CVlibre
CV

How to write a CV with no work experience (NZ)

No work experience yet? How to write a New Zealand CV that still gets interviews: school, volunteering, part-time work and transferable skills.

4 min readUpdated 13 November 2026Written with the help of AI

Everyone starts somewhere. Employers hiring for entry-level, part-time and holiday jobs know you will not have years of experience. Show that you are reliable and keen to learn.

Put education first

List your school or study, NCEA level and any subjects or achievements that relate to the job.

Use everything that counts

  • Volunteering, for example at a sports club, marae or community event
  • Babysitting, lawn mowing, helping in a family business
  • School roles: prefect, team captain, club member
  • Personal projects you are proud of

Show transferable skills

Teamwork, communication, time management and customer service matter in almost every job. Give a short example for each.

Keep it short

With little experience, one or two clear pages is better than a long, thin CV. CVLibre lets you describe your background in a few lines and the AI fills in the form.

The quickest way to start: fill in a ready-made template, see the result live and download the PDF. You can even describe your background in a few lines and let the AI fill in the form, then check everything. Free, no sign-up.

Read next