🇦🇺How to Write a Resume for Australia

Quick facts: CVs in Australia

These are common practices; they vary by employer and industry. If a job ad asks for something specific, follow the ad.

What to include

What to leave off

• A photo — Not expected in Australia.
• Date of birth or marital status — Not required and adds nothing for the employer.
• American spelling — Use organisation and colour, as in British English.
• Overselling — Australians tend to prefer a plain, direct style.
• Referees who do not know — Ask them first and tell them you are applying.

ATS and CVs in Australia

Many large Australian employers and government agencies use applicant tracking systems and online portals, and recruitment agencies search their databases by keyword. If your resume has a complicated layout or describes your skills differently from the job ad, it may be passed over even when you are a good fit.

• Use a single-column template such as Executive, Modern or Timeline.
• Keep clear headings: Employment History, Education, Referees.
• Reflect key terms from the ad or selection criteria, only for skills you really have.
• Avoid tables, icons and sidebars.
• Upload PDF or Word, whichever is requested.

Check your score with the CV checker and compare against the ad with the job-description matcher.

Many ads also include screening questions, so answer them accurately; they affect how you are ranked.

Check my CV for ATS →

CV example

Examples by job

Applying for jobs in Australia

The best-known job site in Australia is Seek, alongside LinkedIn and Indeed. Government jobs are advertised on official state and federal job sites and usually come with selection criteria you need to address.

• Referees: usually contacted before a final offer, so choose people who know your work well and give them a heads-up.
• Work rights: many ads ask that you already have the right to work. If you need a visa, rules change, so check the official Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
• Skills assessment and registration: some occupations, such as engineering, teaching and nursing, require an assessment or professional registration.
• Checks: some roles require a police check, or a Working with Children Check for roles involving children.
• Notice period: depends on your contract, often from one to several weeks.

See the teacher example and our other CV examples.

Contract and temporary roles are common in many fields and can be a good way into the market.

CV language

Work in Australia happens in English, and Australian spelling follows British forms: organisation, colour, centre. Keep it consistent throughout. A second language such as Arabic can be an asset in customer service or community roles, so list it under Languages with an honest level.

Our builder outputs resumes in English and translates details typed in Arabic automatically. Review the spelling afterwards and switch American forms to Australian ones.

Dates are usually written day/month/year, and plain language is generally preferred over jargon.

CV or resume?

In Australia, resume and CV are used almost interchangeably, with resume being more common in job ads. An Australian resume is often longer than a US one, around two to three pages, and may include a Referees section. A very long CV usually refers to academic or medical applications. Compare with the UK guide, since the style is similar.

Cover letters in Australia

Cover letters are expected for many Australian roles, and government agencies often ask for a response to selection criteria or a short pitch instead of, or alongside, a standard letter. Keep a cover letter to one page, friendly, professional and direct, and connect your experience to the job requirements with examples. Start with a draft from the cover letter generator and edit it.

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