CVs, cover letters, and job application strategies shaped by and for recruiters.

Most people know how to do their job - but not how to get hired for it.

That’s where we come in.

We know what recruiters look for, how hiring decisions are made, and what separates candidates who get shortlisted from those who don’t.

Our job is to help you show the best of what you’ve done, and the value you’ll bring next.

“Outstanding and highly recommended! Ben has an incredible gift for asking the right questions and distilling the essence of your professional experience into a compelling CV. What amazed me most was how clearly I saw myself in the final version, even though we only spent a couple of hours together. Ben is really well networked in the NZ recruitment industry and was able to personally introduce me to multiple recruiters. With only a couple of years of NZ experience and where network is everything, this package is exactly what I needed. Ben’s a blast!”

- Marlies, Head of Product.

Get in touch

Services

It’s time to move on from generic profiles, personal statements, and responsibility lists.
We’ll help you translate experience into evidence - creating CVs and cover letters that show capability, impact, and fit.
- Evidence-led, capability-focused profiles that prove your value and relevance
- Cover letters that connect motivation with the role and organisation
Being able to show what you’ve done, delivered, and the impact you’ve had on your team or employer is what you’ll be asked about in any interview - so show it upfront.
We’ll quickly help you refine your search and provide feedback on your fit and eligibility
- Targeted role search and qualification
- Alignment of goals, experience, and value
- Feedback and refinement before you apply
Practical strategies to help you find and pursue opportunities that match your strengths.
Your LinkedIn profile isn’t an online CV - it’s a shop window.
We’ll help you present a clear, consistent professional story that builds visibility and credibility in a skills-based hiring market
- Optimised for recruiter search and discovery
- Consistent branding and storytelling across your profile
LinkedIn, in addition to a recruiters own network, is where most searches begin - make yours worth finding.
Recruiters shortlist people, not CVs.
We’ll help you move beyond applications and into real conversations - building personal connections with senior recruiters across New Zealand, and internationally.
- Build trusted relationships that open doors
- Take a personable, confident approach to recruiter engagement
- Gain visibility and access to current market opportunities
Great outcomes start with genuine conversations - not just good documents.

Behind StellarCVs

Ben Shaw

I’m a former recruiter who now spends most of my time helping people navigate the job search process - from identifying opportunities to presenting themselves in a way that lands with recruiters and hiring managers.

Over the years, I’ve worked with leaders and professionals across government, business, and not-for-profit sectors, from policy and transformation to technology and design.

Some of my more obscure clients include politicians (more than you’d think), ex-All Blacks, and drivers of giant mining machinery - even Scarlett Johansson’s bodyguard called me up for a CV. Different worlds, same challenge: at some point, most people have to present themselves to the job market in one form or another. The trick is doing it with personality, proof, and a bit of perspective.

Through my work with StellarInsights, I’ve surveyed how both recruiters and jobseekers experience the hiring process - surfacing insights that help bridge the gap between how candidates show up and how shortlisting decisions are made.

We live in a rapidly changing world, particularly as it relates to AI, digital technology and work - ongoing restructures and job market uncertainty have become the norm, and competition for roles is at unprecedented levels.

Whether you’re preparing for change or responding to it, being clear on your positioning and relevance matters more than ever.

If you find yourself thinking about your next move, or you’d like to compare notes over coffee, I’m always happy to chat.

Client Feedback

“Hi Ben, I wanted to share some good news - thanks to your help, I’ve received an offer! - a 9 month contract with AIA New Zealand as the Marketing Specialist working on marketing automation… Also I met Rhys today, and he’s absolutely brilliant! One of the most professional recruiters I’ve encountered over the years - across the UK, China, and Hong Kong… I wouldn’t have received the offer or met Rhys without your help - thank you again!”
- Melanie Man - Senior Marketing & Product Manager
“I was introduced to Ben by a colleague who said “Since Ben re-wrote my CV I’ve had an interview for every job I’ve applied for.” Trying to articulate my experience given my brain logic was pretty painful (I think) for Ben to get to grips with. He did amazingly. I was looking for a significant step up and a new sector to move into. My investment in Ben’s skills paid out. It was the best investment I could have made. I asked the interviewers why they selected me and one DCE said “I liked the short succinct CV.” Top job Ben. I’m loving the new role and value all your energy trying to fathom out what my skill sets were.”
- Michelle Lewis - Director & National Progam Manager
"Ben was brilliant to deal with, from the initial meeting and discussion through to the final product. His knowledge of hiring and shortlisting was a real asset. The CV Ben produced sold me better than I could have dreamed, it was tailored perfectly to the role I was after. I thoroughly recommend Ben and his work.”
- DeAnne Brabant - Special Counsel | Senior Litigation Lawyer | Partner, Shieff Angland
“I am in no doubt that your updated CV and assistance helped set the tone and led to some great conversations with the Board Chair prior to applying and it has been all great since. So thank you!”
- Tim Anderson - CEO, HUTEC
“I was really impressed by the service Ben provided. The CV was developed within the week and clearly articulated my experience in a clear and professional manner. Whilst the CV development service was impressive, I found Ben’s advice on recruitment strategy of most value. He knew what prospective employees and their recruitment agencies were looking for, assisted with applications and provided some great insights and feedback. Highly recommended.”
- Michael Wentworth - GM Sustainability & Strategic Projects, Yealands Wine Group
"Ben has been great to work with. I was getting a decent hit rate with my own CV but was lacking confidence in how to present myself. Ben produced a high quality CV that resulted in shortlisted interviews for over 90% of the jobs I applied for. We arranged several interview coaching sessions which covered understanding the interview process and expectations, how to prepare and formulate answers, some mock interview questions and all the tricky stuff around how to sell yourself in the interview. I truly believe I wouldn’t have landed my dream job without Ben’s support. I learned so much about myself and have gained confidence and presentation skills. I highly recommend investing in Ben as a CV and job coach.”
- Helen Alexandrou, Technical BA
“The stellar CV got me in the door, and the interview coaching helped to focus on interview prep and practice short and succinct examples. I used just about all the examples I had prepped, had an excellent interview with a good flow of energy and asked some spot on questions at the end. Thanks for your coaching, a good investment in this tricky job market!!”
- Caren Berlin, Principal Advisor, MBIE
"Ben recently assisted me with a successful application for a senior executive position. Although I have been working for over 40 years I have had little experience in applying for positions and I found the formal interview process quite daunting. With Ben’s assistance I applied for two roles and was successful with both. He then assisted with working through the best option for me. Ben provided an excellent service with the development of a professional CV and assistance with writing targeted cover letters. In addition, he guided me through the application process and provided support in preparing for the various interviews. This support was incredibly helpful and boosted my confidence through the recruitment process. I recommend Ben Shaw to anyone seeking a senior executive position and will be pleased to provide a personal reference.”
- Graham Burke - Transformation Lead, MBIE
"Ben did a fantastic job of producing a great CV for me. He spent time talking with me to assess the career opportunity I was pursuing to make sure the CV was correctly tailored. I had the chance to review the CV before Ben finalised it. The end result was a professional targeted CV that was fit for purpose. The final product was delivered ahead of time and at a very reasonable cost given Ben's service, attention to detail and the high quality he provides. I was successful in the job application and the CV that Ben produced for me was without doubt a contributor to this outcome. I recommend Ben to anyone who is looking for a bespoke and high quality CV.”
- Liz Cairns - Head of Strategy & Research, Transport Accident Commission (Aus)
"My reason for selecting a professional to rewrite my CV was that I had over the years been tweaking and adding to my resume but realised I hadn’t really given much thought to what my added experience actually meant in terms of career and future job search. I noticed that my words were out of date and not current with the climate of the job market, and that I was probably underselling myself. Ben was brilliant to work with, I didn’t get an ‘off the shelf’ CV template that I could have googled myself, Ben sat with me and took time to talk about my experience and achievements and about what I was looking for in my next career move. He then pulled my information together and reorganised my thoughts. While the content was not significantly different the positioning and visibility of what’s important was entirely different. I feel that my CV is a good reflection of the best I have to offer and am proud to send it out to prospective employers.”
- Daile Bramwell - Director, Corporate & Organisational Development (public sector)
“Not only did Ben help me revamp my old CV and make my new CV look stellar, he also helped develop my thinking around how to apply for jobs after four years with the same organisation - supporting me to identify my value proposition, and bringing it all together in a format that made sense to recruiters. I picked up valuable insights on how to work with recruiters, and he provided support with both cover letters and my LinkedIn profile, which meant I was able to move forward with job applications more confidently. Being introduced to recruiters he knew and trusted also helped me immensely - I was literally being interviewed a few days after applying for new and exciting roles! I honestly can't recommend Ben at StellaCVs enough!”
- Dave Butler-Peck - Senior Project Coordinator, MfE
“Ben went above and beyond supporting my application towards becoming a graduate policy advisor in Wellington. He was both personable and engaging in our interview, gathering aspects of my work experience that would be directly relevant. The final result showed attention to detail, with a CV that not only included details of our conversation but also highlighted aspects of his own research. I would highly recommend Ben for anyone wishing to secure an interview in the future!”
- Richard McLaughlin - Senior Policy Advisor, Inland Revenue
"Thought I would let you know that I have sent your CV off to several companies over the last two weeks and have had amazing results. I even had a job offer (which I turned down), but am on the final stages of two other jobs (plus more invitations for interviews coming in). I just wanted to say that I really appreciate your help and professionalism. I am so supportive of anybody getting a professional CV – didn't realise what a difference it would make until I got one! Anyway, I will let you know when I have finally secured a job, but wanted to let you know just what a difference you have made.”
- Libby Campion - Executive Assistant, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
"Ben has a recruiter's eye for what is important, a way of engaging that challenges you to identify your achievements, and a thoroughly modern template that he helps you craft. I have had a very rewarding week working with Ben.”
- Peter Bull - Executive General Manager, NZTE
"As a foreigner it was hard for me to get a good grasp of what recruiters and employers look for in a New Zealand style CV. Ben helped me out by taking the time to talk to me about my education and experience and providing me with a professional CV, clearly underscoring my core competencies. Multiple recruiters have already said that my CV stands out from the hundreds they see every day!”
- Jonathan Maes - Senior Analyst, European Commission
"Ben knows his stuff! After interviewing me and drilling down on my experiences, he put a CV together that is right on point and I am super confident that it will get me where I need to be. Ben is extremely articulate and a pleasure to deal with – I highly recommend his career advice/ service to anyone – no matter how well you can sell yourself – Ben takes it to the next level!”
- Kylie Fraser - Senior HR Advisor, The Treasury
"Ben created a completely new and updated version of my CV for me. Ben is a real expert in this area and fantastic at taking the information you provide about your career and formulating it into a crisp and targeted CV. He also really knows his stuff in the job market field and gave me some great tips and insights. I would recommend that anyone wanting a top CV go straight to Ben.”
- Dr Anita Perkins - Policy & Research Consultant
"I was asked to send my CV through to a hiring manager today, which I did. His response was (and I quote) 'Terrific CV Heidi, one of the best I have seen.”
- Heidi Heyward - Change Manager
“Ben’s understanding of the recruitment market and how best to position yourself for applications is world-class. We worked together to figure out what my next steps should be. He then produced a CV that not only captured my experience and value proposition in a way I couldn’t have done, but the broader service and CV narrative helped me to be better prepared for my interviews. Thank you Ben!”
- Steve Chevallier-Boutell - Sales Director
"Ben was great to work with and really helped craft my CV into something that was compelling! Would highly recommend Ben to anyone who is looking for help and support with their next career change or challenge!”
- Mark Graham - Procurement Director, Cybersecurity
“When it came time for me to consider my next steps, I really struggled to tell my career experience story in a way that connected with the job market. I was recommended to Ben by a friend, and the difference was immediate! He interviewed me to get a really solid appreciation of my experience, and was able to articulate that in a way that was easily understandable. Immediately, I began getting interviews for really good opportunities, and was able to make an exciting move to an awesome senior finance position in the Middle East. Not only did Ben provide a great CV, but he was always happy to pick up the phone and provide advice about different roles and how to approach applying for them. That career advice was so valuable, and shaped my approach to determining what my next step would be- it put me in the drivers seat of my career. The whole process was easy, fast, professional, and most importantly: effective! Thanks, Ben, for your awesome work. I would definitely use again and recommend to others.”
- Robert Whitefield – Director, Finance & Corporate Services, St Patrick's College
“Ben, I wanted to thank you for the service you provided me earlier this year. I am now employed again, and in a market where public servants are struggling to find work. I am settled in my new role with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and I know it was your assistance that got me the interview - this is a fact, my manager told me. So, thank you for your help - this has had the highest return on investment I have ever made. Keep up the good work Ben, will see you again when I am aiming for my next promotion.”
- Amir Nagh - Finance Analyst, MHUD