Frequently Asked Questions…
Applying for a position
- What types of positions are available?
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Our current vacancies can be viewed at Current Jobs.
We frequently advertise vacancies for our branch network in positions such as Consultant (including casual and permanent roles), Senior Consultant and Branch Manager.
Our specialist positions in Head Office typically cover a broad range of disciplines such as IT, Finance, Treasury, Credit, HR, Training, Marketing/Communications, Products, Insurance Services, Business Partnerships, Customer Support, Risk, Administration and Property.
- How do I know if I have the right knowledge, skills or experience for a position?
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We encourage you to view the vacancy notice and position description for the specific role that you’re applying for. This information will list the ideal knowledge, experience, skills and attributes that we’re looking for.
To ensure that our company is the right fit for you, check out the following pages to find out about the employee experience that we’re offering and hear from some of our employees about their experiences working for The Co-operative Bank.
Enjoy a Co-operative Employee Experience
You can also get further information by discussing the position further with the recruiting manager either prior to or during the application process.
- How do I apply for a position?
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Your application needs to include a cover letter and a copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Your application should be emailed to the recruiting manager whose details will be listed on the vacancy notice.
If you’re invited to attend an interview with us you’ll also be asked to complete an application form to bring along with you to the interview.
- Do I need to be a NZ citizen or resident to apply?
- Yes - generally you’ll need to be a NZ citizen or resident. However, we do consider applicants who have a current work visa and who are in the process of applying for permanent residency. Either way, if you’re an employee of The Co-operative Bank you must be legally able to work in New Zealand.
- What if there are no suitable vacancies available at the moment?
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We encourage you to regularly check our Current Jobs which is where we list our current vacancies. If you’re interested in finding out more about specific future opportunities at The Co-operative Bank you can also email careers@co-operativebank.co.nz
- How do I get more information about a vacancy?
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You can get further information about a vacancy by emailing careers@co-operativebank.co.nz.
The Assessment Process
- What will the assessment process involve?
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If your application is short-listed for a position, the recruiting manager will provide you with details on what to expect in the assessment process.
The assessment process will typically involve at least one interview, some form of work test, reference checks and other pre-employment checks.
We also have a range of other assessment tools that may be used depending on the role including:
- Work tests (e.g. role-play, scenario, document review, work task, etc)
- Self assessments
- Informal unstructured interviews
- Formal structured interviews
- Informal interactions (generally over a coffee) with team members, managers or other key stakeholders
- Verbal or written presentations
- Provision of prior work evidence (e.g. performance/sales results, written work, proof of achievements, etc)
- Verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests
- Personality profiling
- Reference Checks - we’ll complete at least two reference checks with your two most recent managers (including your current manager).
- What preparation should I do for the assessment process?
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You should ensure that the position itself and our company is the right 'fit' for you by checking out the vacancy notice, position description and information about the Co-operative Employee Experience that we’re offering.
We also encourage you to familiarise yourself with our company information and take a visit to the nearest branch of The Co-operative Bank so that you can truly experience what we’re offering to our customers and our employees.
- What communication will I receive regarding my application for a position?
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Once you’ve submitted an application for a position, you’ll receive an email acknowledgement to confirm that your application has been received.
Following the application closing date (which will be listed on the vacancy notice) you’ll generally hear back from us to confirm the status of your application within 7 working days.
If you’re short-listed for an interview (or further assessment) we’ll generally get in touch with you by phone or email to arrange this with you.
If you’re application is unsuccessful and you’d like some specific feedback, we encourage you to contact the recruiting manager who’ll be able to provide you with further information.
- What sort of pre-employment checks will be undertaken?
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If we’re considering offering you employment with us, we’ll complete at least two reference checks with your two most recent managers (including your current manager), along with a credit check and a criminal history check.
Depending on the position you’re applying for, we may also complete checks on your previous employment history, academic qualifications and professional associations/memberships.
Prior to carrying out any pre-employment check, we’ll advise you of the specific checks we’d like to complete and seek your permission to proceed.
Working at The Co-operative Bank
- What does a "co-operative employment experience" look like?
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We’re committed to delivering a co-operative employee experience for all of our employees. In the same way that we want our members to feel that banking with a cooperative is different (and better), we also want our people to feel that working here is special and different.
In 2010 we embarked on a journey to discover and articulate the employee experience at The Co-operative Bank. Within this, we identified what our staff value about working here, and also what’s required in order for us to successfully move forward as a co-operative organisation.
You can find out more about what the co-operative employee experience looks like at Enjoy a Co-operative Employee Experience
Here at The Co-operative Bank, we all own our experience at work and we each impact on the experience of others so it’s everyone’s responsibility to own and nurture the co-operative employee experience and keep it alive. This is at the heart of who we are as a co-operative and, along with other organisational goals is critical in our journey.
- How do I know whether I’ll enjoy working for The Co-operative Bank?
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To ensure that our company is the right fit for you, check out the Enjoy a Co-operative Employee Experience that we’re offering and hear from some of our employees who work here.
We’re also happy to put you in touch with some of our current employees to enable you to hear about their actual experience and ask any specific questions that you may have. If you’d like the opportunity to do this, please email careers@co-operativebank.co.nz
- What learning, development and progression opportunities does The Co-operative Bank offer?
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We have a range of learning, development and progression opportunities available for our employees during their career with us. To find out more about these you can view Why work with us
You can also check out some profiles of our employees at A day in the life of a Co-operative Employee to see what sort of opportunities they’ve had during their time with us.
- What involvement will I have with the local community?
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As a co-operative, we’re local and we have a strong community focus and presence so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get involved locally. Our branches each work with our in-house 'local' expert to plan, develop and foster relationships and interactions with chosen community organisations.
Further Information on the Co-operative Bank
- Can I become a customer of The Co-operative Bank?
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Yes of course you can. We encourage you to Contact Us or come into one of our local branches to experience a co-operative way of banking.
- How can I find out more about The Co-operative Bank?
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Take a look around the rest of our website to find out more about us, our goals and aspirations and some of the great work we’re doing.
- Where are The Co-operative Bank branches located?
- View Contact Us to see our branch locations.
Have we answered your question?
If not, please send us an email with your question to careers@co-operativebank.co.nz
Interest rates and fees are subject to change. An Investment Statement and the current Disclosure Statement are available from any branch of The Co-operative Bank or can be downloaded here. For all lending products, The Co-operative Bank lending and insurance criteria, and fees apply. If a home loan is greater than 80% of the property's value, a low equity interest rate premium, will apply.
