How to write a New Zealand CV (length, what to leave out, gaps, redundancy)

The basics of a NZ CV

• Length: 2 pages is the norm. Early-career and school leavers: 1-2 pages. Senior, academic or technical roles can run to 3. No one reads page 4.
• Order: name and contact details, profile (3-4 lines), key skills, work history (newest first), education and training, other relevant information, referees.
• Format: clean, one column, standard fonts (Calibri, Arial), 10.5-12pt, plain headings. Send as PDF unless the ad asks for Word.
• Spelling: NZ English (organisation, labour, programme). Proofread, then have someone else proofread.
• Tailor: Tahatū Career Navigator (the Government's career service) recommends keeping a general CV and adapting it for each job.

What to leave out

Under the Human Rights Act 1993 employers shouldn't treat you differently because of age, sex, marital or family status, religion, ethnic or national origin, disability, sexual orientation, political opinion and other grounds. Including this information only creates risk of unconscious bias, and it's not expected in NZ.

Write achievements, not duties

Under each job give 3-6 bullet points that start with a strong verb and show a result: what you did, how, and what changed. Use numbers wherever you honestly can (money, time, volume, people, percentages).

No hard numbers? Use scale (team size, customers served, sites covered), frequency or recognition (promoted, trusted to train others).

Redundancy and gaps on your CV

Being made redundant is common, fair and not a reflection on your performance. Say it once, plainly, and move on.

• Put it next to the role as a brief line: 'Role disestablished in company restructure, March 2026.' or 'Position made redundant following closure of the Hamilton branch.'
• Don't apologise, explain at length or criticise your employer.
• Gap since then? Add a line like 'Mar-Oct 2026: Seeking new role; completed Level 4 Health and Safety course; volunteered at [organisation]'. Be truthful.
• Older gaps (parenting, caring, illness, travel, study, immigration): one line each is enough: 'Career break: full-time parenting, 2019-2022'. You don't need to disclose health details.
• If you've done contract, casual or gig work, group it: 'Various temporary and contract roles, 2024-2026' with the best 2-3 highlights.

Referees

It's usual in NZ to list 2-3 referees at the end (name, role, relationship, phone, email) or to write 'Referees available on request'. Many employers check references only at the final stage and with your permission. Always ask people first and brief them on the job you're applying for. See the references guide.

Getting past automated screening

Many larger employers and agencies use applicant tracking systems (ATS), software that stores applications and may rank or filter them. You can't know exactly how each works, but a few habits help everywhere:

• Mirror the ad's wording for skills, tools and qualifications (if it says 'stakeholder engagement', don't write 'dealing with people').
• Use standard headings: Work Experience, Education, Skills.
• Avoid tables, text boxes, headers/footers with key details, graphics and icons; software may skip them.
• Put your name and contact details in the main body of the page.
• Use job titles employers recognise; if your title was unusual, add the standard one: 'Customer Experience Lead (Call Centre Team Leader)'.
• Name the file clearly: 'Aroha-Ngata-CV.pdf'.
• Complete every field in online application forms; incomplete ones can be filtered out.