How to write a CV, Me pēhea te tuhi i tētahi 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.

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.

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.

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.

Skills-focused CV example

Skills-focused CV template

• Work-focused CV – useful for people with work experience, people changing jobs, and people moving to the next career stage.

Work-focused CV example

Work-focused CV template

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.

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.

• Know your skills

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.

• Returning to work after a gap

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, 1 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.

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.

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.