Writing a CV for the New Zealand job market
Just as when writing a CV for a job in your home country, there are basic things to keep in mind, such as:
- Your résumé should be a professional sales document
- Ensure all information is complete
- Check layout as well as content
Where do I start?
Writing a résumé for an employer in another country can be a daunting prospect. This is a document that a potential employer will use to make their first judgement about you, so be careful to provide information that ensures those judgements will be positive ones!
Whilst we encourage candidates to state very clearly what their career aspirations are, it is important to remain both realistic and focused. Including goals such as "play professional rugby league, have a high paid job, surf around the world and own a really good car" will not impress a prospective employer and may lead potential employers think you are not sufficiently committed.
Read on for some great résumé writing tips to ensure you don’t fall into the same trap and that you present a competent and professional résumé.
What should I include?
CV content
- First, include basic information such as your name, address, telephone numbers and email address. Make sure the email address you use appears professional (i.e. hotstuff@xx.com is not appropriate!).
- Next list your relevant education and other qualifications.
- After a lively career objective that gives an indication of what you want, list your work experience in chronological order, beginning with the most recent. Include employer names, positions held and primary responsibilities. Also, where appropriate, include an indication of salary level achieved and reasons for leaving each position.
- Remember that employers in New Zealand won’t be familiar with many UK companies. It is sometimes useful to provide a brief overview of your employer’s business including industry sector, what they do, and company size.
- Do not leave gaps in your résumé. If you took a year out, carried out an interim assignment, or travelled for six months, say so. If you do include gaps, potential employers may suspect the worst.
- Always state both month and year of employment. January 2007 – December 2008 shows two years in a role whereas 2007 – 2008 could be as little as one month.
- It is also important to include details of at least two references, preferably former employers.
CV top tips for New Zealand
- Most companies prefer résumés submitted electronically – and this will be critical when applying to NZ companies from overseas. Create your résumé in a common program such as MS Word so it can be easily opened and read by recipients.
- If the company you are applying to prefers hard-copy résumés, select quality A4 paper, ensure your résumé is produced on a PC using a good quality printer, and only print on one side of the paper. Consider posting your CV via registered mail so you can ensure it is not lost on its way to New Zealand.
- New Zealand résumés tend to be more detailed than their UK counterparts. Don’t get caught up in trying to keep your résumé down to two or three pages; however, do ensure the information you include is as succinct as possible.
- Avoid the use of acronyms. Whilst the meaning may seem obvious to you, acronyms may leave the reader with more questions than answers.
- If you have your own website profiling your work, include the URL on your résumé; however, do not simply submit the URL address instead of a résumé.
- When formatting your résumé, ensure there is plenty of white space. Do not place too much information on one page, or use graphics and flowery or small fonts that are difficult to read, as this will distract from the content.
- Do not forget to spell check your résumé! This is the first impression your potential employer will receive of you, so take the time to get it right. If possible, ask someone to proofread your résumé to check for any spelling, layout or typing errors – don’t rely on your word processor’s spell check tool alone.
- Attach your résumé to an email, rather than pasting the text into your email program. Pasting text into an email program sometimes causes text to appear on the recipient’s screen in a distorted or muddled mess, making it very difficult to read.
- Unless otherwise stated, you do not need to attach copies of certificates relating to educational and/or professional qualifications (including recent academic transcripts) or any references from previous employers to your résumé. However, you may be asked for these prior to an interview, as your prospective employer may need to determine if your qualifications match those required in New Zealand.
Writing your cover letter
Remember to:
- Keep it succinct
- Tailor each letter to suit the specific job for which you are applying
- Proof read very carefully!
Cover letters are a unique selling tool when approaching a prospective employer directly, and are vitally important to applications sent by overseas candidates.
The letter is basically an advertisement for your résumé, designed to grab the reader's attention and spur them to read on. It should be written so that the reader cannot possibly pass it over without opening the résumé document itself.
Your cover letter should complement your résumé by highlighting the most relevant aspects relating to the position. Make a draft, then when you are satisfied that it reads well and will get the reader interested, get a second opinion by asking a trusted friend or colleague to review it.
Match your cover letter to the job listing, when possible, accounting point by point for each of the requirements listed by the employer and detailing how you are qualified to meet these requirements.
If you are not sure of the qualities or competencies required, try to work out what they are likely to be or consider a similar position you have seen in operation elsewhere.
Cover letter checklist
- Your cover letter should ideally not exceed one A4 page, well spaced.
- Be sure to make your letter clear and concise. Use strong verbs that demonstrate action and accomplishments, for example ‘organise’, and ‘supervise’.
- Find out the details of the contact person (including correct spelling) and address your letter accordingly. Do not forget to include your own contact details (double-check for accuracy).
- Your cover letter layout should include an introduction and identification of the position (for example their reference number or the title used in the job advert), your qualifications, reasons for applying and conclusion.
- Identify your skills, experience and attributes that match the employer’s needs. Look for keywords and address the main elements, for example if the position requires “an outgoing person with demonstrated capacity to work in a team”, the keywords here are “outgoing”, “demonstrated” and “team”. If you show how you meet the essential criteria you increase your chances of an interview.
- Essentially you need to draw attention to you and away from others, but not by misspelling the company’s name! Proofing is the most important element of résumé creation and many job seekers find that they benefit greatly from having a trusted friend or colleague review both their résumé and cover letter prior to submission.
-written by Iain Martin, Hays Globalink - Australia & New Zealand
Iain Martin is Business Manager for Hays Globalink's UK-based team of experienced consultants who specialise in the recruitment of professionals looking to move to Australia and New Zealand, providing advice and expertise about the local job market, salaries and current job opportunities, as well as the latest CV tips and interview advice.
