Let's talk CV's! In most situations, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) or Resume is the first contact you have with a prospective employer and it is your chance to make a good first impression. You use it to show your prospective employer why they should hire you and what the benefits of having you on their team will be.
To ensure your CV stands out, follow our recommended structure and tips below:
1. Start with name, address and contact details
List the main contact details prospective employers will be able to reach you on easily at anytime. Ensure the details are presented clearly and featured prominently at the top of your CV.
2. Introduce yourself
This is where you should summarise and highlight what you can offer to a prospective employer. Summarise any career highlights that will draw attention to what you have accomplished. It should be tailored for each role you apply for and aim to make you stand out from competition.
3. Summarise your skills
Use brief bullet points to list the skills and experience you have that are specific and relevant to the role. Hiring managers will scan this section of your CV very quickly to see what you can offer and your suitability for the role.
4. Highlight relevant experience
This section should include your work history in most recent historical order including paid work, relevant volunteer or work experience placements. It is important to tailor this section of your CV to the job, specifically where key responsibilities in previous roles are applicable for your application.
5. Shout about your achievements
Your CV is your opportunity to sell yourself and highlight why you are the best fit the role, so it is important to include where you have gone above and beyond or made a significant achievement. Where the achievements are measurable, be sure to include the numbers, such as "increased milk production over target by 10%".
6. List any training, education and courses
Only list what is relevant or required for the role you are applying for, starting with most recent. It is important to showcase where you may have up-skilled or could bring new knowledge to the organisation.
7. Mention any interests/hobbies
This is where you can highlight your personality in any hobbies or interests outside of work. Note, it is optional to include this on your CV and it is best to avoid stating anything that could cause friction early on.
8. References
Include a couple of work related references for the hiring manager to contact if needed. It is fine to list "references are available on request" if you are not comfortable disclosing your referees until further into the recruitment process. It is important to make sure you have them readily available and contactable when requested.
Final top five tips:
- Often less is more! Keep all wording to the same font.
- Ensure you have start and finish dates of employment (month/year).
- Be sure to have up-to-date contact details (full name, phone number, email, location).
- If you have immigrated to NZ, it’s a good idea to let potential employers know your Residency or Work Visa status.
- If you want to give a full introduction of yourself, you can do this by adding a Cover Letter. This will keep your CV to a professional aspect only.
In case you are actively looking for a job, we recommend sending your CV to Recruitment professionals that may be able to match your skills with potential roles. At Trinity, we work with many different industries across New Zealand. Have a look at our open positions and send us your CV if you are interested in applying.
