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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
Find out more about Xero’s diversity and inclusion work on our websites.
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:
Our eligibility criteria for our internship is:
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.
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 grades in 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.