Everything you need to write a professional, ATS-conscious New Zealand CV — format, length, sections, spelling, and what Kiwi employers actually want to see.
In New Zealand the document is called a CV (curriculum vitae) — not a resume. Employers and candidates use the terms interchangeably in practice, but the correct NZ terminology is CV. The NZ CV is a professional document that summarises your career history, skills, and achievements for a prospective employer.
NZ CVs follow British-origin conventions adapted for the local market. They are different in important ways from US resumes and from Australian CVs — though less different from Australian documents than from US ones.
| Element | NZ Standard |
|---|---|
| Page size | A4 (210 × 297mm) — never US Letter |
| Font | Calibri or Arial, 10–12pt body, 14–16pt headings |
| Layout | Single column only — no two-column layouts |
| Tables | Avoid for core content — parser handling varies and reading order can become unclear |
| Graphics | Keep decorative graphics out of core content; they add little searchable text and can complicate parsing |
| Colour | Black text on white background — minimal colour acceptable in headings only |
| Margins | 2–2.5cm on all sides |
| File format | PDF (preferred) or DOCX |
| File name | FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf |
Contact details (top of page): Full name (large), phone number, email, city and region, LinkedIn URL (optional), NZ work rights status. No street address. No date of birth. No age.
Professional summary (3–4 sentences): Immediately below contact details. Your professional identity, key strengths relevant to this role, and most impressive credential. Rewrite this for every application.
Key skills: Use a concise list of skills that are genuinely supported by your experience and relevant to the vacancy. Reuse vacancy terminology naturally where accurate.
Work experience (reverse chronological): Most recent role first. For each: job title, employer, city, dates (MM/YYYY), and 4–6 achievement-focused bullet points with measurable results.
Education: Qualification, field, institution, year. Academic achievements if notable.
Professional development (optional): Recent certifications, courses, professional memberships. Only include if relevant.
References: Two professional referees (name, title, company, phone, email) or "References available on request."
Some New Zealand employers and recruiters use applicant-tracking or recruitment systems to parse, store, search and filter applications. Capabilities vary, so use a simple structure that works for both software and human readers.
Parser-friendly approach: Prefer a simple single-column layout, standard section headings, selectable text and a common file format requested by the employer. Keep essential evidence out of decorative elements.
NZ English uses British-origin spelling. US spelling on a NZ CV is the clearest signal of a non-localised, generic application.
| NZ English (correct) | US English (wrong for NZ) |
|---|---|
| colour, favour, honour | color, favor, honor |
| organise, recognise, realise | organize, recognize, realize |
| centre, theatre, litre | center, theater, liter |
| programme | program (except IT software) |
| analyse, summarise | analyze, summarize |
| travelling, modelling | traveling, modeling |
In Microsoft Word: Review → Language → Set Proofing Language → English (New Zealand).
Every line must earn its place. Cut anything that does not directly support your candidacy for this specific role.
Cover-letter expectations vary by employer. When one is requested or useful, keep it concise and connect a few supported examples to the specific role.
Length: One page maximum. Tone: Warm and direct. Opening: Never "I am writing to express my interest..." — lead with your strongest point of fit. Spelling: NZ English throughout. Sign-off: Kind regards or Ngā mihi.
Read our full NZ cover letter guide →JobTailoring creates role-specific NZ CVs and cover letters grounded in the experience you provide, using NZ English and clear, parser-friendly formatting. Your first complete application is free.
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