The recruitment process for Corrections can vary depending on the role. If you’re interested in applying for a custodial role, start by reviewing your eligibility with our self-check tool for corrections officers.

Please note: This is a self-check eligibility tool and doesn’t form part of the formal recruitment process.

Applying for the role

If you’re eligible, we’ll arrange for you to have a brief phone screening with a member of our recruitment team where you can ask questions to learn more about the role. You will then be sent a video interview link and a psychometric assessment, and successful completion of these will progress you to a local assessment centre.

Assessment Centre

For the following frontline roles at the Department of Corrections, you may be invited to attend an assessment centre:

• Corrections officers
• Instructors
• Probation officers
• Case managers

The in-person assessment centre is a great chance for you to show your potential and an opportunity to meet some of the local Corrections staff and get a realistic sense of the job, while assessors get to know you.

We will be looking for:

• Natural communication skills
• Situational awareness
• Alignment with our values
• Critical thinking
• Resilience

Take a look at our values check tool to learn more about whether you align with our organisational values.

How the assessment centre works

Over the course of the day, you’ll take part in four or five different exercises depending on the role you’re applying for, assessed by the recruiter and key frontline staff.

The exercises include a facilitated group session, a role play scenario, and a formal interview, and provide you with an opportunity to showcase your potential, instincts, and how you approach unfamiliar or challenging situations.

The Assessment Centre is our chance to see the real you and your potential, and to see if your values and natural abilities are a good fit for the role. Download our Assessment Centre Guide for more details.

Health, safety and team fit

Because of the nature of our work, Corrections carries out a number of assessments to ensure you understand our environment and you are safe to do the work. The checks will depend on the role, but can include:

• Medical assessment
• On-the-job preview (SCOPE)
• Physical readiness assessment (PRA)

Final checks

The final stage of the recruitment process is conducting pre-employment checks, which would likely include:

• Referee checks
• New Zealand and/or international police vetting

Corrections staff come from diverse backgrounds, with unique experiences, histories and cultures. What matters to us is your mindset, values and your ability to work well with people.

Tips for success

Applying for a new role can feel daunting. Here are some tips that might help:

Do your research

Read the job description, watch your chosen role’s explainer video, and understand our organisational purpose and values. Read over our role pages and find stories to learn more about the type of person we are looking for.

Identify key skills required for the role, including language competencies, experience, and qualifications.

Think about your ‘why’

We want to know what led you to applying to this role, what motivates you, and your passion and purpose fits our organisation’s guiding purpose.

Evaluate us as we evaluate you

It’s important to recognise that throughout the application process, you are also evaluating if this role and organisation is a good fit for you – as much as we are determining if you are a good fit for our team!

Find opportunities to talk to people in your chosen role (for example at a local information evening, kai & kōrero, or talanoa event), and ask questions during your interviews and assessments.

Authenticity is important

Think about the kind of person we’re looking for and reflect honestly on whether this is you. Show us who you are through your CV, your personality at in-person assessments, and your answers in the interview. Help us see why you want to work here, how your values align with ours, and what you can bring to our team.

Take our quiz: Imagine you are a corrections officer

What happens next?

Once you’ve been offered and accepted a role, firstly, congratulations!

The next part of your journey with us is to start your training. At regular intervals over the year, new recruits from across the whole organisation join Ara Tika – a week-long induction at the National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt. After that, training depends on your role.

The Corrections Core Learning programme ensures that corrections officers can operate safely in the workplace. After successful completion of the programme, the learning continues on the job.

Got more questions? Check out our FAQs.