Two students can graduate from the same university in New Zealand and still have completely different career outcomes. One is doing mental math every month, trying to figure out how the rent in Auckland will be figured out. The other is backpacking a trip to Milford Sound, camera charged, leave approved. The difference is not always about talent or luck. Very often, it comes down to what they chose to study. When the goal is to find a job, the course you pick really matters almost as much as the country you pick.

New Zealand’s job market follows clear patterns. Some skills are in short supply, while others already have too many graduates chasing too few roles. Understanding this early can be the difference between struggling to find work after graduation and stepping into a role that pays well and starts soon.