Applications now open for 2025 Rabobank New Zealand Graduate Programme

The 18 month-long programme offers university graduates with an interest in agri  banking the opportunity to begin their careers with New Zealand’s only specialist food and agribusiness bank. 

Six graduates from around the country will be selected for the programme, where they will gain experience and be given career development support, within the bank’s Country  Banking division. 

Announcing the opening of applications, Rabobank New Zealand general manager for Country Banking Bruce Weir said the bank officially launched its Graduate Programme in 2021 and more than 35 graduates had now been employed as part of the programme. 

“As a food and agri banking specialist, Rabobank is well aware of the need to continue  to attract energetic and talented young people into roles across the agri sector,” he said. 

“Alongside our client council network, we have a really strong focus on creating more  pathways for young people within the industry, and the Graduate Programme is one of  the key initiatives we undertake to support this objective,” he said. 

Applications for the programme close on Wednesday 19 June 2024 and the new intake  of graduates will begin the programme early next year. 

Mr Weir said up to 15 graduates will be shortlisted for the six positions on offer and, for  the first time, all short-listed candidates will be invited to attend a one-day in-person  assessment session in Rabobank’s Wellington office. 

“The day will provide graduates with a unique opportunity to showcase their energy,  skills and capabilities, meet staff from several teams across the bank, and to get a feel  for what it’s like working for a specialist agri bank,” he said. 

“It will also allow us to evaluate graduate competencies and help ensure we’re selecting the graduates who are the best cultural fit for the bank.” 

Mr Weir said the six successful candidates who emerge from the selection process will  spend time with several different Rabobank teams across New Zealand. 

“The programme is broken up into three six-month rotations which give participants an  opportunity to spend time working as part of our Country Banking team in several of our  27 offices located across Aotearoa. Graduates will also have a dedicated buddy, who  started as a graduate themselves, as well as on-going support from mentors throughout  the business, plus an incredibly supportive Graduate Programme team. 

“Our graduates continue to make a huge contribution to our business and the vast  majority who have completed the programme now have clear career pathways within the bank,” he said. 

“They bring fresh ideas and energy to the business and I’ve no doubt the 2025 intake of  graduates will provide more of the same.” 

One of the 2023 intake of graduates, Max Robertson, said the programme had provided  him with the opportunity to live and work in different parts of the country and gain  experience across a range of agricultural industries. 

“My first rotation was in the New Plymouth office, and going out into the regions and to  somewhere I hadn’t been before was a bit daunting at first,” he said. 

“But it provided me with a real foothold to start successfully within the bank and ensured  I was put outside my comfort zone. 

“I think this is the greatest strength of the Graduate Programme and I’d encourage the  next cohort of graduates to embrace the experience.” 

Max said the programme also provided him with the chance to learn more about a range  of bank roles and teams. 

“You get the chance to learn different skills and roles across the front line that someone  starting as an analyst may not get,” he said. 

“You also get plenty of chances to come together as a graduate cohort so you can share  ideas and identify new opportunities within the bank.” 

Max said his second and third programme rotations had been spent in the Waikato  region working for the Major Agribusiness Clients (MAC) team. 

“This has all gone really well and I’ve recently accepted a full-time position as an analyst  within this team based in the Hamilton office,” he said. 

“Rabobank is a bank that wants to see you develop, and its key strength is the people  that work here. Everyone pushes you as they want to see you grow and succeed.” 

With strong demand expected for a place on the programme, interested recent graduates  (or those eligible to graduate prior to February 2025) are urged to apply before June 19 at  www.rabobank.co.nz/graduate-careers/.