Common Questions

• Am I able to email my CV directly to the consultant recruiting the position?+

  No. Even if you email your CV to the consultant recruiting the position, you will still be directed to the online application as there are a set of disclosure questions that you need to answer before your application can be processed.
  

• Can I apply for more than one job at once?+

  Yes. A benefit of the online application process is that we are able to easily track multiple job applications. We can work with you to ensure you are able to explore each opportunity.

• Do former Fonterra employees go through the same recruitment process?+

  Yes. We value former Fonterra employees, but to ensure that the business selects the best possible person for the role, all applicants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  

• Does Fonterra accept paper applications?+

  No. We use an online application process only.

• Does Fonterra hire applicants who hold New Zealand working visas?+

  Yes. If your visa fits within the criteria of the role you have applied for, then we can hire you. If your visa does not fit the criteria of the role you have applied for, then we cannot legally hire you. It’s important that you understand the restrictions and rules associated with your New Zealand working visa.
  
  For more information, visit the NZ Immigration website.
  
  

• Does Fonterra hire applicants with student visas to work in New Zealand?+

  Yes, but only if your student visa allows you to work legally in New Zealand while you’re studying.
  

• Does Fonterra sponsor international applicants to work in New Zealand?+

  Yes. Fonterra is an accredited employer with New Zealand Immigration: This means for appropriate candidates, we may be able to offer sponsorship for roles in New Zealand. Please note that only certain roles fit into this category, as outlined by New Zealand Immigration.
  
  The criteria are as follows:
  

  • The employment term must be 24-months or more.
  • The role must have a base salary of $55,000 or more.
  • The applicant must have a skill set that matches the role requirements.
  • The applicant must pass all required police and medical checks.

• How are Fonterra vacancies advertised?+

  We advertise either online or in print. We also proactively approach candidates from our existing database – for this reason, it is important that you keep your contact details and resume up to date.

• How are candidates selected once an online application has been completed?+

  Candidates are selected on a case-by-case basis against specific criteria set by the hiring manager. Candidates who rate highest against the criteria are brought forward to the next step in the recruitment process.

• How long until I find out the outcome of my application?+

  Once applications have closed we will review them all. We try to screen all applicants within a few of days of the role closing although, for some roles, this may take slightly longer due to the volume of applicants. We will notify you via email if there are any significant delays.
  

• I am trying to apply for an advertised role, but the system is not letting me apply. Why is this?+

  Always check the closing date – you cannot apply after this date as applications for the positions have now closed.

• I applied for a role but have not heard anything. What is happening?+

  If you did not receive a confirmation email when you applied, log into your profile and ensure all steps were completed.

• I cannot attach my resume. What should I do?+

  This could be because the file is too large, or is not in a supported format. Delete any pictures you have on your CV and make sure it is in one of the formats below:
  

  • MS Word (*.doc)
  • MS Works (*.wps)
  • Adobe (*.pdf)
  • Text files (*.txt)

• I have forgotten my password and have been sent an email which contains an access code, but this does not work. What should I do?+

  Try clicking on the link contained in the email or copy and paste the access code into a new browser window.
  

• If I have submitted a General Application, does this mean I have applied for a job?+

  No. This simply lets us know that you are interested in working for Fonterra. If we have a current job that matches your skill set, we will contact you immediately to discuss. If there is no current job available, your details will still be stored on our database and when an appropriate role does become available, we will be in touch.

• Is a speeding ticket classified as a criminal conviction?+

  No, unless you received a criminal conviction in conjunction with the speeding tickets (e.g. drink driving convictions).

• What are the different types of employment on offer?+

  Permanent full time: No specified end date and working a minimum of 40 hours per week.
  Permanent part-time: No specified end date, and working less than 40 hours per week.
  Casual: On-call employment with no set or fixed hours where the employee is called in ‘as required’ for work.
  Fixed-term: An employment agreement for a specified timeframe with a set finish date.
  

• What happens if I am not successful?+

  You will be notified by email through the recruitment database. In many cases, due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to provide individual feedback.
  

• What happens if I am successful?+

  Read about our Recruitment Process Flow.

• What happens if I am unable to attend my interview or want to withdraw my application?+

  You must contact anyone in the recruitment team as soon as possible. If you are unable to attend your interview due to unforeseen circumstances, we will try and reschedule.

• What reference details do I need to provide?+

  You need to provide two relevant referees. We conduct our reference checks via telephone, so you would be expected to contact your referees prior to this to ensure they are happy with being contacted. A relevant referee must be someone you have reported to (such as a team leader, supervisor or manager) and who can comment on your performance. The referee must be from a recent role (ideally no more than five years ago).

• When will I receive an offer of employment?+

  We do not make offers verbally, although we may discuss aspects including location, salary/wage, and possible start dates, with you over the telephone or by email. Please note that job offers are only made after reference checks are completed. You will then be sent a contract which will include other information required for you to make an informed decision.

• Who covers the cost for travel to interviews?+

  Unless otherwise stated, candidates would be expected to cover any costs associated with attending their interview.

• Who is eligible to work for Fonterra in New Zealand?+

  New Zealand citizens, Australian citizens, New Zealand permanent residents and anyone with a relevant New Zealand visa are all eligible to work for Fonterra and can apply for any advertised role.
  

• Who will I be dealing with during the recruitment process?+

  1. Sourcing Consultants – they are responsible for advertising jobs and reviewing applications. They will conduct the initial phone interview with you and will prepare you for the hiring manager interview should you be successful. They will also conduct referee checks.
  2. Administrators – they are responsible for booking the following processes: hiring manager interviews, psychometric testing, skills-based assessments and pre-employment medicals. They are also responsible for sending out relevant documentation for all other background checks (excluding references).
  3. Business Partners – they are often present during interviews with hiring managers and will be onsite for skills-based assessments.

  
  

• Why can’t I register as a new user on the website?+

  There are four main reasons this happens:
  

  1. You have already registered as a user with this email address. Select ‘forgot my password’ and a link and access code will be sent to your email address. Click on the link or copy and paste the access code into a new browser window.
  2. Your email address may already be taken by another candidate, which means you need to create a new one.
  3. Check that your username is also unique and has no spaces. Remember, usernames and passwords are case-sensitive.
  4. Your password does not fulfil the full requirements. Passwords need to be at least six characters long and must contain a mix of numbers and letters.

• Why do I have to complete a pre-employment medical check?+

  A pre-employment medical check is to ensure you are fit to perform the tasks of the job you have applied for without putting you or anyone else at risk.
  

• Why do I need to answer the Information Disclosure questions?+

  These questions help us determine candidate suitability for specific roles. We also conduct a series of checks on all candidates employed at Fonterra including criminal checks. It is important you let us know at the very earliest if you have any conditions that may impact on your ability to be employed.

• Why does Fonterra use online applications?+

  We track all applications centrally across New Zealand and Australia to ensure we have a consistent and fair approach towards all candidates (including current employees).

• Will I be required to undertake testing as part of the recruitment process?+

  Depending on the role, you may be asked to complete a series of skills-based assessments or online psychometric assessments. We will advise you if this is to be the case.
  
  These assessments are detailed in the Recruitment Process Flow.