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The Stages Of Application

If you decide to apply for a job with the New Zealand Defence Force, you will need to go through a series of interviews and tests before you reach the end of the process.

Here is a guide to the different stages you will go through. It’s a little more thorough than applying for other jobs. But then a career with us is a lot more rewarding than other jobs - so stick with it.

You will be assigned a Candidate Coordinator who will help you through the process. Your Candidate Coordinator will be your primary contact throughout this process, so make sure to keep their details on hand incase you have any questions.

  1. Register with our website, and then apply from your secure candidate portal. This will be your primary reference point throughout the process.

  2. Your application will be reviewed by one of our candidate coordinators to ensure you meet our minimum requirements.

  3. If you meet all our minimum requirements, you will be asked to return to your candidate portal and complete medical and security screening questions.  Your Candidate Coordinator will support you throughout this process. If you are successful at this stage, then you will be invited to an Assessment Day.

  4. The Assessment Day will comprise of aptitude tests and a fitness test,  that will include a Beep Test, Sit-ups and Push-Ups.

  5. Following the Assessment Day, you will receive feedback on your performance. If you have been unsuccessful, then you will receive written confirmation of this. If you have been successful, then we will take your application to the next stage and confirm which trade you want to apply for.

  6. You will then be invited to attend a formal interview for your selected trade, where you will asked a number of set questions by one of our military recruiters.

  7. An internal selection board will then review your performance at the Assessment Day and Interview and will make a decision. 

  8. At this stage, if you have been selected we will contact you with an offer of service and then keep in touch with you until starting your career in Navy, the Army or the Air Force.