If you are hunting for a new job at the moment, you’ll notice many job sites now have advanced features beyond what has been typical in the past. Job listing websites now go beyond plain job listings and an e-mail address of whom you can contact. New innovations in the online job world include:

• Video Resumes – why rely on your written CV alone to promote yourself? You can now upload a short video resume detailing your skills, and giving you a great avenue to sell yourself in a personable way.

• CV Publishing – post your CV online to let potential employers come to you. While this can mean a fast way to get picked up by a great company, be careful if you’re current employer doesn’t know you are looking to move – being online means anyone can access it!

• Video Conferencing – great if you are applying for jobs in other cities, allowing you to be interviewed virtually with ease.

• Online Testing – not sure which career path you want to go down? Take one of the many career, personality or IQ tests available to get a personalised recommendation for your next step – then follow through to jobs that may suit your needs.

If you’re a new member to the online job hunting game, read up on applying for jobs online.

You can also view New Zealand Jobs online through the newly launched NZS.com Jobs section launched in partnership with JobX.

Image from Flickr.

Welcome to 2008!

The beginning of a new year often spurs us to set goals and challenges to achieve over the coming months. With human nature being what it is, many new year’s resolutions are steady favourites. This might be the year you plan to:

• Find a new job – a change in career can provide new challenges, a change of routine and a potential change in life direction. Browse New Zealand job vacancies online to plan your next career move.

• Get in shape – improving your fitness is great for body and mind, and is achievable for everyone. Find your local New Zealand gym for fitness classes, personal training and more.

• Quit smoking - it’s definitely a worthwhile challenge, improving your health and reducing your risk of cancer, heart disease and other medical conditions. Wherever you are in New Zealand, you can get help and support to quit smoking.

• Buy a house – it’s a dream shared by many; if buying your first home or moving to a new home is on your agenda for 2008, shop around to find the best of New Zealand property and local real estate in your area.

• Plan your financial future – whether it’s spending less, saving, or better managing the money you do spend, the new year is a great time to set some financial goals. Talk to a financial planner for sound advice on making your money work for you.

• Find your perfect match – if you’re looking for love, the new year can be a great to time to reassess your priorities; Are you making an effort to meet new people? Do you take enough time out from your work schedule to socialise? Can you meet people through your interests or hobbies? You may get lucky in love on one of the many popular New Zealand dating sites online.

To make sure your new year’s resolutions stick, define the practical steps you’ll need to take to reach your goal and keep a record to act as a reminder throughout the year!

I like being the bearer of good news, so it’s with pleasure I announce that unemployment is at an all-time low in New Zealand.

It’s great news for the New Zealand economy that there’s an abundance of jobs in New Zealand. The overall rate of unemployment now sits at 3.5%, the lowest since records began 22 years ago. And this isn’t just a moment of job-fullness: unemployment levels have been below 4% for the last three years running.

But the good news isn’t as simple as that – the number of New Zealanders in employment also fell, due to a dropping rate of participation in the workforce. Um, what? Well, the number of people of working age who aren’t actively seeking work or currently employed rose by 18,000. The participation rate rises and falls with demand for labour; the recent drop follows two quarters of strong growth in employment (25,000 in March and 13,000 in June).

So, is the NZ job glass half-full? Yes! Overall, the number of people employed has increased by 1.5% over the last year. Interestingly, this growth has been in part-time work rather than full-time positions (the number of full-time jobs fell by 10,000, a drop which was felt acutely by the construction industry). A recent business sentiment survey suggested there was still a strong underlying demand for workers. This, combined with a low rate of unemployment in New Zealand, means there’s an upward pressure on wages (now we’re talking) which is good news for employees.

If you’re one of the few NZ job hunters, have a prowl through our New Zealand job section and find out how to hit the mark when writing your CV .

If you’re reading this then you’re obviously in the top percentile of smart and savvy Internet users (flattery always works), so…why not have a look at our NZS.com Careers page.

Do we have your perfect job listed?