A CV has one job: to make someone decide, in seconds, that you are worth reading properly.
What it needs
- Name and contact. A phone number and a professional email address.
- Location. City and region, and your work eligibility status.
- Experience. Employer, role, dates and what you achieved.
- Education. Qualification, institution and country.
- Registration or licensing, where your profession requires it.
- Referees. Commonly expected — two or three, with consent.
What to leave out
Photograph, date of birth, marital status, nationality beyond your work eligibility. These are omitted as a matter of practice, and including them can work against you.
Work eligibility
State it plainly — citizen, resident, or the visa you hold. Employers screen on it early, and ambiguity costs you interviews.
Registration matters
Nursing Council, Engineering New Zealand, licensed building practitioner status and similar registrations are frequently threshold requirements. State your registration number where you have one.
If your registration is in progress, say so — it signals you understand the requirement.
Achievements over duties
New Zealand employers read for what you accomplished, not what you were responsible for.
"Site Supervisor" says little. "Supervised a 14-person crew on a $6 million residential build, delivered two weeks ahead of programme and maintained a clean health and safety record" says a great deal more.
Use numbers.
Length
Two to three pages is normal in New Zealand — longer than the strict one-page convention elsewhere.
Cover letters
Commonly expected and frequently read, particularly at smaller employers.
Referees
New Zealand employers often contact referees before making an offer. Ask permission and brief them.
Keep it current
A complete profile means employers find you in their searches. Review registration and licensing dates first.