NZ CV Template 2026 — Format, Sections, and What to Include

This guide gives you the exact format and structure of a correct New Zealand CV for 2026. Follow it section by section and you will have a professional, ATS-ready NZ CV.

NZ CV Structure — Top to Bottom

1. Name and contact details

Full name in large text at the top. Then: phone number, email address, city and region (no full street address), LinkedIn URL (optional), and NZ work rights status. No photo. No date of birth. No marital status.

2. Professional summary (3–4 sentences)

A concise paragraph immediately below your contact details. Tailored to this specific role. Include your professional identity, years of relevant experience, most impressive credential, and top skills for this role. This is rewritten for every application you send.

3. Key skills

A brief list of 8–12 skills directly relevant to the role you are applying for. Pull language from the job description. This section feeds ATS keyword matching.

4. Work experience (reverse chronological)

Most recent role first. For each role: job title, employer name, city, dates (MM/YYYY format), and 4–6 achievement-focused bullet points. Quantify results wherever possible.

5. Education

Qualification, field of study, institution, year completed. Any notable academic achievements.

6. Professional development (optional)

Certifications, short courses, professional memberships. Only include if relevant to the target role.

7. References

Two professional referees with name, title, company, phone, and email. Or write "References available on request." NZ employers do check references.

Save and Name Your NZ CV File Correctly

Save as PDF (preferred) or DOCX. File name: FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf — this signals NZ-local awareness and professionalism to recruiters who receive hundreds of files named "cv.pdf" from international applicants.