That's the advice from No.8 HR consultant Sharlene Charleston, who said applicants do occasionally turn up for an interview without their gumboots and it's a pretty sure bet they're going to head out on the farm and maybe carry out a practical task or two.
The first port of call for job searchers is usually the Fonterra Fencepost website and she said it was good to keep an eye on the job vacancies as well as talking with people in the industry who had a finger on the pulse, such as the local DairyNZ consultant.
When it came to applying for a job, it was important to tailor the covering letter for the specific position advertised rather than having a generic letter that was sent out with every application, and include a curriculum vitae (CV) that made a good impression.
‘It's always a good idea to take your partner to the interview because it's good to be able to meet the other half of the equation – they're both living on the farm.’
Charleston said some of the job vacancies her company handled attracted more than 100 CVs, so it paid to set it out clearly. Getting someone to create a CV usually cost $100 or more, but it was worth it to have information set out clearly and get to an interview.
"We don't care if it's black and white as long as it's well set out and easy to read. And make sure the CV has the relevant details. It's not a bio but it's good to have a brief overview or even bullet points so it's nice and clear and easy to read," she said
Preferably, applicants should include the past 10 years – but not back to childhood – and previous positions should have dates so an employer or recruitment staff could easily track past employment.
Referees were an important source of information when selecting an employee, so it was sensible to include names and contact numbers rather than written references that had to be verified anyway.
"We go through CVs and ideally want to talk to the current employer and the two before that. Sometimes people are applying without their current boss knowing, but if it comes down to a job offer, we may need to talk with them."
Any training and certificates should be mentioned in the CV and originals taken to the interview. They should be kept in a file that could be added to, to have on hand for other interviews. Many applicants for lower-level positions omitted those details but should include them, she said.
If companies had application forms to fill out, be upfront and honest about any previous issues rather than risk being found out down the track, she said.
At the interview, it was important to dress tidily while remembering it's a job on a farm and there could be physical tasks to do.
You should ask your own questions, such as staffing structure and referees for the employer. But you should do their homework first to find out as much as possible about the farm. If it's a corporate farm, check out its website and see what you can find out about its feeding systems and stock management before getting to the interview.
Don’t forget the gumboots.
"At interviews we really like it if (the applicant) has a prepared list of questions. Especially if they have kids and have looked at local schools before they get there,” Charleston said.
"It's always a good idea to take your partner to the interview because it's good to be able to meet the other half of the equation – they're both living on the farm. So ask beforehand if their partner can come as well.
"But don't let your partner be the spokesperson. That happens quite a bit."
You should be prepared to have some onfarm testing to judge your knowledge, such as being quizzed about the condition score of a cow, the pasture cover of a paddock or a practical test to see if you know how to do some of the tasks required for the position.
Must do list when applying for a job
- Write a cover letter tailored for the job
- Include a CV with previous positions, dates and referees
- Do your homework on the farm if possible – be informed
- Make a list of questions for the interview
- Take your gumboots
