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Xero New Zealand

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4.7
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Xero New Zealand Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Technology

Start something beautiful

Joining the grad program at Xero means taking the first step into a fulfilling career. With the support and on-hand career development, you’ll learn everything you need on the job. 

What we do

Small business runs the world. They make up 90% of all businesses in the OECD and contribute trillions to our economy. And we don’t think they should go it alone. Xero makes running a business more beautiful. Our platform gives business owners the tools they need to make running their business easy. From connecting with customers, accountants, banks, app partners and more, Xero makes doing business beautiful. 

Who we are

Working at Xero means joining a community of thinkers, creators and educators working towards the same goal. As a grad, we’ll invest in you to learn on the job and help your career flourish. You’ll make lifelong connections, build a professional network, get paid to learn and find your passion.

The Xero grad program 

We know what it takes to help you do the best work of your life, and we’ll invest in you to make sure you can. With the Xero grad program, you’ll learn on the job, take ownership of your work, and find out how your career can flourish. 

You’ll get the flexibility to build your skills, the opportunity to push yourself professionally, and the support you need to bring your ideas to fruition.

The graduate program starts in February and runs for 12 months. After the program, you’re guaranteed a permanent position in line with your career aspirations.

We have three different streams of grad programs, plus internship opportunities. Start something beautiful with the Xero grad program.

Diversity and inclusion

Xero champions diversity and inclusion to create better outcomes for our people and our customers.

We acknowledge, respect and celebrate all the ways our staff are different and create an inclusive culture so we can really tap into the power of our differences. 

In 2018, Xero NZ was awarded the Rainbow Tick, a diversity and inclusion award that formally recognises that it’s a safe and inclusive workplace for the LGBTQI+ community.

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is summed up in our key principles:

  • We value diversity because it reflects and serves our customers and ensures our people thrive
  • We’re all accountable to create an inclusive culture
  • We’re committed to attracting diverse talent and hiring fairly
  • We support flexible ways of working
  • We’re committed to equal pay for equal work
  • We have an obligation to champion diversity and inclusion in the community

To ensure we stay true to our values, Xero has a global diversity and inclusion team specifically responsible for leading the program. We champion diversity and inclusion in many ways, including by:

  • creating an inclusive work environment
  • committing to gender diversity at Xero
  • encouraging more women to get into the tech sector
  • using diverse channels to hire staff
  • promoting LGBTQI+ inclusion and awareness

Find out more about Xero’s diversity and inclusion work on our websites.

Recruitment Process

Applications for our grad and intern programs open 18 March 2024 and close 12 April 2024 for NZ. Our virtual grad days will be held in mid-late May 2024. The grad day is our version of an assessment centre, where you’ll complete two interviews and will have the chance to meet some Xero staff, and understand more about the grad program.

We take a rolling recruitment approach, so we’ll process your application as it comes in and you’ll complete all the assessments up until the video interview. Applications won’t be prioritised if you apply early, however we do recommend you give yourself time to go through the various stages of the application process.

The application process

You’ll progress through the application process in different stages.

Meet the eligibility criteria 

5 mins

The first thing you need to do is meet the eligibility criteria.

Our eligibility criteria for our graduate program is:

  • Full-time working rights
  • Less than 12 months of professional working experience in relevant industries
  • Availability to start full-time in February 2025

Our eligibility criteria for our internship is:

  • Availability for full-time work from November 2024 through to February 2025
  • Be in your penultimate year of study in your chosen field

Logical and skills assessments (60-75 mins)

Then you’ll be asked to complete a logical reasoning assessment (approx. 15 mins) – and, if you’re applying for the design or technical program, a technical skills assessment (approx. 60 mins).

For technical roles, you will need to complete a HackerRank test – which you can practice on our websites. While it’s not all about the test results, this is a language-agnostic testing platform that helps us understand what level and range of skills you currently have.

For design roles, there will be a multiple-choice skills test to also help us understand your level of technical knowledge. 

Record a short video interview for our team 

15–20 mins

Next, you’ll be invited to pre-record a video interview for our team.

If your video interview is successful, you’ll be invited to attend a grad day. We’ll review all applications before making a decision so you can expect to hear from us by early May 2024.

Virtual grad day 

The grad day is a 2.5 hour virtual event where you will be assessed across two different activities: one behavioural interview and one technical assessment. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn more about Xero and the grad program and meet some previous grads.

Remuneration & Career Growth

Starting at Xero

Your first week at Xero is focused on making sure you have everything you need to start working. We’ll get you set up with the right tech, you’ll meet your team, your manager, and the grad team responsible for running the program.

COVID-19 has impacted our usual inductions as we make sure you’re safe and well at work. Auckland and Wellington will hold separate induction days in the office you’ll be working in. You’ll have a chance to meet and get to know all the other grads on the program.

It’s important that we give you a really great start to your career, so we’ll cover all the processes in place to support your development. We focus on your technical development and your professional skills, including empowering you to set your own goals and choosing the learning opportunities available. We commit to giving continuous feedback throughout the year to make sure you know where you are in achieving your goals.

Rotations

Technical grads complete three rotations consisting of four months each. You’ll work with teams across the business in your chosen field and get an opportunity to diversify your skills and meet new people. Throughout your grad year, you will have a dedicated people lead who is there for you at every step of the way to support and guide you. You’ll also have a buddy in each of your rotations to help you with your day-to-day work.

Learning and development

When you join the grad program, we don’t expect you to know everything. The grad program is an opportunity for you to continue learning and developing. Throughout the grad year, you’ll be given the training to build your professional and technical skills and you’ll have access to a learning budget to use for external training and resources.

You’ll have a lot of support in the form of your buddy, your people lead, your team, and the grad team. You’ll have weekly meetings, training sessions and formal check-ins throughout the year so you’re able to grow and develop.

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.7
Overall score based on 8 reviews
They Score Best in…
9.3
Culture
9.3
Diversity
9.5
Office Work Environment
9.5
Work Hours
9.3
Culture
9.3
Diversity
9.5
Office Work Environment
9.5
Work Hours
What Graduates Say About Them
  • The work culture, freedom of working location, support, challenge and teams are just some of the awesome things about Xero!
  • The care and empathy that people show for each other. I am not scared to reach out for help or to let my managers know when I am dealing with something that is impacting my ability to work. When I need to work from other places, start later, or run out for an appointment late notice I am not worried about 'getting in trouble'.
  • Development and growth
  • We get to work with pretty cool technologies, and we are encouraged to create innovative solutions. The engineers that I work with are also very high performance engineers and they have high standards when it comes to the quality of work we do.
  • Mutual respect between employees - a very nice working culture. This is a very good place to learn.
  • Recent reset has left lingering tensions around the office
  • With all of the changes that are happening currently it is hard to feel grounded as there is always a team change etc. Along with all of these changes, the morales of the older staff are dropping and sometimes it can be hard to be around the negative energy.
  • The pay can fall behind the pay in similar roles in other companies at times
  • Salary
  • Restructuring

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Wellington and Auckland
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
C
Creative Arts
E
Engineering & Mathematics
H
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
I
IT & Computer Science
L
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
M
Medical & Health Sciences
P
Property & Built Environment
S
Sciences
T
Teaching & Education
Current Jobs & Opportunities

Graduate Job

Auckland & Wellington
Xero is a beautiful, easy-to-use platform that helps small businesses and their accounting and bookkeeping advisors grow and thrive. 
Applications Close
12 Apr 2024
Start Date
17 Feb 2025
Salary
NZD 75,000 - 80,000 / Year

Employee Share Program, insurance benefits, a range of leave options + more

Graduate Job

Auckland & Wellington
Xero is a beautiful, easy-to-use platform that helps small businesses and their accounting and bookkeeping advisors grow and thrive.
Applications Close
12 Apr 2024
Start Date
17 Feb 2025
Salary
NZD 75,000 - 80,000 / Year

Employee Share Program, insurance benefits, a range of leave options + more


Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories

Moses Fruean

  • Graduate stories

Moses Fruean

  • Graduate stories
What I love about my job is to be a bridge to communicate technical to non-technical. Translating and educating is the key and that is what I love to do.

Eteroa Tusipepa Umaga Lafaele Namulauulu

  • Graduate stories
What I love about my job is to be a bridge to communicate technical to non-technical. Translating and educating is the key and that is what I love to do.

Eteroa Tusipepa Umaga Lafaele Namulauulu

  • Graduate stories

Moses Fruean

  • Graduate stories

Moses Fruean

  • Graduate stories
What I love about my job is to be a bridge to communicate technical to non-technical. Translating and educating is the key and that is what I love to do.

Eteroa Tusipepa Umaga Lafaele Namulauulu

  • Graduate stories
What I love about my job is to be a bridge to communicate technical to non-technical. Translating and educating is the key and that is what I love to do.

Eteroa Tusipepa Umaga Lafaele Namulauulu


A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Jordyn Thompson

Jordyn studied Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems at Victoria University of Wellington in 2020 and is now a Graduate Engineer at Xero.
  • Day in the life

Jordyn Thompson

Jordyn studied Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems at Victoria University of Wellington in 2020 and is now a Graduate Engineer at Xero.
  • Day in the life

Jordyn Thompson

Jordyn studied Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems at Victoria University of Wellington in 2020 and is now a Graduate Engineer at Xero.
  • Day in the life

Jordyn Thompson

Jordyn studied Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems at Victoria University of Wellington in 2020 and is now a Graduate Engineer at Xero.

Videos


2022 April Job & Internship Super Fair | Xero

Watch Natalie and Olivia from Xero talk about how their graduate program and how to succeed in the Technology sector!

Xero New Zealand | What we do

Small business runs the world. They make up 90% of all businesses in the OECD and contribute trillions to our economy. And we don’t think they should go it alone. Xero makes running a business more beautiful. Our platform gives business owners the tools they need to make running their business easy. From connecting with customers, accountants, banks, app partners, and more, Xero makes doing business beautifully.

2022 April Job & Internship Super Fair | Xero

Watch Natalie and Olivia from Xero talk about how their graduate program and how to succeed in the Technology sector!

Xero New Zealand | What we do

Small business runs the world. They make up 90% of all businesses in the OECD and contribute trillions to our economy. And we don’t think they should go it alone. Xero makes running a business more beautiful. Our platform gives business owners the tools they need to make running their business easy. From connecting with customers, accountants, banks, app partners, and more, Xero makes doing business beautifully.

Advice


How did you get here? - Rachel Collingridge, Head of Engineering, Platform Engineering at Xero

"Listen to people. Ask questions. Always be curious. This is a great tactic for any social situation."

How did you get here? - Hannah Gray, Principal Engineer, Engineering Practice at Xero

"I’ve never had a career goal or known what I want to be when I grew up - I just found things that were interesting and followed my nose."

How did you get here? - Rachel Collingridge, Head of Engineering, Platform Engineering at Xero

"Listen to people. Ask questions. Always be curious. This is a great tactic for any social situation."

How did you get here? - Hannah Gray, Principal Engineer, Engineering Practice at Xero

"I’ve never had a career goal or known what I want to be when I grew up - I just found things that were interesting and followed my nose."