The New Year is an excellent time to refresh your CV and ensure it aligns with the evolving job market, especially if you’re looking for opportunities in New Zealand. With the competitive nature of the local market and increasing focus on skills and cultural fit, having an up-to-date and well-structured CV is crucial to making a strong first impression on potential employers. Whether you’re a local professional looking for a new challenge, a working holidaymaker exploring job options, or a skilled migrant seeking your next role, tailoring your CV to the New Zealand market can significantly improve your chances of landing your ideal job.

In this guide, we’ll explore what makes a great CV in New Zealand, covering everything from formatting and content to highlighting the skills and attributes that Kiwi employers value. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to optimise your CV and position yourself effectively for new opportunities in the coming year.

Understanding the New Zealand Job Market

Before diving into your CV, it’s essential to understand what New Zealand employers are looking for. While the job market is currently facing various challenges, including skill shortages in certain industries, there are also great opportunities for candidates who are well-prepared and adaptable.

New Zealand employers tend to favour a straightforward, skills-based approach when reviewing CVs. They appreciate candidates who can demonstrate relevant skills, experience, and a good cultural fit. As such, your CV should clearly reflect your capabilities and show how you can add value to their business. Additionally, local recruiters and employers prefer concise, easy-to-read CVs that get straight to the point. With that in mind, let’s look at how you can update your CV to meet these expectations.

1. Choose the Right CV Format

When applying for roles in New Zealand, the standard CV format is typically a reverse-chronological format, where your most recent experience is listed first. This format works well because it allows employers to see your current and most relevant skills and responsibilities immediately. Here’s how to structure your CV:

• Contact Information: Start with your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable). There’s no need to include a photo, date of birth, or marital status, as these are not required and could lead to unconscious bias.
• Personal Statement or Professional Summary: Include a brief 3-4 sentence summary at the top of your CV that highlights your career goals, key strengths, and what you’re looking to achieve in your next role.
• Key Skills: List 6-8 key skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Focus on skills that are in demand in your industry and match the requirements in the job description.
• Work Experience: List your work experience in reverse chronological order. Include your job title, the name of the organisation, and the dates you worked there. For each role, provide 3-5 bullet points summarising your key responsibilities and achievements.
• Education: Include your highest level of education and any certifications that are relevant to the job. Include the name of the institution, the qualification, and the year completed.
• Additional Information: You can also add a section for any volunteer work, languages spoken, or other relevant details that may help you stand out.

Tip: Aim for a CV length of 2-3 pages. Anything longer can be overwhelming, and anything shorter might not provide enough detail.

2. Tailor Your CV for the Role

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is sending the same generic CV to multiple employers. Instead, tailor your CV for each specific role by aligning your skills and experience with the job requirements. Take the time to read through the job description carefully and identify key terms and competencies that the employer is looking for. Then, reflect these in your CV by highlighting relevant skills and adjusting your work experience to match.

For example, if the job description mentions strong project management skills, ensure your CV provides specific examples of how you’ve successfully managed projects in the past. Use keywords from the job description to ensure your CV passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catches the attention of recruiters.

Tip: Keep a master CV that includes all your experience and skills, and create targeted versions for each job application, focusing only on the most relevant sections.

3. Emphasise Key Skills and Achievements

In New Zealand, employers place a strong emphasis on skills and achievements rather than job duties alone. When describing your previous roles, avoid simply listing tasks. Instead, focus on the value you brought to the organisation by highlighting your accomplishments. Use measurable outcomes where possible, such as:

• “Led a team of 5 in the successful completion of a $100,000 project, delivering on time and under budget.”
• “Increased customer satisfaction scores by 20% through improved service strategies.”
• “Reduced operational costs by 15% by implementing new efficiency measures.”

Using bullet points to present these achievements makes your CV easier to scan and allows employers to quickly grasp your impact.

Tip: Use action verbs such as “managed,” “implemented,” “designed,” or “facilitated” to convey a sense of proactivity and ownership.

4. Showcase Your Soft Skills

While technical skills and qualifications are important, New Zealand employers also value soft skills such as teamwork, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. Make sure to weave these qualities into your CV by providing examples of how you’ve used these skills in your previous roles.

For example, if you’re highlighting your communication skills, you could mention how you “collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline processes and improve project outcomes.”

Tip: The personal statement or professional summary at the top of your CV is a great place to introduce some of your soft skills and set the tone for the rest of the document.

5. Include References

In New Zealand, it’s common to include references or state that they are available on request. Choose two to three referees who can vouch for your work ethic and professional skills. Ideally, one should be a former manager or supervisor, and another could be a colleague or a client (if relevant).

Make sure to include their full name, job title, company, email address, and phone number. Always ask for permission before listing someone as a reference, and let them know when you’ve applied for a role so they’re prepared to be contacted.

Tip: If you’re new to the New Zealand market and don’t have local referees, consider using references from your home country and providing context around the relationship.

6. Format for Readability

The visual layout of your CV is just as important as the content. A well-formatted CV is easy to read and allows employers to quickly find the information they need. Use a clean, professional font such as Arial or Calibri, and keep your font size between 10 and 12 points. Use clear section headings and enough white space to avoid a cluttered appearance.

Avoid using fancy graphics, images, or complicated designs, as these can sometimes interfere with ATS systems. Instead, focus on creating a clear, logical flow that presents your information in a straightforward manner.

Tip: Save your CV as a PDF to preserve formatting and prevent compatibility issues.

Final Thoughts

Updating your CV for the New Zealand market is about more than just tweaking a few lines—it’s about presenting yourself as a well-rounded candidate who meets the expectations of local employers. By following these tips, you’ll create a CV that stands out and demonstrates your suitability for roles in a competitive market. Take the time to regularly review and refine your CV, ensuring it accurately reflects your most recent achievements and skills.

Find the job you love I Find the right talent
Get in touch with Frog Recruitment
Auckland I Wellington

As a white-collar recruitment agency, Frog Recruitment is committed to supporting businesses in navigating the evolving landscape of inclusivity and diversity. We specialise in accounting and finance, business support, education, executive, government, HR, legal, marketing and digital, property, sales, supply chain, and technology sectors. As the proud recipients of the 2024 RCSA Excellence in Candidate Care Award, we are dedicated to helping businesses achieve success through a people-first approach.