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Careers advisors

Help your students find a rewarding career

The New Zealand Defence Force offers rewarding careers in a wide range of professions and trades.  From combat trades to highly specialised STEM-related fields, our career opportunities are incredibly diverse.

If you have students who want to make a positive difference in the world in an organisation that will nurture their potential, then there are lots of opportunities in the NZDF. Your students will experience character building opportunities and develop valuable skills that will serve them for life.

Why us?

Just some of the benefits we offer:

  • Specialised training and educational opportunities
  • A competitive salary and benefits package
  • Salary progression and clear career paths
  • Focused leadership development from day one
  • Lifelong friends and a supportive community
  • The opportunity to serve and make a difference

 

A variety of careers

We offer over 120 different career options across our three Services. As well as our military-specific roles, many of our trades are professions also commonly found outside of the Defence Force.

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On-the-job training

Our training is extensive and world class. As New Zealand's largest training provider, we offer apprenticeships, fully funded tertiary scholarships, funded part time study and NZQA qualifications in many of our trades. We also offer the opportunity to learn and study overseas on various courses and study programmes. All this while earning a competitive salary and benefits, including free medical and dental care, and access to subsided food and housing.

Minimum education requirements

Some of our roles require a university degree in particular fields before joining, but a number of our roles are open to high school students who meet our minimum education requirements.

Each of our trade pages list the specific educational requirements for that trade. Generally our minimum educational requirement is a minimum of 10 credits in each NCEA Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy, although some trades require further credits in NCEA Level 1 Science, NCEA Level 2 or University Entrance.

Next steps

Your students can fill out an application form on our website, and one of our Candidate Engagement Facilitators will contact them.

 

 

Speak to a recruiter

Our recruiters regularly visit high schools around New Zealand to discuss career opportunities in the Defence Force. If you would like a recruiter to visit your school, or would like to chat to someone, please get in touch with us.

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