there are no right or wrong answers. We are simply looking to better understand your tendencies and preferences in certain situations.
Will you support with relocation costs?
The GovTechTalent programme does not include payment or re-imbursement of relocation costs however the Department of Internal Affairs will support a successful graduate’s application for relocation assistance through Work and Income by providing guidance and documentation as needed.
