A New Zealand style CV is usually two to three pages, reverse chronological, with no photo, age or marital status included. It lists work history, education and referees, and translates overseas job titles and qualifications into terms a Kiwi employer recognises, rather than leaving them unexplained.
What format do NZ employers expect on a CV?
Most NZ employers expect a clean, text-based CV with your most recent role first, working backwards. No photo, no date of birth, no marital status, no religion. Contact details, a short summary, work history with dates and duties, education, and two referees are the standard sections, in roughly that order.
How do you translate overseas job titles and qualifications?
A title that meant something specific back home can mean nothing to a Kiwi hiring manager, or worse, the wrong thing. If you were a "shop supervisor" in Manila or a "senior clerk" in Delhi, say what you actually did: cash handling, rostering, stock counts, customer complaints. Spell out qualifications too. A diploma from another country is worth naming alongside what it is roughly equivalent to here, and linking to the NZQA qualification recognition process if you have been through it helps.
Same goes for software, machinery or certifications. Don't assume the name travels. If you ran a till system called something an NZ employer has never heard of, just say "point of sale system" and move on.
Should you include your overseas address or NZ address?
Use your current NZ address or suburb if you have one, even a temporary one. If you are still overseas and applying ahead of arrival, say so clearly in the CV or cover letter, including your planned arrival date and visa status. Employers want to know you can legally work here and are actually in the country, or will be soon.
- Two to three pages, no more
- Reverse chronological work history
- No photo, age, or marital status
- Overseas titles and quals explained in plain English
- NZ address or arrival date clearly stated
- Two referees, ideally one recent
- Visa or work rights status noted if relevant
- Plain font, no heavy graphics or columns
Key takeaways
- NZ CVs run two to three pages and skip the photo and personal details common elsewhere.
- Translate overseas job titles into what you actually did, not just what you were called.
- State your visa status and NZ location or arrival date so employers don't have to guess.
- Referees matter, and if you don't have NZ ones yet, say so and offer overseas contacts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a New Zealand referee on my CV?
Not necessarily at first. Overseas referees are fine, especially early on, but list a contact number and note the time difference if relevant. Once you have any NZ work, even casual, add that referee as soon as you can.
Should I mention my visa status on my CV?
Yes, briefly. A line like "Open work visa, no restrictions" or "Resident visa holder" near your contact details saves the employer asking, and some won't progress an application without knowing.
Is it okay to list qualifications from my home country without NZ equivalents?
Yes, list them as they are, then add a short explanation of the level or equivalent if you know it. If you've had it formally assessed through NZQA, mention that too.
How long should my NZ CV actually be?
Two to three pages is the norm. Longer careers can run a little over, but trim duties that repeat across jobs and keep the detail for your most recent or most relevant roles.
If you're newly arrived and want your CV and cover letter built around what NZ employers actually look for, the Newcomers Toolkit is a good place to start.