How to prepare a Resume to Work in New Zealand

This is a short guide to help you. how to prepare a resume to work in New Zealand.

The key focus of your New Zealand Resume / CV should be to persuade the employer to invite you for an interview. Therefore, your New Zealand Resume / CV is a marketing tool, which should be adapted to the market in which you intend to use it.

New Zealand Resume / CVs are longer and less structured with no set format – although most include personal details, work experience, qualifications and achievements.

Head the first page with your name, contact phone numbers (don’t forget international calling codes), address and email

Leave out Age, gender, marital status, ethnicity or health.

Resumes / CVs keep to 2-3 pages and number each page

Only use a basic font such as Times New Roman, Garamond or Arial nothing fancy

Be consistent with formatting, font and headings throughout

Use plain, clear language and avoid long wordy sentences

Use power words and action verbs in your letter and resume.
The application letter in New Zealand

Use bullet points or key phrases

Remove any slang/jargon that is specific to your country

Don’t use tiny font/italics/clip art/photos/cover page

Employment: Detail your employment history, giving the most space to your current job. Include your company name and position held. Emphasise your achievements.

Qualifications: Normally you should list your most recent qualification first.

There are three ways to display your CV:

Chronological: Lists employment and education from the present backwards

Functional: Lists work experience by skills and strength.

Hybrid: A combination of the above two styles. Begins with a profile and skills section followed by work history.

In your last paragraph you are expected to be assertive, but not too pushy.

Always try to send your letter to an individual. It is considered impersonal and uninteresting to address your letter to ‘Dear Sir/Madam’. Therefore write ‘Dear Mr X/Ms X’.

Complete all the questions in an application form.

Work permits in New Zealand

• To live in New Zealand, you have to apply for residence. This can be done from overseas. There are three main categories of residence application: general skills, business, and family.
• The first two categories use a point system to assess applications.
• People who wish to settle permanently in New Zealand must obtain a permanent entry authority.
• Contact the New Zealand embassy in your home country for more information.

The application procedure in New Zealand

• About 70% of job vacancies in New Zealand are never advertised.
• ‘Cold calling’ and networking are good ways of finding a job.
• Many people are prepared to help in your search for a job. However, remember you are networking for information rather than for employment.

Dos

• Use power word and action verbs in you letter and resume. Power words and action verbs
• Complete all the questions in an application form. Accomplished Improved
• Be prepared for psychological tests during the application process. Achieved Negotiated
• Look interested – ask questions. Carried out Realised
• Provide examples to prove your achievements. Finalised Represented
• Ask if you don’t understand the question. Guided Structured Handled Succeeded in

Don’ts

• Sit until invited in an application interview.
• Go over the top – stay calm and stick to the facts.
• Put anything besides the truth in your resume, even if there is an ocean in between, your future employer will find
out the truth eventually.
• Criticise former employers.
• Light a cigarette without asking; smoking is not permitted in most buildings in New Zealand.

Management culture in New Zealand

• New Zealand is a rather classless society with flat organisational structures, without the
presence of hierarchy.
• Business planning is usually carried out three to five years in advance.
• Overall, business people tend to be pragmatic, efficient and quality focused.
• It is common to start a business meeting with some small talk, e.g., sport, weather, etc.
• Quality and punctuality are two key areas to ensure an easy-going negotiation process.
• Pushing in front of people in a queue is considered extremely impolite.