The full CV
This is a fictional person and employer. Notice there is no photo, age, marital status or street address, redundancy is stated once in a neutral line, and the gap is covered in a single honest line.
Example CV (fictional)
SAM TAYLOR Hamilton | 021 000 0000 | sam.taylor@example.com | linkedin.com/in/samtaylor-example NZ citizen. Full driver's licence. PROFILE Operations coordinator with 9 years in logistics and warehousing, most recently coordinating freight for a 40-person distribution business. Known for fixing process bottlenecks, keeping customers informed and training new staff. Seeking an operations or supply-chain coordinator role in the Waikato. KEY SKILLS - Freight and courier coordination (Mainfreight, NZ Post, Fliway) - Inventory control, cycle counts and stock reconciliation - Xero purchase orders, MYOB, Excel (pivot tables, lookups) - Health and safety: site induction lead, hazard register upkeep - Customer communication and complaint resolution - Staff training and rostering for teams of up to 12 WORK EXPERIENCE Operations Coordinator, Waikato Freight Services Ltd, Hamilton Feb 2021 - Aug 2026 (Role disestablished in a company restructure.) - Coordinated up to 120 inbound and outbound consignments a week across 3 depots. - Cut average dispatch delays from 6 hours to 2 by introducing a daily pick-and-pack checklist. - Reconciled $2.1m of annual stock; reduced variances from 3.4% to 0.9% in 12 months. - Trained and mentored 8 new warehouse staff; two promoted to team leader. - Managed customer escalations; complaint volume fell by 30% over two years. Warehouse Team Leader, Central Distribution Co, Hamilton Jun 2018 - Jan 2021 - Led a shift team of 10; achieved 99.2% pick accuracy. - Implemented a near-miss reporting system that was adopted company-wide. - Covered rostering and leave planning; reduced overtime costs by 15%. Warehouse Operator, various employers (temporary), Waikato 2015 - 2018 - Forklift, order picking, goods in and out for FMCG and building supply clients. EARLIER EXPERIENCE Retail assistant, Hamilton (2012-2015) CURRENT ACTIVITY Sep - Oct 2026: Seeking new role. Completed NZQA Level 3 Certificate in Logistics (part-time); volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, Hamilton. EDUCATION AND TRAINING - National Certificate in Logistics Level 3 (in progress, expected Dec 2026) - Forklift licence (F endorsement), current - First Aid certificate, current to May 2027 - Hamilton Boys' High School, NCEA Level 3 REFEREES Available on request. Two former managers and one colleague have agreed to act. (Alternatively list: Name, Role, Company, Phone, Email.)
Why this CV works
- The profile says who they are, how experienced, what they're good at and what they want, in four lines.
- Skills list uses names of tools employers search for (Xero, MYOB, Excel). In your CV use only what you can actually do.
- Every bullet is an action with a result. Numbers are plausible and checkable at interview. Do not invent numbers: be ready to explain how you counted.
- Redundancy is a neutral parenthetical, once. The tone is matter-of-fact.
- The gap is a single line of 'Current activity' showing training and community involvement.
- Older roles shrink to one line each. The page count stays at two.
Adjusting it for your situation
| Situation | Change |
|---|---|
| School leaver / first job | Lead with education, part-time work, volunteering, sport, leadership. 1 page. Add a short profile. |
| Career change | Put 'Relevant skills' above work history, with examples from past jobs mapped to the new field (see transferable skills guide). |
| Trades / hands-on work | Put tickets and licences near the top: site safe, driver licence, forklift, white card equivalents, registration numbers. |
| Over 50 | Focus on the last 10-15 years, current tools and training, and recent results. Don't list graduation years. |
| Long-term out of work | Add a 'Current activity' line, short courses, volunteering and recent training. |
| Migrant | State your visa and work rights; explain overseas employers briefly (e.g. 'Leading retail chain, Manila'); convert qualifications to NZQF levels via NZQA where useful. |
Sources
- Tahatū Career Navigator: Looking for a job (opens in a new tab)
- Tahatū: How to write a CV (opens in a new tab)
General information only. Confirm with the agency for your situation. Spotted something out of date? Email help@unemployed.nz.