Which type of work is right for you?

We help job seekers find roles across three different types of work: Permanent, Contracting and Consulting. Each of these comes with different benefits, requirements, and entitlements. We’re often asked for details about the differences between them, so here’s an overview along with some information to help you decide which is the best option for you.

Permanent Employment

As a permanent employee, you work regular, guaranteed hours, with no set end date to your contract.
Permanent roles can be full time or part time, depending on the number of weekly hours of work agreed with your employer in your employment contract.
Anything under 30 hours is generally considered part time and this can be a good option if you want to work around other commitments, like childcare.
Permanent employees are paid either a wage, which is calculated based on hours worked at an agreed hourly rate, or salary, which is calculated based on an annual amount.
Permanent employees are paid directly by the employer, with tax and ACC levies automatically deducted.
As a permanent employee, you’re also entitled to a set of minimum rights under NZ employment law, so once you’ve met certain criteria (like working with the business for 6 months), you accrue entitlements such as paid annual leave and sick leave.

Benefits of Permanent Employment

If you like the sound of the benefits below and want to explore your options, have a look at our current permanent roles. If you’re still not sure or can’t find a job that suits, contact us to discuss your situation.

Search Permanent Roles

Financial Security

The consistent salary/wage of a permanent role ensures you have a steady flow of income to meet living expenses and financial obligations, and allows you to plan for your future with confidence. You’re also entitled to certain types of paid leave (once eligibility criteria has been met) meaning you’re generally less likely to experience financial strain if you need to take time off work in certain situations, like short-term illness.

Opportunities & Benefits

Employers may offer permanent staff avenues for career growth which may not be available with other types of work. This could include training programmes, mentorship opportunities, and chances for you to upskill or specialize in your field. You may also receive other benefits such as health and/or life insurance, additional paid leave, allowances, wellbeing benefits (e.g. free or discounted gym memberships), or other ‘perks’.

Stability

Permanent employment can provide a sense of stability, as there’s no set end date to your contract and you are guaranteed a minimum number of hours of work every week, so you generally know what to expect day to day. You’re also covered by NZ employment laws and regulations, with one benefit being that the risk of sudden job loss is considered relatively low when compared to some other work types.

Ease & Convenience

Permanent roles often have predictable work hours and schedules, allowing you to more easily plan and balance your professional responsibilities with personal and family commitments. You also don’t have to spend time and effort proactively looking for your next role or ensuring you’ve paid the right tax or ACC levies, making permanent employment a more convenient work type than some others.

Contracting

Contractors are self-employed, either as a sole trader, or through a limited liability company.
You contract your services to an organisation on a temporary basis, with a clear start and end date.
Your contract can be part time or full time, and any duration, but most contracts typically last from 3 months up to 2 years.
Contractors earn income by invoicing the organisation they’re working for, generally an hourly or daily rate.
As you’re self-employed, you’re responsible for paying your own tax, GST, and ACC levies, though a lot of contractors use software like Hnry to make this quicker and easier.
While contractors aren’t entitled to the same employment rights as permanent staff, you enjoy other benefits instead.
Contracts can also be fixed-term, where you’re employed for a limited amount of time, usually either to cover another worker (e.g. parental leave) or to deliver a project. In this situation, your salary is generally paid pro-rata for the number of months you work, rather than by the hour/day. You’re paid by the employer, who pays your tax, and entitled to standard employment rights.

Benefits of Contracting

If you like the sound of these benefits and think contracting could be the right choice for you, then have a look at the jobs we’ve currently got listed. If you’re still not sure or want to discuss how to transition into a contracting role, our expert team of recruitment consultants are here to help – just contact us to chat through your options.

Search Contracting Roles

Flexibility & Autonomy

Contractors have much more freedom than typical employment roles, as you control when, where, and how you work. This provides better work/life balance, as you have the flexibility to work around other commitments or pursue other interests. For example, you could work a 3-day week, or work 6 months on then 6 months off, or choose a contract that ends in December to enjoy a long summer break.

Financial Independence

As a contractor, you can adjust your margins to the market rates more regularly, as you start and finish work ore regularly. This can help you improve your financial situation in a relatively short amount of time. A lot of contractors also use software like Hnry to make their financial administration process quicker and easier, with the cost being minimal compared to the earning potential when contracting.

Diversity & Variety

Contracting allows you to choose which organisations you want to work with, roles you want to explore, projects you want to work on, and locations you want to work in. This is hugely engaging, as you’re constantly adapting to new settings, meeting new people from diverse backgrounds, and learning from their experience. It also allows for career experimentation, so that you can find a role you truly enjoy.

Life Experiences & Learning

Regularly changing contracts, projects, and industries is excellent for learning and personal development. It provides ongoing opportunities to broaden your skill set and knowledge base, gain exposure to innovative new companies and technologies, and adapt quickly to changing market demands. With ample networking opportunities, it’s also generally easy to find your next exciting role.

Contracting Through Us

We’ve been placing contractors into exciting roles for over 10 years. Our team of highly skilled consultants are well-known in the market, and with our high-calibre clients, we can give you access to exclusive opportunities at leading organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Whether you’re an experienced contractor or just starting out, our quick and easy onboarding system, Invoxy, ensures a smooth transition into contracting with us. You can either be self-employed as a sole trader and offer your services directly to us, or you can work through a limited liability company. Either way, you invoice us instead of the client, and with the latest time-sheeting technology and streamlined invoicing process, you can rest assured you’ll be paid regularly and on time.

While you’ll still be responsible for paying your own tax, GST, and ACC levies, we’ll handle general issues or administrative matters while you’re on assignment, removing some of the organisational burden. A lot of our contractors also use software services like Hnry to make their financial admin quicker and easier.

You can also choose to take advantage of our insurance policy during your assignment (for a low cost) if you don’t have your own, or you don’t have the level of insurance required for a certain contract, potentially opening up your options to a wider range of roles.

For more information about contracting through JacksonStone & Partners, chat to one of our expert consultants or send us a message.

Send an Enquiry

Thanks for your amazing service, you are definitely the best out there I’ve dealt with and I always felt confident you would have opportunities for me. Your communication is superb…JacksonStone & Partners treat their contractors really well.
– ANONYMOUS

Consulting

Being a consultant is similar to contracting, as you’ll provide your services to an organisation on a temporary basis, with a clear start and end date.
You may work on short-term or long-term projects, depending on client needs.
As a contractor you can be self-employed or work as part of a consulting firm, though we primarily recruit the former.
As a consultant you’ll provide expert advice, guidance, or strategic recommendations to organizations or individuals.
A primary difference between contracting and consulting is that a contractor would generally provide day-to-day duties or work toward a project, whereas a consultant’s role is normally related to a defined outcome, typically with remuneration linked to agreed milestones or deliverables.
Consultants may charge fees based on hourly rates, project fees, or retainer agreements. Payment terms and conditions are typically negotiated upfront.
There is a larger responsibility towards ensuring quality, delivery, and performance from a consultant whereas the client has more control over these measures under a contracting agreement.

Supplier for All-of-Government recruitment and consulting

JacksonStone & Partners is on the all-of-government Consultancy Services panel. If you find a government consulting project that requires you to be on this panel, we are able to partner with you to give you the required access and to manage the administration function for you. We also offer you a number of services to assist you with the project.

Our Government Expertise

Get in Touch

Whether you’re searching for top talent or looking for your next exciting career opportunity, we’ve got the knowledge, experience, and expertise to help you achieve your goals.

Types of Work

Which type of work is right for you?

Permanent Employment