We asked Sian Clements, one of our most experienced tech recruiters, what the most common questions are that tech jobseekers ask her, and for her honest advice. Here’s what she had to say.
Question 1: “The market has felt really tough. Am I doing something wrong?”
This is the question I get asked most, and if you’re feeling it, you’re not alone. The past couple of years have been genuinely challenging for tech professionals across Aotearoa. The good news is that we’ve been seeing steady positive momentum in the job market this year, so there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Our latest IT Job Market Update (September) shows that our placements are up 26% year-on-year, with the pipeline of upcoming client work up 60% on top of that. Richard Vaughan, our Managing Director, notes that 2026 has continued to track more positively than 2025, and that this momentum has held steady through the year. Hiring is still selective, so how you show up on paper matters more than ever.
A few things I’m seeing work well right now. Tailor your CV to each job description, because many organisations use automated screening tools, and matching language helps. Include everything relevant, not just formal roles: courses, certifications, small projects, volunteer work, and self-driven learning all help tell your story.
Consider building a simple portfolio too, whether that’s a website, a GitHub profile, or a one-page project summary. It gives hiring managers a window into your initiative that a CV alone can’t always show.
If it’s useful, we have free CV and cover letter templates and interview tips on our website.
Question 2: “What should I be doing to build my tech skills?”
There’s no shortage of good options, and plenty are free or low cost. TryHackMe, Cisco Networking Academy, and ISC² certifications are all worth a look, as are Google and Microsoft’s foundational cybersecurity certificates. LinkedIn Learning is often free through NZ public libraries too. It’s also good to try Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud learning platforms.
Our latest market data backs this up: demand is leaning hard into AI, data engineering, cloud, and identity and access management. Ticking those boxes isn’t enough on its own, though. As Richard points out in his September update, depth beats breadth: building genuine, demonstrable expertise in a particular platform or domain, and being able to show how you’ve applied it in real workplace contexts, is what sets specialists apart from generalists.
Staying connected to events and communities in your field matters too. Some of the best opportunities never make it onto a job board. They come through people.
Question 3: “How do I walk into an interview feeling confident when I’m nervous?”
Feeling nervous is completely normal, and honestly, it usually means you care. The reframe I always suggest is to treat an interview as a two-way conversation rather than a test. Instead of thinking “I need to impress them,” try “I’m here to see whether this role and organisation are right for me too.”
That shift takes the pressure off. It also gives you permission to ask meaningful questions about flexibility, learning opportunities, team culture, and progression. A good employer welcomes those questions rather than merely tolerating them.
The bottom line
If there’s one thing to take from all this, it’s that the market is moving in your favour again, and the effort you put in now genuinely counts. Keep building your skills, keep telling your story clearly, and give yourself credit for showing up and asking these questions in the first place. That curiosity and persistence is exactly what employers are looking for.
If you’d like to talk through where you’re at or hear more about what we’re seeing in the market, our team at Younity is always happy to have that conversation.
Sian Clements is a Client Relationship and Delivery Partner at Younity Auckland.
