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How to Write an Australian Resume: Sections & Tips

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In short

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An Australian resume is set out on A4 in reverse chronological order, most recent role first. Two to three pages is completely normal. Use a Career Objective or Career Profile, Employment History, Education and Training, Skills and Referees, leave out the photo, date of birth and marital status, state your work rights, and send it as a PDF with a cover letter.

Your Australian resume at a glance:

Length: 2–3 pages is normal – there is no one-page rule

Structure: reverse chronological, most recent role first, on A4

Sections: Career Profile, Employment History, Education and Training, Skills, Referees

Format: PDF plus a cover letter, referees often on a separate page

Your resume is the first thing an Australian recruiter reads. Most applications are a resume and a cover letter, and the resume usually decides whether you get a call. This guide walks you through the sections employers expect, how to write achievement bullets with measurable results, how to answer selection criteria, and what to leave off the page entirely.

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The basic structure of an Australian resume

Australian recruiters skim a resume in seconds, so a clear structure matters more than clever design. The sections they look for are: Career Objective or Career Profile, Employment History (also called Work Experience), Education and Training, Skills, and Referees.

1. Career Objective or Career Profile

A short paragraph of two or three lines under your name, covering what you do, how long you have done it and what you are looking for next. Tip: write a fresh profile for each application and state your work rights – Australian citizen, permanent resident or the subclass of your visa – because many employers ask about this before they shortlist.

2. Employment History

List your roles in reverse chronological order – most recent first – with the employer, job title, dates, location and what you were responsible for. Turn duties into achievement bullets with measurable results, for example "cut invoice processing time by two days a week". Career gaps are fine; name them plainly as travel, study or caring responsibilities.

3. Education and Training

Put your qualifications in reverse order, named the way they are named here: Year 12 with your ATAR, Certificate III or Certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma or bachelor degree. <strong>Include</strong> the institution and the year you finished, and add any licence that came with the training.

4. Skills

Group your skills so they are easy to scan: technical or trade skills, software and systems, languages, and the licences or clearances the role requires – for example a White Card, an RSA, a police check or a Working with Children Check. <strong>Be specific:</strong> "Forklift licence (LF)" or "Excel – pivot tables" tells a recruiter far more than "good with computers".

Tips that make the difference

Befolgen Sie diese 4 Grundregeln für eine erfolgreiche Bewerbung.

✓ Clarity

Use clear headings, generous spacing and an easy-to-read font on A4. Two to three pages is completely normal in Australia, so fill the space with relevant detail instead of squeezing everything onto one page.

✓ Address the selection criteria

Government roles and many large employers ask for a statement addressing the selection criteria, point by point. Answer with the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result – and use the same structure in your interview answers.

✓ Up-to-dateness

Keep your resume current with new qualifications, licences and clearances, and check that your contact details and referee details are still correct before you send it.

✓ Honesty

Only claim what you can back up. Australian employers check qualifications and referee details, and a claim that falls apart at the interview costs you the role.

Common mistakes to avoid

Diese Fehler führen bei Personalverantwortlichen am häufigsten zur Absage.

Australian spelling and typos

Proofread every page and set your spellchecker to Australian English – organise, recognise, colour, centre. A stray US spelling or a typo in the first line suggests the care you would bring to the job.

Unexplained gaps

Do not leave a reader guessing about a long break. One line covering travel, study, family or contract work is all it takes, and an unexplained gap looks worse than the reason behind it.

A photo or personal details

An Australian resume does not carry a photo, date of birth or marital status. A page with a headshot and those details looks copied from an overseas template, so drop them and use the space for your experience.

Referees listed without asking

Line up two referees, ask their permission first, and give each one a job title, their employer and a contact number. Many candidates keep the referee list on a separate page so it is only shared when the employer asks for it.

Pro tips for a stronger application

So sticht Ihre Bewerbung sofort aus hunderten Mitbewerbern heraus.

Start with action verbs

Open every bullet with a strong verb – led, delivered, improved, coordinated, resolved – so the reader knows at once what you did rather than what your team did.

Put numbers on your results

Measure your achievements wherever you can: how many customers, how much money, how many hours saved. "Handled 60 calls a day with a 4.8 satisfaction rating" beats "good customer service" every time.

Keywords for online applications

Large employers screen applications with tracking software, so mirror the wording of the advertisement and the position description in your skills and employment history, and apply through the portal as the ad instructs.

Send a resume and a cover letter

In Australia most applications expect both. Keep the cover letter to one page, address it to the hiring manager if the name is given, and mention the role, the reference number and why your experience fits.

Photos and personal details on an Australian resume

Australian employers do not expect a photo on your resume, and most recruiters prefer one without it. The same goes for your date of birth, marital status, religion and nationality: leaving them out keeps the focus on your skills and experience. If a recruiter asks for a headshot, keep it plain and place it in the header next to your name and contact details.

Format & Größe

No photo: it is not expected in Australia and takes up space you need for experience

Hintergrund & Licht

Leave out date of birth, marital status, religion and nationality

Kleidung & Haltung

Instead, state your work rights – citizen, permanent resident or visa subclass – because many employers ask

Frequently asked questions about resumes in Australia

Antworten auf die wichtigsten Fragen rund um Aufbau, Länge und Erstellung.

How long should a resume be in Australia?

Two to three pages is completely normal in Australia, and there is no one-page rule to worry about. A school leaver can keep it to one or two pages, while an experienced candidate should use the space to show results. What matters is that every entry adds something useful to your application.

What should an Australian resume include?

Start with a Career Objective or Career Profile, then Employment History, Education and Training, Skills and Referees, all in reverse chronological order. Add achievement bullets with measurable results, your licences and clearances, and a line on your work rights. Leave out the photo, date of birth and marital status, and give salary expectations in AUD only if the advertisement asks for them.

How do I create an Australian resume online?

With CVwerk you choose a template, enter your details and adjust the layout, colours and font in the live preview. Building and previewing your resume is free, and the finished Premium PDF comes without a watermark for a one-time payment – no subscription.

Which file format should I send?

Send your resume as a PDF on A4. The formatting then stays intact on every device and the recruiter sees the document exactly as you designed it. An Australian application is usually a resume plus a cover letter, so save both as PDF files before you send them.

What is an ATS-friendly CV?

An ATS-friendly CV uses clear text formatting, standard section headings, and avoids complex tables or graphics that automated recruitment scanners cannot parse.

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