Is your diversity your job seeking superpower?
Much of job seeking is about ticking boxes for hard requirements. Do you have the right qualifications or enough experience? Can you commit to the required hours and times of work? Do you have the right to work in New Zealand at the level needed for the role?
But today, there is also plenty of emphasis on softer parts of the role like cultural fit - how a candidate will fit within the team or wider organisation and what attributes they will bring. And when it comes to culture, gender, background, and beliefs, New Zealand is a diverse country.
If you fall into one of those diverse categories, then it may just be a superpower when it comes to landing your next job. But like any superpower, it needs to be harnessed in the right way. Here are our tips for including your culture, identity, or beliefs in your job hunt.
Top tips for incorporating your background or beliefs into your job hunt
Seek out roles that play to the strengths of your background, identity, or beliefs: If your diversity has given you particular experience or insight into a particular group or topic, then look for roles that play to those strengths. One of the benefits of job seeking within the for-purpose sector is that many roles do. For example, you might find a role as a Māori Cultural Advisor within an organisation, use your language skills and experience to work with migrants or refugees, or find a role in animal welfare that matches your beliefs.
Showcase how your background, identity, or beliefs can benefit your potential employer: If you are applying for a non-cultural specific role, then you can still use your background or beliefs to help you stand out from other applicants. Show how your diverse thinking could add a new dimension to creativity or productivity within the team, for example, or how you might be able to connect the organisation with a new audience.
Be upfront about any challenges that your beliefs, the way you identify, or your culture might have: As well as benefits, you may also bring challenges to a new employer. For example, there may be language barriers, you may need time to attend to religious practices or some team activities may need adjusting for you to take part. As with any issues, it’s usually better to tackle these head on, and proactively look for ways you can help your employer address them if they don’t already have processes in place.
Learn the things you need to work on: Whether it’s a result of your diversity or simply your personality, you’ll have strengths and things you need to work on. For example, you might find it hard to speak up in a group. Recognising these and working to improve your skills in these areas can help you become a more rounded applicant for any job. If you struggle with certain aspects, look for people who can help you - perhaps someone in your local community or a career coach who can give you some tips.
Be willing to compromise: In your job hunt and once you are in the role, it’s important to hold onto what makes you the person you are. But employment is often about compromise so you might have to be willing to make some. Make a list of non-negotiables before you start job seeking. That helps you filter your job search and only progress roles you know you will be comfortable with. Then make a list of things you could adjust or compromise on so that you can go into your application and potential interview with a plan.
And remember that everyone is different. In any role you will encounter people who don’t know very much about your culture or your beliefs or don’t share your beliefs or way of thinking. But that doesn’t mean those people are wrong. Look for ways to inform people without patronising and how you can work together with your colleagues to become a great team.
If you are looking for your next role, don’t forget to check out our job listings where you’ll find a diverse range of jobs and organisations. You can narrow your search through categories or Sustainable Development Goals to help you hone in on your perfect role.
