For individuals
Mā te takitahi
Last reviewed:
Application steps
Follow these steps to the recruitment process to help you submit your job application and prepare for the interview.
Expand all
1. Create your profile account
To apply for a job with MPI, you first need to create an online account or profile. Job applications cannot be sent in to MPI by email or fax. Once you've created an account, you can update and save your details any time.
2. Submit your application and prepare for the interview
Check the job description
Check the job description and note if there's anything you need to include other than your covering letter and CV.
Write and review your application
Remember to tailor your covering letter and CV to the role you are applying for. We look for confirmation within your application that you have the experience we are seeking.
Note: Veterinarian applicants must be registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.
Veterinary Council of New Zealand
Submit your application
Go to the Careers Centre page and log in to My profile.
Upload your CV and covering letter and any documents that are listed in the job description.
You will receive an automatic email acknowledgement of your application.
How to withdraw your application
If you're no longer interested in the role you have applied for, then log in to your profile and withdraw your application.
We will contact you
We will contact you after the vacancy has closed.
You may receive a phone call from us to clarify your application, such as immigration or registration status.
If you are shortlisted for an interview, you will be contacted by phone to arrange a suitable interview. We’ll let you know everything that you need to know about your interview and what you will need to prepare or bring with you to the interview.
Depending on the role you are applying for, you may also have to attend an assessment centre and/or undergo psychological assessment as part of the recruitment process.
If at any point in the selection process it becomes clear that you're not the right fit for the role, we will let you know as soon as we can. Don’t let this stop you from applying for other opportunities with us.
Prepare for the interview
We like to have a 2-way conversation when interviewing. We really do want you to be successful, so your interview preparation is key. Depending on the role, you may have more than 1 interview.
Research the role
You need to find out as much as you can about the role you are interviewing for to show us how interested you are. The interview also gives you an opportunity to decide if the job is really for you, so think of a few questions you would like to ask us.
We encourage you to really research the role before applying to make sure it's right for you. You can read up about MPI and find out more about MPI and the business unit the position sits within.
Learn more about MPI's work and goals
Governance and organisational structure
You can also email any questions to careers@mpi.govt.nz
If you want to do some background reading on current issues or read our annual report, you can search news and resources:
Be aware of pre-employment checks
Before you apply, be aware that MPI does pre-employment checks for all roles. The type of checks depend on the nature of the job you apply for and may include:
- referee checks
- a criminal conviction check, either:
- drug and alcohol screening
- proof of identity and right to work check.
Find out more about pre-employment checks, including drug and alcohol screening.
Prepare your answers
At MPI we use competency-based questions to interview you. We will ask you specific questions about your past behaviour or experiences, to give us an idea about the way you might handle similar situations in the future.
A sample question might be,'Can you tell us about an important decision you have made and the process you went through to make it?'
Your response to this will generally indicate how you will handle important decisions on the job.
When you answer competency-based interview questions, try to answer them in 3 stages:
- Provide context – briefly outline the specific situation you were in.
- Tell us what you did – this is the most important part of your answer!
- Describe the outcome and impact of your actions – briefly describe how the outcome or resolution evolved.
When preparing for your interview, practise your answers and use relevant examples. You'll need to think about the specific competencies required for the role you are applying for, and examples of how you put them into practice in your prior experience.
3. Attend the interview
The interview
You should have received an email confirmation of the interview venue and time. If you have any questions, email careers@mpi.govt.nz
Interviews come in many formats and you may attend a number of them including meeting with the hiring manager, your future peers or team, or with specialists in your field.
Depending on the role you are applying for, you may also have to attend an assessment centre and/or undergo psychological assessment as part of the recruitment process.
4. Selection and appointment process
Selection and appointment
If you're right for the role, we’ll complete reference and background checks after the interview. We may also conduct psychological assessments. If you are applying for a role that is considered 'safety sensitive', you will also need to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening.
If everything goes well, we will offer you the position, provided you have no criminal convictions and can obtain a security clearance, if required. We will help you complete the appropriate forms and talk you through these processes.
