The Right CV Format for New Zealand in 2026

New Zealand hiring conventions sit close to Australia's — direct, no-frills, and skeptical of anything that reads as overly formal or padded. Most mid-size and large employers, plus recruitment agencies (Seek is the dominant job board), now screen applications with an ATS before a person reads them.

Two to three pages, but every line has to earn it

Two to three pages is normal for experienced professionals — New Zealand employers don't penalize length the way US recruiters do, but they do penalize padding. A three-page CV of vague duty statements reads worse than a tight two-pager built entirely from real, specific achievements.

No photo, no personal details beyond contact info

Skip the photo, date of birth, and marital status entirely — New Zealand employment law and standard hiring practice both lean toward keeping demographic information out of the initial CV screen. Stick to name, phone, email, LinkedIn, and general location (suburb/city is enough, full address isn't necessary).

List references, or say they're available

Either include two references directly (name, role, relationship, contact details) or state clearly that they're available on request — both are acceptable in New Zealand, unlike South Africa where recruiters expect them listed outright. Make sure whichever you choose is consistent with what the specific job ad asks for.

Match the job ad's language directly

New Zealand recruiters, like their Australian counterparts, often score CVs against the selection criteria in the job ad almost word-for-word — if the ad lists specific required skills or experience, address each one directly using similar phrasing, rather than assuming your equivalent experience will be inferred.