Profile & CV Support

Tell us whether you are studying or recently completed your studies. Employers want to know your qualification and your progress towards completion. It’s important that this information is the same as what you have in your CV and academic record.

If you are currently studying towards a postgraduate degree, please ensure that you include your undergraduate years in your total length of study.

1. Select the programmes you are available for: Ensure the dates you choose align with your study schedule and availability for full-time work. Remember, internships run full-time from November to February, and employers often check your availability dates so ALWAYS make sure this information is accurate. You can update your availability in this section at any time if it changes.

2. Choose job categories: Choose categories you’re genuinely interested in. Employers prefer candidates who have a clear interest in their specific role type.

3. Choose regions you are prepared to work in: If you're available to work in other locations, you'll have more opportunities. This year's job market will be tough, so we encourage flexibility with relocation.
   ⚠️ Note: You will be responsible for your own relocation, travel, and accommodation expenses.

Blurb: When employers search for candidates, their first view will be of your Blurb and preferred name. Use your Blurb to make a strong first impression, it’s like your profile statement on LinkedIn.

We recommend you include the type of role you’re most interested in so employers know you’re a match. There's a 120-character limit, so make every word count.

Note: we already know you're looking for an entry-level role or internship—focus on who you want to become and the value you bring to a future employer.

Ambitions, Experience, and Role Fit: these sections work together like a cover letter. They should tell employers what type of job you want, what skills and experience you bring and who you are as a person

We recommend writing 3 - 5 sentences per section to keep it clear and engaging. If you're unsure where to start, here’s a guide for each section:

♦️ Ambitions – Share what area of tech interests you and why. Align this with your "Job Criteria" selections and explain why you're drawn to this field. What excites you about working in tech? Why do you think you'd be great at it?

♦️ Experience – Show how your studies and projects connect to your ambitions. Describe a project where you applied key skills relevant to your future role. Provide specific examples to help you stand out, and highlight any career or personal achievements.

♦️ Role Fit – This is your chance to show your personality. What motivates you? What do you value in a workplace? What qualities make you a great fit for an employer? Summarise your key strengths and attributes in a way that makes you memorable.

For more tips, check out our 10-minute video on ‘How to Create a Great Student Profile’ to help you stand out!

It is crucial to include all your skills on your profile! Here's why it’s important:

• Employers list jobs and search for candidates by skills - if your skills aren’t listed, you might not appear in their search results.

• Your ranking in employer searches is based on skill strength - the more relevant skills you have, the better your chances of being noticed.

How to rank your skills
Each skill should be ranked based on your experience level, click on a skill card multiple times to adjust the level.

🎓 Academic - You’ve learnt about this skill through study. Select this level if you've taken a course or completed academic work on it.

⌨️ Practical - You’ve used this skill in an assignment or personal project. Use this level if you’ve applied it in a meaningful way and can show how you’ve used it.

💲 Paid - You’ve been paid to use this skill in a job, internship, or freelance work. You can select Paid if you've used the skill in a professional setting.

📌 Important: Your skills MUST be backed up with evidence in your CV, GitHub, or portfolio. Employers will check for proof, so make sure your profile aligns with your real experience.

We recommend a natural looking headshot (beware of too much filtering and enhancements!) with only you in the photo, looking as you would for a job interview. You can reach out to us using the chat bubble if you'd like to talk this through. 

You do not need to have your headshot taken professionally, you can use your phone camera.

You’ll need to upload 2–3 supporting files to your profile before completing it. We’ll cover CVs in another section, but here’s what you need to know about academic records and visa information:

Academic record: We need evidence that you have been enrolled in a NZ tertiary education institution in the past 12 months. It should include your name, the name of your institution, year of study and (if possible) the name of your qualification. 

We can accept the following Academic Records:
* official or unofficial transcript
* screenshot of your academic portal (clearly showing your name, institution, year of study and what you’re studying)
* confirmation of enrolment (an offer of enrolment is not enough, sorry)
* confirmation of completion/graduation or a certificate of graduation

Visa: If you are not a citizen of NZ, we require you to provide proof of your right to work in New Zealand before we can publish your profile. Please upload your residency, student, or work visa to your profile to prove your right to work in New Zealand.

(Note: for our Summer internships you will need to be able to prove that you are eligible to work in Aotearoa New Zealand until at least mid-February).

Use the ‘Preview Profile’ tab to view your profile from an employer’s perspective. Ensure it clearly showcases your skills and personality and is free of errors.

Double-check all your links - Test your LinkedIn, GitHub, and portfolio links to make sure they work correctly. Also, verify that you’ve uploaded the right files. A broken link or missing document could mean a missed opportunity!

Yes! We highly encourage you to edit and refine your profile over the year. You’ll want to update your academic record if you get mid-year grades. When you see jobs listed that seem like a good fit, you can refine your profile and CV so you can make a strong impression.

Your CV should include any work/volunteering experience you already have. It does not have to be related to your field of study or your desired next job. Describe what you did in each role, what your responsibilities were, what you achieved. Focus on skills/achievements that are relevant or transferable to your NEXT job. If you have no work experience, highlight how you developed key skills through your studies, e.g. team projects are a great way to showcase your teamwork and collaboration skills.

Employers who have registered and posted roles on the SoT website can see your completed profile. When you have opted into region(s), and completed your profile, you can see them, too!

You want to give Summer of Tech employers all the information they’re looking for, including in-depth details about your skills and projects. Most NZ employers expect junior CVs to be 2-3 pages long.

Yes, the majority of our bootcamp are recorded, you can find previous recordings and slide decks by selecting ‘Past events’ in the events tab on the platform.

You can add ‘References available on request’. However, when applying for jobs, it helps to include names and contact details if possible. Employers usually ask for permission first, giving you time to inform your references about the role.

Aim for 2–3 references who can speak positively about your skills and character. These can be past managers, lecturers, tutors, or even mentors from volunteer or community work. Employers often need to conduct reference checks quickly, so having them ready can speed up the hiring process.

Yes, but keep in mind that Summer of Tech is designed for candidates seeking internships and entry-level roles; we help people land their first job in tech. Your profile and CV should be tailored for entry-level opportunities in your chosen area.

Employers in our programme are specifically looking for early-career candidates who need mentoring and support to get started. If you have industry experience but are shifting focus, highlight your new direction in your Blurb and CV.

If you're a current student or recent graduate, you’re eligible to participate. However, your experience may not necessarily give you an advantage in this programme. Instead, focus on why you’re a strong intern or graduate candidate rather than emphasising past experience.