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First job or school leaver

Sample CV1 pageFictional person

Best for

You are leaving school or starting out and have little or no paid work. Education, part-time work and activities do the talking.

TUI HENARE

Whangārei | 022 000 0001 | tui.henare@example.com

NZ citizen. Restricted driver's licence.

Profile

Reliable school leaver who is keen to start in a practical job and learn quickly. Experience in customer service from part-time work, and a strong record of turning up on time. Looking for an entry-level role in retail, trades support or warehousing.

Education

  • NCEA Level 2, Whangārei Boys' High School, 2025 (Merit endorsement)
  • Level 3 courses in Maths, Physical Education and Construction, 2026 (in progress)

Work and experience

Part-time Sales AssistantNorthland Hardware, WhangāreiJan 2025 - present

  • Work 12 hours a week on weekends, serving customers and restocking shelves.
  • Trusted to open the store and handle cash after six months.
  • Learned the product range quickly and now answer questions about tools and paint for customers.

Volunteer, school sports day and marae working beesWhangārei2023 - present

  • Set up and packed down events, and helped younger students and visitors.

Skills and interests

  • Reliable: no missed shifts in 18 months
  • Good with tools and learns practical tasks fast
  • Rugby (First XV), team captain in 2025
  • Basic first aid certificate, 2025

Referees

Ms Rangi Tipene, Teacher, Whangārei Boys' High School (fictional). Mr Don Ellis, Store Manager, Northland Hardware (fictional). Contact details on request.

Why it is laid out this way

  • One page. Employers do not expect more, and shorter is easier to read.
  • Education goes first because it is your strongest section.
  • Part-time work, sport, volunteering and school responsibilities all count as evidence of reliability.
  • Skills are shown through examples, not adjectives.

Making it yours

  • Ask permission before you list anyone as a referee. A teacher, coach or boss from a part-time job is fine.
  • Use an email address that looks professional. Your name is enough.
  • Include licence stage (restricted, full) and whether you can drive to work.

Paste into Word or Google Docs, use one column and a plain font (Calibri or Arial), and save as PDF unless the ad asks for Word. Full advice in the NZ CV guide.

The people, employers and numbers here are made up. Use only your own real, checkable details. Spotted something out of date? Email help@unemployed.nz.

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