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Get into a trade in NZ

Start a trade.
No experience needed.

Apprentice, trainee and labouring roles are the way in: you earn while you learn, no degree required. Already ticketed? Put your tickets front and centre, practise the interview, and know what you’re worth.

Upload CV — free
Hiring tradies? Post your role free →
Your toolkit

3 tools every Kiwi tradie actually uses

No fluff. The exact things that get you from looking to starting the job.

Tradie CV + cover letter

No experience? No problem. AI writes a one-page CV built around your attitude, reliability and any hands-on work — plus tickets or a licence if you have them. Tailored to any NZ job ad you paste in.

Write my CV →

Trades pay check

Know what sparkies, plumbers, builders and mechanics actually earn in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and the regions.

Check my rate →

Trades jobs matched to you

Upload your CV and AI pulls the NZ trades jobs that actually fit your tickets and location — in 60 seconds.

Match me to jobs →
By trade

Browse by your trade

Start with the apprentice pathway, or dig into pay, CV and interview tips for your trade — with real NZ numbers.

→
Apprentices
Start here · no experience
→
Builders
Labourer & apprentice entry
→
Electricians
Apprentice sparky pathway
→
Plumbers
Apprentice & gasfitter entry
→
Mechanics
Trainee & apprentice entry
For NZ trades employers

Hiring tradies? Free AI prep before they apply.

Every candidate has free AI CV writer, interview sim, salary check & JD decoder built in, and declares their tickets up front. Every application arrives with a one-page AI hiring brief built from their CV and your job ad.

NZ-only candidates

No global spam. No wrong-country CVs. Every applicant NZ-based with right-to-work confirmed.

One-page rec per applicant

Interview / Maybe / Skip recommendation on every CV, with the key reasons. Decide in 60 seconds, not 60 minutes.

Free to post

$0 standard listing. No contracts, no credit packs. Applications come straight to your inbox.

Post your trades job — free →
Pro $29 (30-day featured) · Unlimited $99/mo (all featured)
FAQ

Questions Kiwi tradies ask

Can I get into a trade in NZ with no experience?
Yes — that's how most tradies start. Apprentice, trainee and labouring roles take people on with no experience and no qualifications; you earn while you train and no degree is needed. A driver licence, turning up on time and a genuine willingness to learn matter most to get your foot in the door. See our apprentice pathway for the step-by-step.
How much do tradies earn in New Zealand?
Rough 2026 ranges: apprentices $22-$28/hr, qualified builders $32-$45/hr, sparkies $35-$50/hr, plumbers/gasfitters $38-$55/hr, diesel and auto mechanics $30-$45/hr. Auckland and Wellington pay 5-15% more than the regions. Use our Salary Calculator for a tighter number based on your trade, years and city.
Do I need a CV if I'm an apprentice or labourer?
Yes — even a simple one. Employers want to see your Site Safe, your drivers licence, any time you've spent on site and two people they can ring. A tidy one-page CV puts you ahead of 80% of the people applying. Our AI CV writer builds one in under a minute.
How do I prepare for a trades job interview?
Interviews for trades roles are usually short and practical. Expect: "Walk me through a job you ran from start to finish", "Tell me about a time something went wrong on site", and "What tickets do you hold?" Practise out loud — our Interview Simulator will ask real trades questions and score your answers out of 100.
How do I ask for a pay rise as a tradie?
Pick your moment (after a job well done, not on a bad Monday), walk in with a number based on market rates, and frame it around what you bring — tickets, productivity, reliability. Use our Practice Simulator to rehearse the conversation with an AI boss who pushes back, before you have it for real.
I'm a NZ employer hiring tradies — how does posting a job work?
Two minutes to post: role, location, salary, why work here. We review listings within 24 hours. Applications come straight to your email (or your ATS via forward) with a one-page Interview / Maybe / Skip recommendation on each candidate. Free standard listings, Pro at $29 for featured + 30 days, or Unlimited at $99/month for everything featured. No contracts.
How is findmeajob different from Seek or Trade Me Jobs for trades?
Three things: NZ-only candidates (no global spam to filter), every candidate has free AI tools (CV writer, interview sim, JD decoder) available before they apply, and every application arrives with an Interview / Maybe / Skip recommendation. The trade-off vs Seek is reach — they're bigger. The trade-off vs Trade Me is cost — we're cheaper. Best play for most NZ trades employers is post on us alongside whichever board you already use.
From the blog

NZ trades & job market reads

Salary

What Kiwi tradies actually earn

Real pay bands by trade, city and experience level — from apprentice to leading hand.
CV

The one-page tradie CV that gets callbacks

What NZ employers look for first, and the three lines that get your CV binned.
Career

Going out on your own: from employee to subbie

GST, insurance, invoicing and the first 10 clients — a practical NZ guide.

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