How to Write a Resume in Australia: A Practical Guide

A well-written resume helps an employer quickly see how your background fits a role. Before you start, gather the job advertisement, dates and details of your work or study, and examples of results you can describe accurately. Australian employers may use different application processes, so follow the instructions in the specific advertisement.

What You’ll Need

The job advertisement or position description, including any selection criteria.
Your employment, education, training and volunteering history, with correct dates and role titles.
Examples of responsibilities, achievements, tools used and relevant skills.
Contact details for referees, if you have their permission and the employer requests them.
A word processor or document editor, plus a way to save a clean PDF if the application accepts it.

Step-by-Step

Study the role. Read the advertisement closely and note the main duties, required capabilities, qualifications and words used to describe the work. Separate essential requirements from desirable ones. Use this list to decide what belongs near the top of your resume; do not copy phrases in a way that misrepresents your experience.
Choose a simple structure. For most applicants, use reverse chronological order: put your most recent relevant experience first. A straightforward layout is easier for people and recruitment systems to read than columns, graphics, icons or complex tables. Use clear headings and consistent formatting.
Add your contact details. Include your name, mobile number, professional email address and a suitable location, such as suburb and state or territory. A full street address is generally unnecessary. Add a professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile only if it is current and relevant. Do not include a photograph, date of birth, marital status or other personal details unless the application specifically requires them.
Write a short profile. Start with two or three sentences summarising your relevant background, strengths and the type of work you can do. Tailor it to the role rather than using a generic objective. For example, identify your field, a pertinent capability and the environment or outcome you have experience with—only where each statement is accurate.
Describe experience with evidence. For each relevant job, list the title, employer, location and dates, followed by concise bullet points. Explain what you did and, where possible, the result or scale: “Coordinated weekly stock checks to improve product availability” is more informative than “responsible for stock.” Use figures only when you can verify them and they genuinely help explain the work. Use present tense for current duties and past tense for earlier roles.
Show skills and qualifications. Include skills that relate to the advertisement, such as software, equipment, languages, customer service or project coordination. List relevant qualifications, training and licences with their correct names and completion status. Do not imply that an unfinished qualification is complete or claim a licence you do not hold.
Cover gaps and varied experience honestly. Include relevant volunteering, placements, casual work, community roles or projects, particularly if you are entering the workforce or changing careers. You do not need to explain every gap in the resume. If a gap matters to the application, give a brief, truthful explanation in a cover letter or interview rather than inventing a role or altering dates.
Decide whether to include referees. Follow the application instructions. If referees are requested, list people who have agreed to be contacted, with their name, role, relationship to you and current contact details. If they are not requested, you can omit the section or write “Referees available on request”; this is optional, not a substitute for providing them when asked.
Edit for relevance and readability. Remove repeated or outdated details that do not support your application. Use short bullet points, readable type and consistent spacing. Two to four pages is a useful guide, not a strict Australian rule: a concise early-career resume may be shorter, while specialised experience may need more room.
Proofread and submit correctly. Check spelling, grammar, dates, names and contact details. Use Australian English spelling, such as “organise” and “licence” as a noun. Save with a clear filename, such as “Alex-Taylor-Resume.pdf,” and use the file type requested. If no format is specified, a PDF usually preserves layout; keep an editable copy for updates.

Common Mistakes

Sending the same resume everywhere: A generic document may bury the evidence most relevant to a particular vacancy.
Listing duties without outcomes: Give context about how you contributed, without overstating results.
Using hard-to-read design: Elaborate graphics, tiny text and unusual layouts can slow down a reader or make information difficult for screening software to identify.
Including unnecessary personal information: Photos and details such as age or marital status are not standard requirements for most Australian applications.
Making unsupported claims: Check that qualifications, dates, achievements and skill levels are accurate and consistent with other application documents.
Forgetting instructions: Some employers request selection criteria, a cover letter, a particular file format or referee details separately. A resume alone may not complete the application.

Tips

Mirror the job advertisement’s terminology when it truthfully describes your experience; this makes relevant evidence easier to spot.
Lead each experience bullet with a clear action verb, such as coordinated, analysed, supported or maintained.
Put the most relevant information on the first page, especially for a career change or a role with specific requirements.
Use a consistent date style and explain abbreviations that a reader outside your industry may not recognise.
Keep a master document with your full history, then make a tailored copy for each application.
Ask a trusted person to review the resume for clarity, typos and claims that need more context.

Troubleshooting

If your resume feels too long: Remove repeated duties and details unrelated to the target role, but retain qualifications or experience needed to show suitability. Do not shrink the font until the page is difficult to read.

If you have little formal experience: Emphasise transferable skills and relevant evidence from education, placements, volunteering, community activities or personal projects. Explain what you contributed and what tools or skills you used.

If you are changing careers: Put a focused profile and relevant skills near the beginning, then show how earlier work supports the new role. Avoid disguising your employment history; make the connection clear instead.

If an online form cannot read your file: Check its format and size requirements, remove complex layout elements, and try a text-based PDF or an accepted DOCX file. Copying the document text into a plain editor can help reveal missing or scrambled content.

If you are unsure what to include: Recheck the advertisement and any application guidance. For a formal selection process, answer each requested criterion in the format specified; do not assume the resume replaces a separate response.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an Australian resume be?

There is no universal required length. Keep it as concise as possible while including enough relevant evidence; two to four pages is a practical guide for many applicants, not a rule.

Should I include a photo on my resume in Australia?

Usually not. A photograph is not normally needed and takes space away from information about your suitability. Include one only if the employer or application instructions specifically request it.

Do I need a cover letter as well?

Follow the job advertisement. If a cover letter is requested, use it to explain your interest and connect your experience to the role rather than repeating the resume word for word.

Should I put my referees on the resume?

Only list them when requested or when you choose to provide them. Always ask permission first, confirm their contact details and give them a useful summary of the role.

Should I use a PDF or Word document?

Use the format named in the application instructions. If there is no preference, a text-based PDF usually keeps formatting consistent; an editable document may be better when a portal specifically asks for one.

Further reading: Australian Government Workforce Australia. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.