In the last 25 years the free Job Mentoring Service offered by English Language Partners has helped over 1500 Wellington migrants to build confidence, write CVs, practise job interviews and expand careers.

Unfortunately, this service will end on 28 February 2026 because we do not have funding to continue.

As a charity, we have been able to offer this free service with the support of over 500 volunteer job mentors and a combination of government funding and philanthropic grants. In recent years it has become increasingly challenging to obtain funding.  

The Job Mentoring Service is well respected in the Wellington Community so it was a difficult decision to end it after so many years.

There are approximately 40 people currently matched with a mentor.  We are engaging with mentors to find other ways they can support our work with migrants and refugee background communities.  We are also working through options with mentees to help them find alternative support.  

English Language Partners - commitment to charitable purposes

Our commitment to our charitable purposes remains unchanged. We help migrants and people from refugee backgrounds to learn English to settle, work and succeed.

Our nationwide Volunteer Home Tutor programme continues to thrive. This programme trains volunteers to tutor English and support migrants and people from refugee backgrounds to learn English.  This programme trains volunteers to support migrants and refugees in learning English through one-on-one tutoring. We have over 800 volunteer home tutors in 21 centres around Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are committed to teaching English for job seeking and work.  We offer an English for Employees Programme online and in classrooms around New Zealand.

Demand for these classes continues to grow.  We also have an English language programme tailored for job seekers with a focus on CV writing and interview preparation.

All our free programmes for residents and citizens are supported by funding from the Tertiary Education Commission and with our grant funders.  

Thank you

We are so proud of everyone involved in the service. Thank you to every single mentor who has been involved in the Job Mentoring Service.

Mentors have volunteered many hours of their time and offered guidance and friendship to people who are new to Aotearoa and are trying to navigate professional life in Wellington.

Mentees have found jobs, changed careers and enriched our lives with stories and connections and friendships. Thank you to all the migrants who used our service.

Thank you also to the Wellington Centre staff who have delivered training, supported volunteers, matched mentors and mentees and contributed in so many other ways.

The impact of this service will live on - in the stories and successes of the people who have found work and built new lives in New Zealand.  

Stories from people who used the job mentoring service

Mentees often describe how mentors help them understand “how things are done here,” practise interview communication, learn the unwritten norms of Kiwi workplaces, and build the confidence to approach employers — often while still finding their feet in a new country.

For newcomers with few networks, mentors became the bridge into opportunity.  

In their own words here is what some of the people who have used the Job Mentoring Service over the years have to say about the impact:

Mario, described securing a role as a production operations engineer at Goodnature:  

“Meeting them through networking enabled me to discover this new position and most importantly, before it was created!”

Isabel overcame early uncertainty by leaning into networking and coaching:

“I realised how important networking is to understand your field… That gave me a real insight into the expectations and responsibilities.” After an initial rejection, she sought feedback, was reconsidered, and ultimately received the offer: “My interview was not amazing; I was very nervous… One week later, they offered me the position!

Marcelo summed up the sheer tenacity required in the job seeking journey:

“400 hours of job-seeking… 40 agencies… 55 applications… 15 interviews… 60 follow up emails or phone calls.”  He went on to become a Senior Business Analyst with Callaghan Innovation.

Dayhanna described the vulnerability of starting out in the mentor programme.

“Joining the meetings was frightening at first, as I thought my English wasn’t going to be good enough.”  What she found instead was unwavering encouragement. “They gave me tons of encouragement to continue looking for a job, despite getting several rejections.”  

For Fernando, who had recently arrived in New Zealand:

“It was amazing to have a job seeker group with whom I could connect and share questions and experiences.”  After more than ten workshops and sustained mentor support, he secured a role in a crown entity in Wellington.

Mayu said “I applied for the Health Care Assistant position at the end of last year and started the job last week. I appreciate all your dedicated support! I wouldn't have been able to secure this job without your help.”

Yvonne “It's amazing that New Zealand has this kind of organisation and people volunteering to help the migrant community in New Zealand. It's really impressive to me, back home I don't have this kind of help. Another reason to love New Zealand even more.”

Arriving in New Zealand in 2017, Nicola used the programme to understand the “social rules” of Aotearoa workplaces:

“Job mentoring has helped me a lot in getting a job and getting to know different cultures and their approaches.” Years later, she returned as a volunteer mentor.

With her support, mentee Tomoka secured a job as a Programme Support Administrator:

“I’m so happy to have found a job at ELP – everyone is so kind and has helped me settle in a lot… It was worth it."