ergnz

CV TIP – DON’T SLIP UP

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 22:54:24 GMT

In the last few months, we have seen a recurring theme of the MOST Important information missing from job seeker CVs.

CVs are usually received via an automated applicant tracking system. It sucks in all your details and gives us a heads up that you have applied for work.

BUT – if you haven’t updated your CV for a while it’s often where we all get tripped up.

Wrong email address …. Incomplete or wrong mobile and possibly the wrong location where you are now living (example: previously Christchurch and you moved to Auckland)

Often when you apply online you may be using a new email. You will be asked to provide your contact details – and they may also be new.

DON’T push send until you have checked that everything matches on your CV and Application details.

PLEASE also remember that your CV is a bit like your shop front ... if your email address is quirky or funny to you (when you first created it) you might want to rethink it if its not professional.

Don't be afraid to talk to our team if you want to apply for a job and are unsure about anything. We want to support you in the best way possible into the right job.

You can email jobs@ergnz.co.nz to ask any questions.

CAREER GAP HISTORY - CV TIP for 2025

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:14:40 GMT

The new norm that business and recruiters alike will face is gaps in a jobseeker’s work history due to the uncertain economic conditions since the start of 2023. Our recommendation is to front foot it with a simple explanation called CAREER GAP HISTORY .

Place this front and centre AT THE TOP of your CV to ensure that you capture the reader’s attention with an explanation that tells your story.

Regardless of your circumstance it is important that you drive the narrative.

Using simple bullet points you can make a statement about why your last job ended.

Example: Made redundant or Contract/Assignment ended due to reduction in work.

DON’T FORGET TO ADD any training, certifications or volunteer work that you have completed after your last job. This highlights your transferable skills and willingness to stay engaged and active in your pursuit of future work opportunities.

Get comfortable discussing your journey - everyone is different however everyone has experienced the same anxiety when they have been out of work for a period. Applications for jobs posted on Seek, Trade me or a company website are at an all-time high. Often more than 100 – 200 and our experience has shown that 90% of the CVs have gaps ... CVs that have an explanation have allowed ERG to respond more quickly and with greater clarity of how we can help.

Don't be afraid to talk to our team if you want to apply for a job and are unsure what to put. We need to know so we can best support you into the right job.

You can email jobs@ergnz.co.nz to ask any questions.

The unconscious DNA of a Job seeker

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:33:01 GMT

Employers hire on attitude. Yes, they read a resume or talk about skills that a job seeker has, but the right attitude and a growth mindset will trump skills any day . You cannot force a selection of skills into a job if the fit of the individual is all wrong for the environment. In other words, the attitude of the individual does not match the values and behaviours of the company daily.

Attitude or employability behaviours are the unconscious DNA of an individual. It is like meeting someone at a party for the first time and you either click or you do not. When employers hire unconsciously, they may hire like for like; in other words, a version of themselves. What recruiters practice daily is peeling back the layers of a company to discover the DNA of their top performers.

I am not talking the CEO here either, I am talking every person in that company from the janitor to the forklift driver to the packer to the receptionist or the accountant.

Will they turn up on time? Do they display energy, motivation, flexibility and engage with a smile? Are they open to learn? Are they a good team person? At no point do we decide that one role is more important than the other because we see every role as important, we use the same process every time. When the right employability behaviours are on display unconsciously those around will start to model the same behaviour’s … especially when the role models themselves are aware that what got them to where they are was attitudinal… they tend to share their how and why.

Imagine then, if you will, that we take all our reluctant job seekers who are being told daily they are in low skilled precarious work and removed any inference of this and only focus on how awesome their behaviour’s or employability skills are and how valued and important their contribution was in making NZ the best place to live, work and play. Could we see a gradual change in productivity and keenness to show up and be present in our everyday jobs?

Our ability to learn is fostered by both encouragement and competency. Being in the right job that you are competent to do supported and encouraged creates a career pathway. A pathway that may never be straight in fact the greater the curve the more skills are developed over time.

Let us use this narrative instead… employability behaviour’s = opportunity = work = reward

Fiona Harland Director ERG Recruitment

CV TIP – FLIP YOUR DATES

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:27:45 GMT

The quickest way to capture a reader’s attention is to FLIP YOUR DATES .

Due to the current overflow of applications that are received from job postings we highly recommend that you update your CV, so your most recent work experience is at the top of the page.

DONT start your CV with your oldest work experience ALWAYS start with your latest. Keep it sharp with the company name, start & finish dates and bullet pointed duties.

If you have had a work gap do mention it and be prepared to have a chat about it.

Less is often more when it comes to the numbers of pages your CV is…we recommend no more than 2 pages. Use AI to help you with a new look template and to refine your grammar and spelling. Don’t overdo it though as we still want to see the real you reflected in your CV.

Don't be afraid to talk to our team if you want to apply for a job and are unsure what to put. We need to know so we can best support you into the right job.

You can email jobs@ergnz.co.nz to ask any questions.