General CV Example
On the hunt for a versatile, professional CV sample that can be quickly customised for any role?
You’ve come to the right place! At cvapp.nz, we’re passionate about helping Kiwi professionals advance their career potential.
Check out our general sales CV example below for inspiration on how to craft your next job-winning CV.
Key Components Of A CV (2024)
Without a well-structured CV, you could lose out on the job you’re applying for.
Fortunately, cvapp.nz is here to help you increase your chances of being noticed by potential employers; it’s essential that your CV contains the following sections:
Header: Positioned either at the top or on the side of your CV, the CV header provides employers with your name and contact details. Your header should be visually appealing, well-formatted, and appropriate to the industry you’re applying to. Fortunately, all of our CV designs feature expert-designed headers, so you can submit your CV with confidence.
Personal Statement: The personal statement, also known as a professional summary, provides a concise overview of your professional experiences, achievements and skills in 3-4 sentences. The purpose of the personal statement is to grab the attention of employers and compel them to explore your CV in further detail.
Employment History: This section is where you detail your past roles, accompanied by bullet points outlining your responsibilities, accomplishments, and the skills applied in each position. Be sure to include strong examples and numbers where possible to help outline your impact in each job role.
Education: In the education section of your CV, be sure to list your degrees, qualifications and certifications. Including these details will help employers understand your academic background and qualifications, and how these may help you in your potential new role.
Skills: The skills section of your CV should outline any important professional skills you possess (we know, including skills in a skill section is a little obvious!)
It’s important, however, that you don’t just list any skills. Here, you’ll want to include skills that are most relevant to the job description. We also recommend including a mix of both soft skills that highlight your interpersonal abilities, and hard skills, which outline your more technical abilities.
How to choose the right CV format:
Choosing the right CV format isn’t always easy. After all, you do have a few options to choose from!
The main thing to remember is that the CV format you choose should effectively enhance your professional profile. We’ll review the three most common CV formats:
The Chronological CV Format:
The chronological CV format is the most common CV format, and it’s typically the format most employers expect to see.
With this CV format, the employment history section is the star of the show — so we recommend choosing this format if you have at least three previous jobs to list.
Be sure to elaborate on your previous positions by outlining any key responsibilities you had, and use examples with numbers or other quantifiable data where possible.
The Functional CV Format:
If you don’t have much previous professional experience, don’t worry!
The best option for you might be the functional CV format. This format emphasises your professional skills, allowing you to discuss how you’ve applied your skills in previous professional environments.
This format also is a great option for first-time job-seekers, as well as candidates considering switching career paths.
The Combination CV Format
The combination CV format, otherwise known as a hybrid CV format, is — yup, you guessed it — a combination of both a chronological and functional CV format.
This format allows you to highlight both your skills and professional experiences. We recommend this format to independent professionals, such as freelancers or independent contractors.
Can't decide which format to use? Our online CV builder allows you to craft and save different versions of your CV so you can find the best format for you!
Benefits of using our CV examples for job applications:
Specifically designed for today's job seekers, our CV examples are structured to support job-seekers in securing their desired job roles.
Here are just a few reasons why our CV examples can help take your CV to the next level:
- AI sample sentences and feedback: Leveraging AI technology and feedback, we've created a wide range of sample sentences to enhance your CV. No more wasting time-fighting writer’s block!
- Diverse selection of templates: Since we know every job is different, we offer a diverse section of CV templates tailored for different positions across various industries. Whether you're an accountant or a veterinarian, we've got something for everyone.
- Enhanced for the ATS: We ensure all of our CV examples are optimised with CV scanners and ATS software. Creating a job-winning CV has never been easier!
- Expert guidance: Our team closely monitors current hiring trends to make sure we’re providing the best tips and techniques to our cvapp.nz community. All of our CV examples are expert-approved, so you create a CV you’re confident in.
- HR-approved designs: We also collaborate closely with HR experts to create design layouts that provide candidates with a competitive edge in crowded applicant pools. Our designs help you stand out and get hired faster!
- Streamlined and simplified: Our CV samples seamlessly integrate into our online CV builder, allowing you to effortlessly adjust your work experience, tweak the layout, and generate a polished CV in just a few clicks.
Each of our CV examples comes with a detailed guide that offers valuable insights into how to write a successful CV. These guides are completely free to access, so be sure to use them and pass them along to fellow job seekers!
CV Example Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are employers looking for in a CV?
There are specific elements of a CV that employers carefully review when assessing CVs. The CV samples provided by our team are tailored to meet these expectations. Generally speaking, employers are looking for a tidy, well-structured layout and relevant work experience and skills.
Poor formatting, generic written content, typos and grammatical mistakes should be avoided at all costs! With professional designs, A.I.-powered feedback, and expertly crafted content, we’ll help you create an exceptional CV that leaves a positive impression on employers.
Do I need a cover letter to match my CV?
Yes, generally speaking, we recommend attaching a cover letter alongside your CV whenever you can to improve your chances of securing the role.
Submitting a cover letter can help employers understand why you are a fitting candidate for the role. Since a cover letter is more free-form and flexible, a cover letter allows you to communicate directly with employers and expand on the details provided in your CV.
That's why we offer an array of attractive cover letter examples and templates. Browse our online cover letter builder to find the best cover letter template for you: with creative, modern, professional and simple designs, we’ll help you create a great first impression with employers.
Can I customise the CV examples?
Of course! With our user-friendly CV builder, we make it easy to adjust section titles, bullet points, colours, line spacing, and other elements with ease. Say goodbye to frustrating formatting and dull, drab colour schemes!
What if I can’t find the CV example for my job?
With regular updates to our CV examples, there's a good chance that a template specific to your job will be added soon.
Feel free to contact us if there's a particular job title you’d like to see featured on our platform. In the meantime, feel free to explore the categories to check if we already provide CV samples for a job title similar to yours.
Can I use the same CV example for every job application?
Although you can use the same CV sample as a foundation for all applications, many employers know a copy-and-paste CV when they see one!
For this reason, we strongly recommend customising your CV to align it with the job requirements of the specific role you’re applying for.
What are the categories of CV examples?
Our collection of CV samples are organised into comprehensive categories covering education, government, engineering, retail, legal, maintenance and repair, administrative, human resources, real estate, sales, production, accounting & finance, business & management, security & protective services, hospitality & catering, transport & logistics, transportation, medical, information technology, sport & fitness, social work, construction, beauty & wellness, and beyond!
You can also browse our professional, modern, creative, and simple categories for more.
Are these CV examples free?
It costs nothing to view cvapp.nz's CV examples and accompanying CV guides.
Our CV builder offers a free version in addition to our various pricing tiers. Learn more about cvapp.nz's pricing here.