Support for
Youth graduates
You’re a youth graduate if you have graduated from a Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) Course.
As a Youth Graduate, the confidence, teamwork and communication skills you have learnt could give you the edge you need to get a job in the modern workplace.
Up for a new challenge
When preparing for the next step in your life and career, you want to head into job interviews with confidence. You have a lot of good skills and discipline to offer. You’re up for a new challenge.
Pathways to success
We’re here to help by highlighting the benefits of your NZDF training experience and directing you down pathways you can successfully use to build your opportunities in a new job.
As a Youth Graduate, you're up for your next challenge
Interview tips
- Be professional and positive: Impress your potential employer by talking to them about your NZDF Youth Training Programme and telling them how it benefitted you.
- Detail your strengths: Let potential employers hear about the skills you obtained in detail and how they will bring value to them.
- Be inspirational: Sell your story, skills and strengths to your potential employer.
- Discuss your developments: Let potential employers know about the NZDF values that you can bring to the workplace.
Sell your story, skills and strengths to your potential employer
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Talk about the commitment you made to LSV
Electing to join an LSV course represents a valuable attribute. Your potential employer may have questions about why you put yourself forward for the course. Ahead of any interview, it can be useful to reflect on why you joined the course and how it impacted you.
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Highlight the benefits of the skills you've learnt
As a graduate of the Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) programme, you've developed work-ready skills and qualifications. Your potential employer may not have prior understanding of the programme, or the specific skills that the course focuses on developing. It may be helpful to take the time to explain specific exercises or tasks that you experienced on your course.
The STAR method is a useful method to use in job interviews:
- Situation: Describe a situation relevant to the conversation or question.
- Task: Mention a task you had to complete in this scenario.
- Action: Summarise an action you took to complete the task.
- Result: Discuss the outcome of your actions.
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What if my employer has further questions?
We're here to help. If you're employer or potential employer wants to know more, direct them to this website. We have a page of information specifically for Employers of Youth Graduates that they may wish to visit. Alternatively, details about the course can also be found on the Work and Income(external link) website. Any further questions can be directed to us via our contact form.
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What if my employer wants to offer support to the LSV course?
Every LSV course has a Patron, you may remember yours. Patrons for each six week course come from around New Zealand. They are individuals who are passionate about supporting younger kiwis and can offer development support or connections to LSV trainees. If your employer wishes to learn more, direct them to our Employers of Youth Graduates page, where we have information for potential LSV Patrons.
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Can I thank my employer for their support to youth development?
Your employer may have offered you support in your new job that goes above and beyond. They may have offered employment to multiple LSV graduates, or they may be particularly passionate about the course. If you wish to thank them, why not nominate them for the LSV Employer of the Year Award, where finalists and winners are celebrated at the annual Tohu Awards. The Tohu Awards offer your employer insights, the chance to engage with Senior NZDF Leadership and an opportunity for cost-efficient internal and external marketing for their business. Nomination forms can be found in our helpful resources section below.
Useful Links
- Work and Income provides a range of resources when preparing your CV, such as CV and Cover Letter writing tools(external link) , further training opportunities (external link) and general support to get ready for work(external link).
- Careers NZ provides a range of job hunting(external link) tools to guide and prepare you for employment.
- Careers NZ provides a Job Hunters Workbook(external link) which includes practical tips.