Farm Worker CV Example & Writing Guide

Working on a farm can be hard yakka. Depending on the type of farm you’re working on, seasonal changes or challenging weather can make your mahi challenging. Luckily, if you’re working on a farm, you’ll have stacked up a ton of skills. If you’re ready to show off your professional strengths, cvapp.nz is here to help! 

We offer an online CV builder, expertly-designed CV templates and a range of helpful guides for each profession. In this guide, we’ll cover the following:

• How to write a farm worker CV
• The best format for a farm worker CV
• Tips on how to optimise each section of your CV (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional CV layout and design hints

In just about 15 minutes, you'll have everything you need to create a winning farm worker CV.

Read on for our top CV tips and rules! 

How to write a farm worker CV

Before you start writing your farm worker CV, you need to know the sections it contains. Your CV should have:

• The CV header
• The CV summary
• The work history section
• The skills section
• The education section

Choosing the best CV format for a farm worker

If you started as a farm worker and have kept at it, your best choice is the reverse chronological CV format. In this format, your work history section is organised from your most recent to least recent work experiences. Generally speaking, you should only go back around 10 years max. 

We highly recommend sticking with the reverse chronological format because recruiters tend to like it best (it makes it easy for them to find what they're after). It also helps if you apply for a job online, where Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan and upload your CV. The ATS is typically set up in reverse chronological order. Applicant Tracking Systems are algorithms or software used by recruiters and employers to shortlist the best applicants. 

If you had a previous career or have been at the job a while, you could consider a hybrid or different format.

CV Summary Example

So where's the objective? Should I have a summary?

Short answer: Yes, you should have a summary! Employers know you want the job or you wouldn't be applying! There are some rare exceptions, but mostly, you'll be writing a short profile section. This summary is also known as a personal statement or professional summary, and it’s your chance to showcase your professional personality and career achievements. 

To begin, choose one or two career highlights or work experiences that demonstrate any talents or skills relevant to the job description. For example, you can choose to highlight any skills related to working with farm animals or heavy machinery.

Because farming skills range from forklift operation to milking cows, you should highlight expertise in specific areas and general farm skills. This section should be no more than four-five sentences, or around 100 - 200 words, unless you're just starting out and your work history is minimal. If you have more to say, you can elaborate and expand in your cover letter.  You can read more about how cover letters can help in our guide.

Work History Example

Your work history section should name all your job titles and former employers, but your descriptions should be more than responsibilities. Like your profile, you should frame each bullet point as a job success.

If you worked on a dairy farm and helped increase milk production, tell that story and offer data. If you can fix farm buildings or equipment, give an example of what you accomplished.

There are two keys to a successful work history section:

1. Expand upon each farm job to show much you learned and grew. Once you describe each skill effectively, move on to other achievements.
2. Focus on the exact job you're applying for. Customising your CV for each job is THE most important thing in your job search. That means thoroughly reviewing the job listing and using each bullet point to show you've already done that work. This will show recruiters you have the skills needed for the job. It will help you get past the ATS, which ranks your CV partly based on keywords and phrases that appear in the listing.

List only your professional experience. If you had jobs with transferable skills like maintaining equipment, include those too. Use strong action words that show you’re the right applicant for the job role. 

Farm Worker CV Skills Example

The skill section lets you showcase any relevant skills you possess. Are you knowledgeable about farm processes, harvesting procedures, and farm equipment and machinery? Be sure to let employers know! In addition to hard skills, or more technical skills, you should also highlight your ability to listen and acquire new skills. You can also discuss your teamwork ability and independence, or your physical fitness, endurance, and strong work ethic.

Tailor this section to each job by swapping out a skill for one the hiring manager listed in the job post.

CV Education Example

A degree isn’t required for many farm worker jobs, but employers looking for specific skills may want someone with a degree in agriculture or a related field. List all degrees and certifications here. Any outstanding honours or awards should be noted here, too! You can add courses or certifications here, or make a separate section for them.

CV Layout and Design

Now you know how to write your career story. The finishing touch, but first impression, is how your CV looks. Recruiters are busy and want to quickly find your details and last job, title and employer. That means keeping it easy to read with clear fonts, plenty of white space, and section headings that stand out.

We offer professionally-designed CV templates in four different styles. Check them out and then use a dedicated online CV maker like ours to avoid any formatting mistakes.

Keep these pointers in mind:

• A bit of colour just grabs attention at first glance
• Don’t make margins smaller; too much text is hard to read
• Use clear fonts and don’t decrease their size from the template
• Headers and footers may not be scannable by ATS, so don’t put key info (like contact details or profession) in them. The only exception is specifically designed templates (like cvapp.nz’s) that avoid technical pitfalls.

One last thing: proofread and/or use an online CV builder with spellcheck (we'll help get you sorted!) You don’t want a typo to ruin your job chance.

Key points for a farm worker CV

1. The reverse chronological CV format is almost always best.
2. Highlight your specific expertise in your summary.
3. Because farm work varies, tailor your CV for each application.
4. Use the CV builder to avoid formatting hassles and spend more time on content.

You've got everything you need to reap the rewards of your hard mahi and get that new job!