When you’ve built a long career, your CV can easily turn into a life story. But how much history is too much? In this edition of #AskAmelia, Campfire’s Founder and Director, Amelia Cranfield, shares her advice on where to draw the line and how to keep your CV sharp and relevant. Read more to find out…

Amelia Cranfield is the Founder and Director of Campfire, the Marketing Association’s exclusive recruitment agency partner. Campfire specialises in placing talent across digital marketing, e-commerce, media, and creative roles throughout New Zealand, offering full-time, part-time, contract, and freelance opportunities.

So, why should you #AskAmelia? With over 18 years of recruitment experience in both the UK and New Zealand, she’s seen it all, and she’s not here to sugarcoat anything. If you’ve got a burning question, email: askamelia@campfirerecruitment.co.nz

Question: How far back should my CV go?

This week’s question comes from a senior candidate with an impressive career across global media brands like The New York Times and The Times. They’ve launched publications, led digital projects, and worked across continents. But since returning to NZ, they’ve hit a wall. No interviews, no traction. This candidate wonders if they have too much information on their CV, and asks: “How far back should my CV go?”

The long and winding CV

When you’ve had a long and varied career, it’s hard to know what to include and what to leave out. You’ve done so much. You’ve achieved so much. But your CV isn’t a life story - it’s a highlight reel.

Recruiters and hiring managers typically spend less than a minute on their first scan. Remember, they might get hundreds of applications for a role (particularly at the moment), so your goal is to make that scan count. If your most recent 8–10 years don’t instantly show how you’re relevant to this role, you risk getting passed over, no matter how impressive your earlier career has been. That doesn’t mean erasing your history. It means being strategic about how you present it.

Your CV is a billboard

Your CV should work like a billboard: big-picture story, fast. Instead, many people make it read like a white paper - something the reader has to study to extract the meaning. Don’t make them hunt for the point. Make it obvious at a glance. Page one of your CV is prime real estate. This is where your key experience must stand out - otherwise, the hiring manager won’t read page two.

Tailor it like a pro

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of tweaking your CV to each job. My philosophy is to make one CV that you’re really proud of, then create a supporting cover letter to address any specifics that aren’t there in the CV.

Your CV should prioritise your recent experience. No one is going to hire you for what you did 10 years ago.

If you’re applying for UX/UI or digital content roles, lead with your recent work in those areas. Use clear headings like UX Projects or Digital Leadership to organise your impact, even if those projects sat within broader roles. Don’t make the reader connect the dots; lay them out.

For earlier career achievements (major projects, marquee brands), include them, just keep it tight. A short paragraph, timeline line, or ‘Earlier Career Highlights’ section is often enough. Save the detail for what’s most recent and most relevant.

Your experience is your edge—sharpen the pitch

Senior careers have depth, range, and adaptability. But if your CV reads like a timeline instead of a pitch, people can miss the point. Frame your experience around the value you bring: problem-solving, stakeholder management, creative thinking, commercial outcomes, and digital savvy.

And get a second set of eyes. At Campfire, we help candidates reframe CVs all the time. Often, a few smart tweaks make all the difference. You don’t need to rewrite your career, just tell the story in a way that clicks with today’s hiring market.

Final thought

If you’re not getting interviews, it doesn’t mean you’re not a great candidate. It often means your CV isn’t telling the right story to the right people. Focus on relevance, clarity, and framing - and don’t be afraid to trim the past to make room for the future you’re aiming for.

Got a burning question about recruitment, interviews, or careers? Ask Amelia.
Email your question to askamelia@campfirerecruitment.co.nz and it could be featured in our next #AskAmelia.

 

Source: Amelia Cranfield, 12 September 2025