Best Recruitment Agencies in New Zealand 2024

Finding a good and reputable recruitment agency is the best bet for increasing your chances of employment. If you are on a job hunt in New Zealand, you will come across many recruiters who look for talent, yet, you shouldn’t trust all of them as it might lead to huge time waste. 

The top best recruitment agencies in New Zealand include names like Hays New Zealand for a wide range of jobs, Randstad for accounting and admin jobs, Hudson for marketing and IT jobs, Robert Walter for government and HR jobs, and AWF for construction and infrastructure jobs.

Despite thriving job opportunities, the market is very competitive because many professional immigrants seek jobs in New Zealand. So, you must stand out to grab the deal. Most of the top employers have more trust in recruitment agencies as compared to independent candidates. So, find out which agency you should try in this article.

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The job of recruitment agencies: How do they work?

Let me take through the working of recruitment agencies in New Zealand. Recruitment agencies work for both the applicant and the employer. 

Firstly, the employer gets in touch to tell the recruitment agency about the new job openings at their company. The recruitment agency takes care of the employer’s requirements to source the most suitable candidates as per the position description. 

There are different ways the recruitment agency finds suitable candidates – it may be via their agency database, LinkedIn, posting jobs on social media or job search websites, or even advertising. 

Then, the recruitment agency assesses the standard and fitting of the candidates. Post assessment, they shortlist the best fit for the employer and send them a list of potential candidates. Once, the employer selects the candidates for interview, the recruitment agency schedules the interviews and acts as a moderator between them.

Once the employer chooses the best suitable candidate, the recruitment agency communicates with the candidate about the further process, negotiates the salary package, etc. The company pays a fee to the recruitment agency for their services. This fee may be a fixed amount or a percentage of annual salary.

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Should you work with recruitment agencies?

Now that you know how recruitment agencies work, you may be wondering if you should choose a recruitment agency? Is it really better than applying directly within the company?

Pros 

• Time-saving: You will save a lot of time because you’ll not have to search through jobs to find a suitable one and apply for them individually.  The recruitment agency will pre-position you with the job most suitable for you.
• Assistance for the interview: The recruitment agencies are mostly well aware of their client company, so they can help you by telling the likes, dislikes, and insights. They may give you tips to ace the interview as well.
• Resume assistance: A recruitment agency reviews your resume for the role; they may suggest you to edit the resume or tweak a few things as per the description of the job they put you forward for.
• Free services: Most recruitment agencies provide free services and only charge once the job is secured, so it’s also cost-effective.
• Package and benefits negotiation: The recruitment agency negotiates the salary on your behalf as per the requirements you tell them.
• Access to the exclusive job market: You can apply for jobs that aren’t necessarily advertised to the general public. 

Cons

• Salary deduction: Your first year’s salary may be deducted up to 10% to 25% as a fee for recruitment.
• Agencies maybe not be suitable for your experience: Check if the recruitment agency suits your niche or experience. Make sure the agency doesn’t pitch you to a company for a position that is too high for your background.

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Top recruiters to secure a job in New Zealand

If you are planning to choose a recruitment agency in New Zealand, here is a list of some of the best agencies:

1. Hays New Zealand

Hays is a British multinational company providing recruitment and human resources services across 33 countries globally, with over 50 years of experience in the recruiting market. Hays has a prominent presence in New Zealand that offers temporary, contract, or permanent jobs. With a 4-star rating, Hays has New Zealand’s reputed companies on board.

Specialist areas: Accountancy & Finance, Architecture, Banking and Construction Contact Centres, Energy, Engineering, Executive, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Insurance, IT, Legal, Logistics, Marketing & Digital, Office Support, Oil & Gas, Policy & Strategy. Procurement, Property, Resources & Mining, Sales, Trades & Labour.

• Address: 188 Quay Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010
• Phone: 09 377 4774​
• Website: Hays Auckland

2. Randstad

Randstad is a global leader in the recruitment and HR services industry. Randstad was founded in 1960, so they have over 62 years of success. It also has a leading presence in New Zealand’s market, with offices in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. 

This recruitment agency offers all types of jobs, temporary, contract-based and permanent as well. Randstad has a solid 4.5-star rating. It works with New Zealand‘s well-known companies.

Specialist areas: Accounting, Admin and office support, Construction, Architecture, Technologies, Education, IT, and more.

• Address: Level 14, 120, Albert Street, Auckland 1010
• Phone: 09 336 0399
• Website: Randstad Auckland

3. Hudson

Hudson is a major recruiting agency with over 40 years of experience. Hudson has offices in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. Hudson also has ownership of different brands like Sapia, Flexhive, hello Monday, Hudson Executive, and Scale-up. 

They work together with New Zealand’s top companies and have a 4.5-star rating. Hudson provides a variety of permanent, temporary, and contract-based jobs on the list.

Specialist areas: Accounting, Admin and office support, Construction, Architecture, Technologies, Education, IT, Marketing, Risk Compliance, Communication, Digital, Analytics, HR, Engineering, Business Support, Project Service, and more.

• Address: 14/248 Saint Asaph Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013
• Phone: +64 3 977 8500
• Website: Hudson Christchurch

4. Robert Walters Group 

Robert Walters is a globally well-known recruitment agency that was founded in 1985 in London. They have been serving in New Zealand for the past 25 years with offices in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. 

With their years of experience, Robert Walters helps candidates find the perfect job for them and companies an ideal fit for the role. It offers various job types like remote, on-site, permanent, temporary, and contract based. 

Specialist areas: Accountancy & Finance, Architecture, Banking and Construction Contact Centres, Energy, Engineering, Executive, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Insurance, IT, Legal, Logistics, Marketing & Digital, Office Support, Legal, Policy & Government, Procurement, Property, Sales, Trades and Labour.

• Address: Level 9, PwC Tower, 15 Customs Street West, Auckland 1010
• Phone: +64 (0) 9 374 7300
• Website: Robert Walters Auckland

5. AWF

AWF was established in 1988, and it has become the most prominent blue-collar recruitment agency in New Zealand. AWF is a part of the Accordant Group, which is the only staffing provider on the list of NZX (New Zealand’s Exchange). 

Specialist areas: Construction, Food Processing, Development, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Waste Management, and more.

• Address: 2 Walls Rd, Penrose Auckland 1061
• Phone: (09) 526 8777
• Website: AWF 

Best recruitment agencies in Auckland

Following are some of the top-rated recruiting agencies in Auckland in addition to the above mentioned ones:

• Madison Recruitment
• Beyond Recruitment
• Coverstaff Recruitment agency 
• Salt Recruitment Agency
• Bravo Hospitality Group
• Frog Recruitment
• Onestaff Recruitment
• Kinetic Recruitment
• Changing Jobs Recruitment
• Focus Recruitment

Best recruitment agencies in Wellington

Some of the best recruiting agencies in Wellington include:

• Beyond Recruitment
• JOBsmith Recruitment
• GBL Recruitment

Best recruitment agencies in Christchurch

Christchurch agencies are known for recruiting builders and various construction workers. However, you can pursue many other career paths in this city with the help of these recruiting companies:

• Ryan Recruitment
• Trade Assist
• Greenlight Recruitment
• Sourced
• Enterprise Recruitment
• Buzz Recruitment
• XO Recruitment
• Max People
• Tech 5 Recruitment
• Addeco Personnel Limited
• Jump Recruitment

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