Student CV Templates

Stand out in the crowd with our comprehensive CV templates, must-know tips and helpful suggestions

Updated 14 October 2023

Please note, this page is intended for high school students applying for a job while at school. If you are a tertiary student, this guide and CV template is not for you - our dedicated university and polytechnic CV templates and guide has what you need to know.

Summary of CV Writing and Templates

Writing a CV can be a challenge without a template - our student-focused template makes it easy and gives you the best step forward.
Every great CV needs excellent referees, so make sure you pick wisely.
Our must-know tips and what to avoid guide lets you apply for jobs with confidence.

In this guide, we outline how to put the best CV together using our proven templates. We cover:

Know this first - why are CVs important?

When you apply for a job, you are looking to convince the hiring manager that you have the experience and skills to take the job and run with it.
With every job advertised, there will be many applicants - how you get an interview depends on how you present your CV.
The best approach is to tailor your CV to the position and include sections that anticipate what the hiring manager is looking for. You want to be clear, clinical and straight-to-the-point - waffle and irrelevance have no place in a CV.
CVs are much more important than cover letters, and your efforts should be spent on making your background relevant to the job you're applying for.

First Steps: CV Referees

Before you start drafting your CV, take the time to ask for referees.
A referee is someone you know (but not a parent) who can vouch for your character. In most cases, this will be a teacher you know well, a neighbour, family-friend or current employer.
Ideally, it's good to arrange 2 or 3 good referees, and mention to them the jobs you are applying for.
A referee can give you some advice on how to answer and speak on the phone with potential employers. They can also help you review your CV and suggest what strengths to mention.
Don't delay finding your referees - reach out now before you apply for a job!

What makes the perfect Student CV?

Before sending off your CV, check it for these ten essential must-haves. If in doubt, ask for someone else to look over it as fresh sets of eyes usually find things you won't.

ZERO spelling mistakes - even one minor error will stick out
At least two referees - employers need them to tick a box and also check your details, so pick people who know you
A clear file name - don't complicate it, save it, for example, as Christopher_Walsh_CV_2019.DOCX (just replace the name with yours)
A professional email address and voicemails - christopher.walsh@gmail.com, for example, is going to win over wild_wolf555@gmail.com. If your mobile voicemail isn't professional, re-record it with a simple sentence requesting callers leave a message for you to phone them back.
100% truth - don't make things up. If you studied Japanese in Year 11, you're not fluent in Japanese. Don't risk being found out.
Keeping to a 1-page length - a CV is a snapshot, not a business card, nor a novel. You don't need to list every award or achievement since you started primary school.
Giving examples of your experience - don't say 'worked night shift', explain what your job entailed with bullet-point explanations of your regular tasks.
Avoiding ANY use of shorthand or text language - don't write '2nd job' or 'B/G' (short for background).
Logical layout, easy to read formatting - make it a comfortable read, and don't reduce the spacing to cram it all in.
A lot of volunteering, sports and initiatives - getting involved in your local community translates into CV power, so whatever you do or plan to do, make it count.

Download MoneyHub's Proven CV Template

Five Must-Know Tips for Writing an A-Grade CV

Use a CV template, don't frustrate yourself and waste time by starting from scratch

You need to put your energy into the content of your CV, not creating the layout and formatting. Download a tried-and-tested CV template and write over the existing content, and personalise it with your skills and experience. You can then make minor format edits to complete it.

Use strong action verbs and avoid general words that can be vague

For example, if you set up a club at school, saying you 'established', 'founded' or initiated' sounds a lot better. If you were in charge of something at school, action verbs include 'administered', 'represented' or 'controlled'. There are easy ways to make your message more compelling - check out this fantastic full list of action verbs for CVs.

Get a driver's licence, and state clearly that you have one

Employers may favour applicants who have their own set of transport as it suggests they are independent and have their own means to get to and from the job. While public transport is excellent in cities like Auckland and Wellington, it doesn't run 24 hours, and many student jobs are at inconvenient times and locations. If you plan to get a licence but haven't got on to it yet, make that your next priority. State that you have a drivers licence near the beginning of your CV.

Before you send out your CV, check it at least three times

Take breaks in between checking it to avoid CV fatigue. Ask a parent or friend to read over it too. You can also download a free version of Grammarly (see our review) which offers added help and points to think about.

Update your CV every time you apply for a job - no exceptions

Make sure the CV has your latest education and work experience listed. Employers can easily pick up when your CV was last updated - the file details show the modification date. If you want the job, make an effort and touch up your CV so that it is relevant for tomorrow. It won't take long, and it will make all the difference.

Download MoneyHub's Proven CV Template

Five Things to AVOID in your CV

Making the right impression is easy when you exclude the unconventional and unnecessary, as we point out below:

Attaching a photo

Overseas websites may suggest it, but in New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries (i.e. Australia and England) it's not the norm, so don't do it.

Irrelevant personal information

The list is near endless, but typical details to avoid mentioning are your hobbies, age, an unprofessional email address, goals, wage information of current and previous jobs, reasons why you left previous jobs, and other unrelated information that doesn't support your job application.

Quite simply, if in doubt, delete it. Less is more when it comes to a CV. The employer wants to see your experience and references, not your thoughts about yourself.

Incorrect Information and blatant lies

Do not lie in a CV - it's easy to be found out and is never worth the risk. You may think that you don't have the key qualifications or experience for the job, but many employers look beyond the rigid requirements and want people who show initiative and have a track record.

'Harmless' lies are harmful - here are some examples:

'Studied Japanese' when in reality you only took one or two classes before switching.
'Studied IT and can code' when you dropped out of university after four weeks.
'Managed a team of five' when you were a temporary employee.

You can, of course, expand generously on your job responsibilities and round-up the time you worked if it's reasonable, but a lie is bad news. New Zealand is too small and people talk. Please don't risk it.

Clutter and irrelevant experience

For school students, keeping it short and clear is key. Writing a clear personal statement is more important than random information.

If you've graduated from university, subject grades at high school and even university are likely to be irrelevant once you work for a few years. What experience you list and how you describe it is important, and shows a track record of working. However, be careful not to over-describe the trivial, such as how good you were cleaning a restaurant's kitchen or working in retail etc.

The best approach is to only include experience if it showcases additional skills that can translate to the position you're applying for. For example:

If you worked at The Warehouse and are applying for a job at Farmers, then that's relevant.
But if you're going for a job at the BNZ and are currently working at Westpac, mentioning a summer years ago where you worked at a bar and a BP station is more clutter than helpful.

Annoying 'buzzwords'

While this point is perhaps more relevant for students looking for full-time work, we think it's good to mention that the person looking at your CV is, quite likely, looking for a reason to reject it. That is how CV reviews go - the hiring manager wants to find the people to interview by process of elimination. If you use words and phrases such as “best of breed,” "adding value", "thinking outside the box,” "headhunted" and “people pleaser", you may very well limit your chances of success. Terms such as those tend to be disliked, and even if they're not, it is not worth the risk to include them.

The terms employers like to see, in moderation, include “achieved,” "initiated", “managed,” “resolved,” and “launched”. These words demonstrate involvement, teamwork and initiative. However, it's important not to overuse them or place them out of context.