How to write a CV, Me pēhea te tuhi i tētahi tāhuhu tangata
Updated 24 Sep 2025
Your CV is the first impression you'll make on employers, which is why it’s so important. Use these tips, examples and templates to create a CV that will get you noticed.
What is a CV?He aha te tāhuhu tangata?,
CV is short for curriculum vitae. It’s sometimes called a resume. Your CV is a written document that shows your education, training, achievements, skills and work experience.
Why a CV is importantHe aha e hira nei te tāhuhu tangata,
Your CV, along with your cover letter, is your chance to make a good impression on an employer when you apply for a job. They might have lots of CVs to look through for one job and not much time.
This is why your CV is so important. It needs to tell employers quickly and clearly how you match the job requirements and why they should interview you.
Make sure your CV matches the jobMe whakarite i te hāngai o tō tāhuhu kōrero ki te mahi,
Update your CV for each job application using information and keywords from the job ad. Then employers can see that your skills and experience match what they’re looking for.
Check that your CV highlights the things about you that fit the job you’re applying for. You might need to change the wording of your personal statement, or re-order your skills list so the top ones match the job.
Choose how to create a CVKōwhiri me pēhea te tuhi i te tāhuhu kōrero,
There are many ways to create a CV, including using templates and examples and CV builders.
CV types and templatesNgā momo tāhuhu kōrero me ngā tātauira,
There are 2 main types of CV – choose the best one for you.
- Skills-focused CV – useful for school leavers, people with no work experience, and people with gaps in work history.
- Work-focused CV – useful for people with work experience, people changing jobs, and people moving to the next career stage.
Using artificial intelligence and CV buildersTe whakamahi atamai hangahanga me ngā pūwaihanga tāhuhu kōrero,
CV builders step you through the CV making process. They ask you questions or prompts and you’ll fill in your information, for example, about your skills and experience.
Some CV builders use artificial intelligence (AI) to make the process quicker. These AI-powered tools can create a quality CV that’s specific to a job, but only with your help.
If you use a CV builder, you can check Tahatū CV templates and examples to make sure your CV is in a similar New Zealand style.
- Fees or hidden costs – look out for charges to download or unlock certain formats.
- ATS-friendly templates – your CV should work with Applicant Tracking Systems used by many recruiters.
- Templates that fit your situation – look for simple templates that focus on skills or work experience.
- AI content you can edit – AI can make suggestions, but you need to check language and spelling and that it reflects who you are.
- Customisation and downloads – a good builder lets you add or remove sections, explains why each section matters and download in PDF, DOCX or TXT formats.
- Privacy and security – check where your data is stored (New Zealand or Australia preferred). You shouldn’t share sensitive personal data, such as bank account numbers or passwords.
Before you use a CV builder, it helps to have information ready. This makes the process faster and you can get better results – the CV it creates will only be as good as the information you put in.
- Your key skills – note down your key skills and if you’re ready to apply for a job, the skills listed in the job description.
Know your skills - Work and volunteer experience – write down employer names, job titles, dates and key achievements. Include volunteer roles if they show transferable skills.
- Education and training – list qualifications, courses or certificates in reverse order. Include education provider, dates and location.
- Referees – prepare a list of 2 to 3 people who know your work. “Referees available on request” is fine unless the job ad asks for details.
Make your CV easy to readWhakaritea he tāhuhu tangata e māmā ai te pānui,
Employers are more likely to read your CV if it looks good and has a simple format. Here are some tips:
- use simple wording
- use a plain black font, like Calibri 11
- use bullet points to list information
- use short sentences and short paragraphs
- use larger, bold headings and lots of white space
- don’t use images
- keep your CV to 2 pages if you can.
What to put in your CVNgā mea hei tāuru atu ki tō tāhuhu tangata,
Here are the most important things to include in your CV.
Put your name and contact details at the top.
Make sure you use a professional email address that ideally includes your name. You can also add online job profile links, like LinkedIn or your professional website.
Your personal statement is a short summary that gives an employer an idea of who you are, your skills and experience, your career goals and why you’re applying for the job.
Start by finding the key skills and experience referred to in the job ad, then match them to yours. There are 2 main types of skills – technical and personal.
Technical skills
Technical skills are things you’ve learned through training and practice, like computer programs or special driver licences. Be specific when you list your skills, for example:
- Expert knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office.
- Working knowledge of Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn social media platforms.
- Class 2 driver licence with F endorsement.
Personal skills
Personal skills are qualities and attitudes that you bring to each job. Match your personal skills with those in the job ad and include examples of how you've used them.
Some of the top personal skills that employers look for include a positive attitude, communication, teamwork, self-management, willingness to learn, thinking skills and resilience.
Tips for describing your skills:
- use action words like achieved, managed, developed
- use positive words to describe yourself like willing to learn, motivated, reliable.
Potential employers will want to read about your work history and experience. Include workplace training and volunteer work as they also add to your experience and skills.
List your most recent jobs or other work experience first. Be sure to include:
- the name of the employer or organisation
- your job title
- where the job was located
- your start date and end date.
For each work experience, list the tasks you performed. Use action words to describe your work, like demonstrated, lead, organised.
You don’t need to list all your work history – it’s OK to keep your CV short. Remember to include your achievements!
What if I have gaps in my work history?
Lots of people have gaps in their work history where they had a break from paid work. For example, if you’ve taken time off to travel, study, have children or care for a whānau member.
You can use a skills-focused CV to highlight the skills you’ve learned on your break, like planning, budgeting or caregiving. Explain the reason for big gaps in your cover letter.
List your most recent or relevant education and qualifications first. You might include:
- NCEA levels or other school qualifications
- school subjects with grades and endorsements
- certificates, diplomas or degrees
- micro-credentials and short work-related courses
- work-based training
- professional development courses, conferences and workshops
- online courses.
Use this format:
- the name of the course or qualification you completed
- the name of the education provider
- where you studied
- the start and finish date for the study or training, or the year you graduated.
You can include your interests in your CV if you want to. Make sure you:
- include interests that show skills employers are looking for, like leadership skills
- avoid common interests, like watching TV or going out with friends.
Referees are people who know you well and can tell employers about your skills, experience and personality.
Include referees in your CV if the job ad asks for them. You'll need contact details for at least 2:
- for example, if you have work experience, one referee should be your current or former manager or supervisor
- for example, people who know you well, like your sports coach, teacher or church leader.
Otherwise, write ‘Referees available on request’ in this section and use your referees if you get an interview.
Do a final checkWhakaotia he tirohanga whakamutunga,
Before you send off your CV with your cover letter, remember to:
- proofread it carefully and ask someone else to check it too
- send it in a PDF format unless the employer asks for a Word document
- use your first and last name and CV in the filename, for example, sam-henderson-CV.pdf.
CV templates and examplesNgā tātauira me ngā tauira tāhuhu tangata,
Use the CV examples and templates that fit you best.
If you're a school leaver, have no work experience or have gaps in your work history, use a skills-focused CV.
If you have work experience, want to change jobs or move to your next career stage, use a work-focused CV.