resume for student visa australia

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• More info Australia is a popular destination for both Working Holiday Visas and tourists, however, it is also worth considering Australia as a destination for studying. Better yet, foreign students are in great demand, with many nationalities. Many choose to study in Australia to improve their English skills, travel around Australia and to gain an international degree. Many choose to study in Australia.
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Writing a resume in Australia (CV) – Guide and templates

Are you planning a trip Down Under, and want to find a job while you’re over here? The first step to working in Australia is creating a great CV – but did you know that Australian CVs are quite different to English or American ones? Navigating the Australian job market can be challenging, especially for those new to the country. This guide provides you with essential tips and templates to craft a resume that stands out in the Australian job market.

Table of Contents

Tailoring your Resume for different Job types

As for all countries, a CV is an essential part of the job search in Australia. However, depending on the types of jobs you want to do in the country, your CV will be different. Do you see yourself working short-term on a farm, in a casual hospitality job, or in a long-term job in a city in your specific field? The steps for finding a job will vary depending on what you’re looking for. Now get creating the perfect CV to land you your dream job !

Do you need a resume for a farm job?

A resume is not always necessary to work in Australia . They won’t always ask you for one for farm jobs like fruit picking . If you are looking for a job on a farm, emailing a farmer your CV will often be a waste of time. It is better to go directly to the farms and speak with the owners or even call them and ask them if they are hiring. Independent farmers will usually not ask you for a CV in person but we still advise you to have one ready, for example if you have to apply online (this happens for some large companies).

CV for a long-term job

If you are looking for a long-term or stable job with a small or larger company, having a well-written CV that follows Australian criteria will be essential , especially for any job that requires experience or qualifications. Highlight specific professional skills, career progression, and significant achievements.

CV for a casual job

If you are looking for a more casual or temporary job in a supermarket or in catering, your CV will mainly serve to prove that you have a basic knowledge of English . It is also an excellent way to meet managers directly by handing in your CV. Focus on flexibility, customer service skills, and quick learning ability.

Since January 2024,  working holiday visa makers  can work for the same employer in Australia for more than 6 months without asking permission to the government if your work is: – in different locations and work in any one location does not exceed 6 months – in plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia – in certain industries (aged care and disability services, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction and mining, in northern Australia only) – natural disaster recovery work – in critical sectors, including agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care and childcare, anywhere in Australia – in the critical sector of tourism and hospitality anywhere in Australia.  For any other situations not covered above, you must ask for permission to work longer than 6 months with one employer.

Certificates and trainings required to work in Australia

To work in certain industries in Australia, you will need to complete vocational training and obtain a certificate.

The most well-known certificates are:

• the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol): mandatory to work in an establishment where alcohol is served.
• the White Card : mandatory for all building trades, such as construction
• the RSG/RCG : mandatory to work in gambling establishments, such as casinos and game rooms.
• Barista : If you want to work in a coffee shop like Starbucks, MacCoffees or Gloria Jeans Coffee, you will need this training.

Showing on your CV that you have the certificates required will be a real asset when job hunting.

Save money on your RSA in Australia

Pay less for your RSA course (Responsible Service of Alcohol). With this certificate, you will be allowed to work in all places where alcohol is served or sold.

Download your free Australian resume templates

Download our customizable resume templates designed for the Australian job market. These templates cater to different job types and highlight the structure and content that employers expect.

👨‍🍳 CV template for working in hospitality in Australia

👨‍💼 cv template for working in marketing in australia.

Tip : For emailing your Australian resume, save the file in PDF format. This will prevent the layout from changing depending on different computers/operating systems.

Understanding Australian Resume Standards

Length of your resume.

First of all, you should know that an resume in Australia is often longer and more detailed than you might be used to. Resumes in Western Europe are usually kept to two pages, whereas an Australian resume can easily go up to five or even seven pages for a specialised job. So don’t hesitate to be specific about your experience and personal qualities.

You will also need to adapt your CV to the position you are applying for! This may seem logical, but consider presenting your experience differently depending on the job you are applying for. Some tasks, responsibilities or skills will be more relevant than others.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule! To work in the hospitality industry as a waiter or dishwasher, for example, it is advisable to opt for a shorter CV comprising 1 or 2 pages to make it easier to read quickly. (This does not apply if you are aiming for, for example, a management position in a large hotel!) Also remember to indicate the Australian certificates that are necessary mandatory for the job, such as your RSA .

Resume in Australia: Photo or no photo?

It is not generally recommended to include a photo on your Australian CV. You should also avoid including your age or date of birth as there are age discrimination laws in Australia.

However, make sure to add a section for references . You will need to include the names and contacts of previous employers who would be happy to recommend you to a new employer. Choose people who speak English and with whom you have had a good relationship.

Key Sections of an Australian Resume

Here are the different sections that must appear on your Australian resume. The order of the sections is up to you . For instance, if you have little professional experience but have completed a course or degree related to the job you’re applying for, put the “Education” section before “Work Experience”. If you are looking for a job in catering, making the “Skills” section (including your RSA) appear before your work experience could be a good idea. As a general rule, start with your most recent experience.

1 – Personal Details

Make sure to include your:

• Local Australian address*
• Australian phone number
• Professional email address
• Optional : your   LinkedIn  profile (highly appreciated in Australia for certain types of jobs).

* The majority of employers prefer to hire workers already in Australia. So put down a local address, even if it is a backpackers hostel!

Reminder: It’s not necessary to include details like your date of birth, marital status, or photo, as these could lead to unconscious bias.

 2 –  Introduction: Quick presentation of yourself and what you are looking for

Describe your professional motivation in two or three sentences. What you are looking for in a job, and why your qualities make you the right person for this specific job . Remember to specify your availability (eg. Available from January 7th 2024). This is a very short, but very important part of your resume – it’s like a mini cover letter. The idea is that your potential employer will glance at it and makes a decision on whether he or she is interested in reading the rest of your resume in a split-second.

This part can be short if you are looking for a temporary or holiday job. For example to find a job in service, you can write “I am a UK traveler on a Working Holiday Visa and I am looking for a position as a waitress in Brisbane. I have my RSA certificate and I am available to start asap.” You can also decide to say more about yourself if you wish or to highlight your skills more.

The Australian resume is typically more comprehensive than in some other countries. It’s not just about listing your experience; it’s about presenting yourself as the ideal candidate for the job.

3 – Work Experience: “Employment history”

Provide a detailed description of the jobs you have done in the past. This includes your tasks and the responsibilities you had within the company . Highlight what you contributed to the company of your previous employers (e.g. if you worked at a bar and set up a Facebook page for them). Employers like to see that you show initiative.

As a traveller, we often want to get away from the work we did at home and try something new. If this applies to you, emphasise what you did in the past that could be an asset for this new job . For instance, if you are applying for a receptionist position, specify that you have experience hosting clients at another company.

Specify the name of the business and its industry , the start and end dates of your contract , your previous job titles , and the city and country where you worked.

Put your previous work experience in reverse chronological order , with your most recent job on the top. If you have had many different jobs in the past, only include those related to the job which you are applying for.

4 – Training and education: “Education and training”

List your education in reverse chronological order. This section should include both your degree and any professional training you have obtained such as internships, apprenticeships. For each point specify the name of the educational course, dates, school/ institution, city and country of graduation .

The Australian school system may differ from your home countries. In principle, it is built up as follows:

• High school degree;
• Bachelor’s degree;
• Advanced diploma ou Higher national certificate;
• Master’s degree;
• PhD (Doctorate).

5 – “Skills and strengths”

Highlight both hard and soft skills relevant to the job you’re applying for. Mention any certifications , languages, or technical skills .

• For a job in graphic design , specify your computer skills in a ‘computer skills’ sub-section and your soft skills in a ‘personal qualities’ section (e.g. your creativity and adaptability);
• To work in hospitality , emphasise your ability to work as part of a team, your organisational and interpersonal skills.

Specify the different languages you speak and your level of competency (e.g. native, intermediate, beginner). You can also add other diplomas and certificates here, such as the RSA , White Card , and Driver’s license.

This section is very important when looking for a job in Australia. If you are not a native English speaker, any potential employer will want to know whether your English is good enough for the job you’re applying for. Also, considering that for many jobs you are required to drive, it is important to mention whether you have a driver’s license or not.

6 – Hobbies: “Hobbies and interests”

Do not neglect this part of your CV, but do not list all your hobbies either! In fact, your activities, passions and commitments will allow your future employer to better understand you. Highlight the activities you do outside the professional sphere. Whether practising yoga, being a soccer captain or even participating in community activities, these elements reflect your personality and your qualities.

Volunteer Experience/Extra-curricular Activities: Especially for those with limited work experience, such activities can demonstrate your skills and commitment.

7 – References: “Referees”

Here you include the names of people you worked with in the past and their contact details . Make sure to check with them that they agree to be listed as a contact before adding them to this list. Your future employer will probably contact them to find out more about you and the way you work, so you want to only add people that will have something positive to say. If you are not comfortable giving this information at first, just add their names and state ‘Contact details available on request’ . This will also give you the opportunity to inform your contacts that they may get a call!

Get discounts on your White Card course

Take advantage of our special offers to get your White Card and work in the construction industry.

Tips & tricks for a great Australian Resume

Put australian contact details.

Once your resume is in an Australian format, you should update your phone number and address as soon as possible.

Australian employers are much more likely hire candidates who are already in Australia.  Those who have an Australian address and phone number will have a head start.

If you do not have an address in Australia, as many travellers do not, you can add the address of your hostel or a local post office. You will always be contacted by phone or mail, so it does not make a difference.

Add a title to your Resume

The CV title will allow the employer to quickly identify which position you are applying for. Write the position offered in the title of your resume. For example: – Barista Position – Waiter Position – Manager Position – Farm Hand.

Tailor your resume to the job

In fact, depending on the job for which you are applying, your experiences, degrees, passions, etc. must be revised to be in line with the job. Your CV must be targeted ! Don’t include information that doesn’t add value or is not relevant to the job you’re applying for.

For example, if you are looking for a job in construction but do not have the experience, highlight your DIY skills, your personal DIY-related experiences. If you are looking for a sales job and have never had one before, highlight your past customer relationships as a waitress or in admin.

Digital Literacy

In today’s job market, being tech-savvy is a must. Include your proficiency in software like Microsoft Office, digital marketing tools, or any industry-specific software.

Visual Appeal and Readability

As for the layout and the visual aspect of your CV, a word of advice: go for the simplest option . Avoid overly extravagant colours and layouts. The content is much more important than the format. Australians prefer a clean and clear CV. Use a professional and readable font . Keep the size consistent, usually between 10 and 12 points.

There are many free tools online to help you create your Australian resume. Many platforms offer simple and beautiful CV templates. You can fill them out free online then download them. CVDesignR and Canva are good options.

Ensure your resume is clearly laid out , with headings and bullet points to facilitate easy reading. Avoid large blocks of text.

Print your resume

Make sure to print quite a few resumes (20-30) to hand in to places in person . You will probably want to modify your CV as time goes on, so it does not make sense to print many more. In most cities, you will find a store called  Office Works . They offer attractive rates for printing (from $0.08 per copy). Otherwise, you have the option to go to your local library . The problem with this is that sometimes it is necessary to buy a card to recharge with a minimum amount in dollars, so you end up paying more.

Do not print too many copies at once. You may not distribute them all, or you may want or need to make some changes to it over time to bring it up to date.

If you want to print a few copies, between 1 and 3, ask to have your prints done at your youth hostel, at a travel agency for backpackers or at a shop that does photo development. It will cost you less.

Hand out your resume personally

Try to walk around and hand out your CV directly to employers if you are searching for work in restaurants, bars, shops etc. Do not hesitate to ask to speak to the manager – this will allow you to meet your potential future employer and make more of an impression. First impressions are important. Wear clean and professional clothes. Avoid applying in a restaurant dressed in shorts, flip-flops etc. Sometimes handing your CV to a manager can turn into a job interview on the spot , so be prepared.

• Use Australian English spelling .
• Typos and grammatical errors . Proofread your resume multiple times or have someone else review it.
• If you’re from overseas, clarify your work rights in Australia.
• Be honest. Australian employers value integrity and straightforwardness.

Your resume is your ticket to the Australian job market. Use this guide to showcase your skills and experiences effectively. Remember, a well-crafted resume opens doors to exciting career opportunities in Australia.

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Australian Resume - Guide & Formatting Tips [Free Templates!]

Every country has its own work culture and that means specific requirements when it comes to resumes and CVs. 

And Australia is no different.

If you’re doing some Aussie job-searching (or planning to do so), you probably have a few questions:

What do “resume” and “CV” refer to in Australia? Are there any formatting rules you should be aware of? How long does the resume have to be? Should you include your photo? 

Well, you’re in the right place.

We’re here to answer those questions and more!

In this article, you’re going to find everything you need to know about Australian resumes and how to prepare one.

What Makes Australian Resumes Different

• Typical Australian Resume Sections

3 Free Australian Resume Templates

How to make a convincing resume - further readings.

Let’s get to it!

We recommend creating your Australian resume in parallel with reading this guide. Just pick a template that you like, and get started.

Not sure where to look for a job in Australia? SEEK and CareerOne are some of the most popular job boards in the country.

Although it might appear similar to the U.S. resume format at first glance, the Australian resume differs in some details that if missed, might very well ruin your chances of getting a call-back. 

Don’t worry though, we’re going to cover all of those details starting with the elephant in the room:

#1. Australian Resume vs CV

Unlike the U.S., in Australia, the terms “resume” and “CV” are used to refer to the same document . You will most likely come across “resume” more often, but if not, know that the terms are synonymous with each other. 

#2. How long should an Australian resume be?

In the U.S., a resume should typically be one page . 

An Australian resume, however, should definitely be more than one page. If you are a professional, three to four pages are what’s expected. If you are a recent graduate or don’t have much experience in the field, two pages will be enough . 

Don’t forget to be to-the-point, though. Even though you have the freedom to present yourself with a lengthy resume, you shouldn’t get into unnecessary details.

If you have a lot of years of experience, you shouldn’t go more than 10 years back in your resume. If there are any earlier work experiences that you particularly want to mention, you can add a “other professional experience” section and briefly mention it there. You can also end the section with “Full resume available upon request.”

#3. Are there any language expectations for Australian resumes?

As a matter of fact, there are. If you're applying for a job in Australia you need to make sure that your resume is written in correct Australian english. 

#4. Do you include a photo in an Australian resume?

Unless you’re applying for a job that is related to your appearance (modeling or acting), it’s best to not include a photo in your resume. If the company wants you to include one, they will usually specify it beforehand. 

There are some countries, like Belgium, France, and Germany, where you should include a photo in your resume . This rule, however, doesn’t apply to Australia.

#5. What personal information should you include in an Australian resume?

Just like your photo, personal information can make you vulnerable to profiling based on gender, race, age, or appearance. To avoid that, provide only the necessary contact information like name, address, phone number, and email address. 

It’s actually illegal for employers in Australia to ask you for information like age, marital status, religion, sexual preference, or nationality.

6 Typical Australian Resume Sections

Now that we’ve gone over what makes an Australian resume different, let’s focus on its layout and format. 

An Australian resume typically has the following sections:

Resume Objective/Summary

Although it isn’t mandatory, it is recommended for you to include a resume objective or summary.

A resume objective (or career objective) states your goals for employment and what you aim for in your career. It’s 1-2 sentences and is great for recent graduates or people who are changing careers. 

• Recent computer science graduate seeking a full-time position as a programmer. Strong knowledge of object-oriented programming and application development tools.

A resume summary (or career summary) highlights your professional experience and gives the employer a glimpse of your skills before reading about them further in your resume. It’s between 3-5 sentences and is great for job seekers with years of experience. 

• Driven programmer with 8+ years of experience developing and maintaining enterprise software applications. Helped design and develop 3 successful applications over the past 5 years.

Work Experience

Your work experience should be displayed in a reverse-chronological order . With each entry, you should provide the start and end date along with a brief description of your experience, your responsibilities, and your achievements. 

When possible, quantify your achievements and responsibilities. This shows the recruiter how you stand out from the rest of the applicants: 

Marketing Manager

Achievements/Tasks

• Launched social media campaigns for the company
• Managed a large team

07/2018 - Present

Achievements

• Developed and launched promotional campaigns that increased sales revenue by 12%
• Trained and managed over 15 marketing and sales specialists, making sure sales targets were always met. 

If there are any gaps in your employment history, you should account for them as well if possible. Chances are, your interviewer will ask you about it anyway. 

If you have work experience in a large company/institution in your country that an Australian recruiter might not be familiar with, you should provide some information on your employer as well. 

For example, if you have worked as a sales manager for one of the largest toy companies in your country, don’t be hesitant to provide that information. By simply stating the name of the company you risk downplaying your experience if the recruiter isn’t familiar with the company.  

Your education history should also be displayed in reverse-chronological order. Each entry should consist of the name of the institution, date attended, your major/minor/specialization, and any related honors or awards. 

BA in Economics

Bentley University

07/2017 - 05/2021

• Dean’s List 2019, 2020, 2021
• Member of the Investment Club

A simple list of skills and strengths will provide the employer with a quick snapshot of what you have to offer and what you excel at. In general, it’s best to focus on hard skills, but if you will be listing any soft skills like “leadership” or “critical thinking”, make sure you can back them up with experiences. 

Volunteer Experience

If you have any volunteer experience , it’s important to note it on your resume. Hiring managers appreciate it. 

Often, volunteer experience can count as work experience too. Especially if it matches with a period of time you were not employed and if it is related to your profession. In that case, you can even include it in the “work experience” section. 

The name, position, and phone number of your referee/s will be enough. Most recruiters contact references after the interview process anyway.

If you want to create a resume that stands out, you’ll need to use a good-looking template.

#1. College/University Resume Template

As a student or recent graduate, you want your resume to highlight your education and emphasize your skills. This is exactly what the College resume format does. 

It has a simple and organized format that is easy to skim and has a nice aesthetic. 

#2. Professional Resume Template

Approved by various recruiters and one of our all-time favorite templates, the Professional template can adapt to all fields. 

It highlights your work experience and makes all information easy to find for the recruiter. 

#3. Creative Resume Template

If you have a career in marketing, design, advertising, or other creative fields, this is the perfect template for you. 

The Creative resume template is compact and organized but has some details that add to it a unique touch, fit for the industry you are in. 

At this point, we’ve got you all covered on Australian resumes, what they look like, and how they differ from resumes in other countries.

However, there’s always room for improving and perfecting your resume and job-searching process. 

Check out some of our top resources on job-search, resumes, and the interviewing process and be on top of your game in all steps:

• The No-Nonsense Guide to Finding a Great Aussie Job in 2024 - This guide is as good as it sounds. You’ll find all you need to know about the job-finding process in Australia.
• How to Write a Resume | Professional Guide - Everything you need to know about how to make a resume, from layout to content.
• How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae) in 2024 - The A to Z guide to the perfect CV that will land you that interview.
• 35+ Common Interview Questions and Answers [Complete List] - Leave nothing to chance and ace that interview by learning how to answer these unavoidable questions.
• How to Ace Interviews with the STAR Method - The key to giving a good answer to every single behavioral job interview question.

Looking for more? Head over to our career blog and find all the information you need.

Key Takeaways

The differences of an Australian resume may be subtle, but if you don’t pay attention to them, you probably aren’t getting any callbacks. 

To avoid that, when preparing your Australian resume remember:

• In Australia, “resume” and “CV” refer to the same document.
• You can and MUST go longer than one page. 3-5 pages is ideal, but 2 pages can be acceptable if you don't have a lot of experience.
• Your resume has to be written using correct Australian English so always double-check that your spelling is right
• It is highly recommended to include an attention grabbing-resume objective or summary that will make the recruiter intrigued to read further

And that’s a wrap! 

Good luck and wish you a successful job-search!

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Australian Resume Format: Land Your Next Job in Australia

Australia is among the countries paying the highest minimum wage in the world, which means a permanent demand for skilled workers. If you are planning to work, study, or settle in Australia, this is a perfect time.

All resume examples in this guide

Australian Resume Example

Casey James Administrative assistant [email protected] +61 2 1356 5828 https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey

Profile summary

A dedicated administrative assistant with over 5 years of experience in legal firms excited to contribute to Telco Pty Ltd's dynamic culture. As administrative assistant for the CEO, I was responsible for the CEO's schedules and travel plans while also managing the general administration functions at M&A Consultants.

Professional Experience

June 2019 to Present Telco Pty Ltd

• Hired over 50 legal associates in 2021 including advertising, shortlisting, and scheduling interviews
• Worked with attorneys and clients on legal requirements
• Planned and managed the executives' annual travel budget
• Carried out training programs for administrative tasks for the new employees
• Implemented an internal communication platform and managed the transition to reduce the lead time of email communications by 30% ‍

Aug 2017 to May 2019 Milton Associates

• Managed a $50,000 annual budget for the procurement of stationery
• Contributed to an increase of 15% in customer satisfaction by handling client inquiries
• Supported the operations of the finance and marketing departments through administrative duties
• Created, edited, and proofread client proposals
• Managed the client database and updated the CRM weekly
• Carried out social media activities on LinkedIn and Instagram ‍

Bachelor’s degree in HR management, 2012-2015 Australian National University

• Recruitment
• HR strategy
• Employer branding ‍

GPA- 3.8/4 Diploma in Information Technology 2018-2019 Institute of Technology, Melbourne

• Advanced computer literacy
• Office 360 ‍
• The expertise of Calendar management and scheduling tools
• Database management
• MS Office (Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Sharepoint)
• Client call handling
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Business intelligence
• Teamwork and delegation when needed ‍

All major brands and businesses, top universities, great weather are some of the many reasons why Aussie has become The Lucky Country for international students and immigrants.

However, just landing in Australia will not guarantee you a job – especially one that pays well. Most well-paid jobs receive thousands of applications and go through a series of shortlisting and interviewing processes.

Reading this article will save you months of your time applying for jobs and the opportunity cost of living in Australia without a proper job. Also, we discuss:

• Resume examples and how each section should be written
• Job applications for international students
• What to include and what to exclude
• Ideal resume length in Australia

And many more.

Consider having a look, if you would like to create a professional resume with one of our ready-to-fill resume templates tailored to the Australian market.

While the elements of your resume will change depending on the position you apply for, the basic structure of an Australian resume will remain the same. Here is an example of a perfect Australian CV for an administrative assistant.

Australian Resume for International Students

Australia provides a variety of opportunities for international students to study, work, and settle in the country. In other words: the Australian economy needs you.

International students will have access to a variety of full-time and part-time job opportunities based on the allowed hours during their studies.

This sample Australian resume is to apply for a part-time job in a restaurant (but it also works for other similar roles):

Curtain Welsh

+61 2 1256 8723

https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtainw

Professional summary

A highly organized, flexible, and experienced student with a strong focus on customer service and impressive time management skills who is keen to work in the restaurant industry looking for a part-time position at Fleet.

Work History

April 2018 to Nov 2019

Mc Donalds- UK

• Handled over the phone inquiries of the customers– over 20 calls a day
• Responded to web inquiries and communicated orders to the appropriate personnel
• Achieved a customer satisfaction of 25% in 2019 as one of the best Mc Donald restaurants in the UK
• Knowledge of menus scored 98%
• Became the main customer-facing officer in 2019
• Developed a welcoming atmosphere with the staff and management

Cambridge High School, 2014-2017

• Excellent at accounting and math
• Student council president for 2016
• Expertise in POS system entries
• Cash handling
• Microsoft excel
• Social media expert
• Time management
• Interpersonal skills
• High energy

English Native

French Fluent

Chinese Basic

How do Australian Resumes Differ from American ones?

An Australian resume is similar to an American one in terms of style and format. A minor variation could, however, make your resume look odd in a pool of Australian resumes. Therefore you must consider the following points while preparing and sending your resume to Australia.

• American and Australian English have differences related to spelling and vocabulary: you should read further , identify those differences, and incorporate the relevant changes in your writing. Using correct Australian English on your resume will give you an edge during screening.
• In Australia, a resume is often called a ‘CV’: in your email body, you can mention that you have attached the CV to give it a more Australian feel.
• Australian resumes are lengthy compared to the American ones: how long they should be and what information makes up the additional pages will be discussed below.

Consider also how resume format, structure, and other information differ in Canadian resumes compared to Australian and American resumes.

How to make an Australian Resume?

An Australian standard CV layout would be a great place to start making your resume. We have highlighted each section with the information you should include and the best practices.

1. Start with The Resume Header

Your CV should start with your name and contact information. This is generally followed in many regions including Australia.

Name is typically the first name and the last name followed by the current job title (if it is relevant to what you’re applying).

Contact information should consist of your email address, a mobile phone number, and a link to your LinkedIn profile or the portfolio (if relevant).

• Do not include your mailing address unless the job advertisement has specified about it
• Update your LinkedIn profile pic, cover photo, and description before putting the link in your CV
• Don't use official emails; use your personal email instead

2. Write a professional summary or an objective summary

This is considered the sales pitch in your CV. In this, your objective should be to communicate to the hiring manager that you’re a potential candidate for the position.

Writing a resume summary is simple if you know the right technique. The professional summary should consist of 2-3 sentences that describe you. Use the first sentence to describe your experience and how your expertise would help the new employer. In the second sentence, write about how that helped your previous employer and the results you achieved.

Just like this:

The objective summary would be the same as the professional summary: you should write your career objective instead of your previous experience. Objective summaries are used in case you do not have much experience for the position or you’re in a career transition.

3. Continue with Your Work Experience

This is the most important part of any resume whether it is in Australia, the USA, Europe, or any part of the world. This section can make or break your Australian job dream.

While writing your employment history, the format you pick matters. There are mainly three standard resume formats : reverse chronological, functional, combination. Though all three formats are accepted in Australia, the most popular one is the reverse-chronological format.

In reverse chronological resume format, you should list your experience starting with the most recent position. This provides the hiring manager the opportunity to access the most up-to-date experience of the candidates with ease.

Here’s a set of guidelines to follow when writing your experience section:

• State the company name, job title, and the period
• Use bullet points to describe your experience
• Use specific details of projects you were assigned to, achievements, and the tools used
• Use numbers wherever possible to add credibility to your statements
• Use keywords that are specific to the industry, the job role, and are mentioned in the job advertisement

An applicant tracking system is in place in many Australian companies which carries out the initial shortlisting of applications – your resume should be keyword-heavy to get through this step.

4. What to Include in The Education Section?

For most job positions, your education would come in handy even if it is not directly relevant. List down your education section giving priority to your highest academic achievements.

If you have completed any academic program in Australia, that would be an advantage.

In writing this section, use a consistent format. Also write to the point as this should be a small section of the resume.

Put the academic qualifications that are relevant to the job you apply for. For instance, if you are applying for a part-time job in a cafe to cover your expenses while you study, you might not want to put your Masters's degree in the resume. Many employers don't hire overqualified candidates because they think they won't last.

5. What Skills to Put in The CV?

The skills section is common on resumes in many regions, though a generic list of skills does not work anymore – also in Australia.

The skills of a candidate could be either soft skills or hard skills. What most hiring managers expect is a combination of these two types.

• Time Management
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving
• Organizational skills
• Negotiation
• Creative thinking

Instead of just putting up a list of soft skills in your skills section, identify 3-5 most important skills required to perform your duties on the job.

How do you find these?

Employers often describe the personal traits they expect from the candidate in the job advertisement.

Expertise in ventilation systems and HVAC

Technical report writing, BOQ preparation, and tendering

Electrical and Electro-mechanical systems

Mechanical system designing with Solid Work and Auto Cad

6. Should I Put Additional Sections?

Of course! Additional sections are a great way to showcase some of your most marketable skills. A separate heading on your resume gives the information more visibility.

In an Australian CV, the following additional sections are recommended:

• Volunteer experience
• Computer skills
• Licenses and Certifications

It is not required to include all these additional sections in your resume. Putting more of these sections would make it difficult to achieve the main objective of additional sections which is more visibility.

What Is a good Resume Length for Australia?

Typical Australian resumes are quite lengthy compared to the USA ones. There’s no hard and fast rule as to how long it should be, but definitely more than one page like in the US.

For professionals, three to four pages is a good CV length. For entry-level jobs and recent graduates, try to make the CV two pages.

You should utilize this space to present the most important information about yourself – being relevant to the position you apply for as much as possible. Most applicants from the USA who spent hours compressing their resumes to fit one-page standard struggle in Australia to decompress it to fit the Australian standards.

The important factor to remember here is that you should not expand your resume in a way that the information is not interesting to read or less relevant.

Whether it is in the US or Australia, it will be a human who will read your resume and make a decision. Write your resume as long as it has to be but as succinct as possible .

What should you not include in an Australian-style resume?

If there is some information, formatting, or features missing in your resume, it won't be rejected, but if you include something the Australian job market considers inappropriate, it will.

Including a photo of you in your resume is considered a Capital sin in Australia . This is due to strict anti-discrimination labor laws and regulations. It is believed that the candidate’s photo could influence the employer’s decision of shortlisting for an interview.

The CVs that come with a photo is typically ignored to prevent possible discrimination lawsuits against the employers and recruiters.

There are however ways to bypass these and get the same benefits of putting a picture without breaking the law. Visit our detailed guide on Resume Pictures to learn about the countries where you should not include a picture and everything else about the topic.

Resume, CV, Curriculum Vitae in the Title

This is an old practice of writing resumes. In many countries including Australia, this practice is no longer accepted.

Recruiters already know the document is your resume when they receive it.

More than 15 years old experience

You should use reverse chronological order to write your experience section. This will allow you to showcase your latest experience first. However, some candidates list down experiences that are more than 15 years which are not relevant to the context.

While you're allowed to write 3-4 pages for your CV in Australia, try not to include irrelevant or too old experiences to fill up the space.

Personal information

Do not include personal information such as age, gender, religion, or marital status. These could lead to the rejection of your CV in Australia on the basis of anti-discrimination policies in recruiting.

Interesting Facts about The Australian Job Market

• The job market keeps growing

Simply “there have never been so many jobs available in Australia at one time”, an Australian labor market research study says.

The post-pandemic Australia is going to be full of well-paid opportunities and the government is opening up borders for international skilled workers who are interested to work, studying, and settling in Australia.

• Salaries are among the highest worldwide

As businesses in Australia are experiencing labor shortages, salaries are increasing further. In general, salaries in Australia are among the best salaries in the world. As of 1 July 2021, the National Minimum Wage is $20.33 per hour or $772.60 per week whereas this figure is adjusted every year.

• The healthcare and the engineering industries lead the market

Jobs in healthcare such as doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, hospitality workers will be in high demand. In addition, construction and engineering sectors will have many opportunities including construction laborers, brick workers, and plumbers.

Another sector falling into the high-demand category is accountants and finance professionals – for both government and private-sector jobs.

If your job search is in one of these categories, you’ll experience a higher level of demand – having a great resume together will help you land the best job.

Tips for Making an Australian-style Resume

These pro tips will make your next Aussie CV stand out from the rest of the pack.

• Read the job description or the advertisement to pick the keywords your employer care about – include them naturally in your professional summary, experience, and skills sections.
• Include a link to your LinkedIn professional profile or portfolio website in the header – check whether the link work in PDF and MS Word formats.
• Choose a resume template that represents your personality and tailor it to match the industry you apply to – check out our ready-to-fill resume templates . If you are creating your template, make sure your formatting such as fonts, font sizes, colors, and margins are consistent throughout.
• In Australia, skill certifications and licenses are highly valued by employers – if you do not have one, consider applying for relevant certification.
• Use a tool like Grammarly and check for general grammar mistakes as well as for Australian English variations in your resume.
• Write your resume tailored to the job instead of sending the same CV for every job.
• Write a cover letter that complements your resume – check out our cover letter templates to get an idea

Key Takeaways When Writing an Australian Resume

• Start your resume with the header – include name and the contact information
• The professional summary should consist of two sentences - one describing your expertise and how it would benefit the employer, and one explaining how it helped the previous employer.
• The experience section should not just contain a list of tasks you performed in your job - it should be results-oriented, with numbers to provide credibility
• Follow a consistent format to showcase your education qualifications – add relevant academic qualifications only.
• Write a combination of soft skills and hard skills - you'll likely find the skills employers are seeking in a potential candidate in the job posting.
• Use additional sections to provide a pleasant surprise to the hiring manager – but ignore the irrelevant information.
• One page resume is not the standard followed in Australia – you can expand your resume into multiple pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Australians use the words ‘CV’ and ‘Resume’ interchangeably – both referring to the same thing. However, again, we do not advise using the word ‘CV’ or ‘Resume’ at the top of the resume as a heading.

When you’re sending an email with your resume attached, you can use the word ‘CV’ in your body text to refer to the attachment.

It would be your experience, professional summary, skills, and education sections consecutively. Some Australian recruiters, however, look for a solid professional summary that summarizes the candidate’s profile.

Most shortlisting is done based on the experience section. This also depends on the type of profession. For high-skill jobs, they would give priority to education.

In Australia, some employers expect cover letters while others would not. Also, some industries and professions require the applicants to send a CV with a cover letter.

In the following situations, a cover letter is useful:

• If the job advertisement states the requirement of a cover letter
• If you do not have much experience related to the job, but you would like to express your enthusiasm to work for the company
• Your CV is a general one which includes all your career history – you can use a cover letter to summarize what is relevant to the particular job position

Create your resume with the best templates

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

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Sample letters to download

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Advice for getting a job, instructions.

Australia CV Tips & Format Requirements

Applying for a job in Australia? This guide has the tips, examples, & format requirements needed to write the perfect Australian CV. Create your VisualCV today!

Australia CV Requirements

As with most countries, Australia has its own specific work culture and set of expectations for CVs. When applying for a job in Australia, it is important to ensure that your CV adheres to Australian CV requirements and is tailored to impress Australian recruiters and employers.

Browse our gallery of resume examples here.

Australia CV Tips and Rules:

Australia CV Length: For experienced professionals, a three or four page resume is expected in Australia. If you are recently graduated or new to the workforce, two pages is sufficient, but as soon as your work history is robust enough for three to four pages, your resume should expand accordingly.

Australia CV Terminology: The terms ‘resume’ and ‘CV’ are used synonymously in Australia - they refer to the same document. The word ‘resume’ is used more commonly, however, so if in doubt, use that one.

Australia CV Language: When writing your resume, be sure to use correct Australian English - don’t forget those extra u’s, as in ‘colour’ and ‘labour’ (as opposed to the American spellings ‘color’ and ‘labor’).

Australia CV Format, Order and Layout:

Australia CV Photo: As a rule of thumb, it is best not to include a photo in your Australian CV. If you intend to host your resume online, or if you are in a creative industry where visuals are highly valued, then an image may be an asset. Be sure to do your research, however - if the company you are applying to isn’t expecting a photo, it can hurt your chances. As Australian HR and recruitment consultant Karalyn Brown says , “When you put your photo on your resume you are inviting a recruiter with their own set of prejudices, to consider how you look along with what you may have achieved.”

Australia CV Personal Information: The only personal information required for an Australian resume is your contact information - your name, address, phone number, mobile number and email address (which should be some variation of your name - keep it professional: [email protected] or something similar). Any other personal information such as age, marital status, and number of children is not relevant to your experience or job performance and should not be included.

Australia CV Objective: It is recommended, though not mandatory, that you include a Career Objective at the top of your resume. This can also be called a Career Profile or Summary . Your objective serves as a short introduction to you and to your resume and should give the hiring manager a reason to continue reading. According to Karalyn Brown , “A resume without a career objective is like a movie without a title, or a trailer.” Your objective should be brief - three to five lines - and should give a very clear description of the experience you are bringing to the position, and what your goals and ambitions are for the role you are applying to.

Australia CV Work Experience: Display your work experience in reverse-chronological order, with your most recent position at the top. Each entry should include the beginning and end date of your tenure, and be sure to account for gaps in your employment. Give details about your work experience , including your responsibilities and achievements in each role. Use quantifiable information wherever possible, and use powerful verbs like ‘delivered’, ‘trained’, and ‘promoted’.

Australian CV Education: List your relevant degrees and diplomas in reverse-chronological order , including dates. Include the name of the institution, your major, minor, and specialization, as well as any significant awards you may have received.

Resume template: Browse through our gallery of Australian resume templates .

3 Australian CV Examples

Hr australia cv example.

Engineer CV Example Australia

Australian CV example

Other sections for your Australian CV:

If you have information that you would like to display that was not covered by the sections above, you can include them in a separate section on your resume. Other sections include:

Skills: It is common to include a simple list of skills kept separate from your work history. This is to provide a quick, at-a-glance look at what you excel at, without delving into your experience too much.

Volunteer Experience: Volunteering experience should be noted on your resume. If you prefer, you can include volunteer experience in your Work History section, but be sure to note when a role is a volunteer position. Languages: If you are fluent in multiple languages, noting them may be an asset.

References: A simple ‘References available on request’ note will do here. It is not necessary to provide references until requested to by an employer or recruiter.

Does Australia Use CV or Resume?

In Australia, CV and Resume are used interchangeably. So you are free to select between either as your word of choice.

How do I Write a Good Australian CV?

Important things to keep in mind while writing your Australian CV is that your CV should be more than 1 page, you should follow Australian English, avoid including a photo and customize your CV for each job that you are applying to.

What is the Right Length for an Australian CV?

Most Australian hiring managers expect a CV to be more than 1 page long. An Australian CV should expand in number of pages as the experience of the job applicant increases.

Should I Put Address on my Australian CV?

While we recommend that you add your current location on your Australian CV, adding the full address isn’t advisable. Avoid listing the street name and simply list the city and the state you live in instead.

Conclusion:

A well written and correctly formatted resume is integral to your job search. When applying for positions in Australia, it is important to tailor your resume to suit Australian CV requirements and expectations. Don’t let a poor resume stand between you and a great career in Australia!

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We can help you find the perfect resume depending on your needs.

Each year many people come to Australia for many reasons (studying, working and travelling) and everyone faces the challenge of finding a job. Many overseas students, backpackers and professionals confirm that  there is a key aspect that brings together all the positive work experience in Australia.  In this article, we will show you 8 amazing resumes that will help you find a job easily.

In your resume, you should include:

• Objective : This is the focal point of your resume – the position you are seeking in specific terms. Your objective should be simple yet directly related to your qualifications and accomplishments.
• Education : List your most recent educational experience first. Be sure to include your degree (AS, BA, BS, etc.), major, institution attended, graduation date, minors/concentrations and any other major coursework or projects. Special awards and commendations should be noted.
• Work Experience : Always include the title of your position, name of organisation, location (town, state) and dates of employment. Describe your work experience and responsibilities using strong action words. Volunteer work, internships, and student teaching should be listed here.
• Additional Information : This is the place for extra information that doesn’t fit into other categories, such as special interests, computer knowledge and activities. Multilingual and medically trained people should list their experience here.
• References : When resume writing, you may wish to include on your resume: “References available upon request.” Always ask for permission before listing someone as a reference. List three people, including name, title, employer, address, and business and home telephone numbers.

Source:  Kelly services

Go Study Team prepared some resumes just for you. Fill the form to download the one made for you!

Resume template

Resume formats and content may vary from industry to industry, so do your research to understand the expectations of employers in your field. 

The information below is an overview of the most common elements of an Australian resume. It is not intended as a one-size-fits-all template. The resume can also be structured in the way that best presents your skills and experience. For example, if you have extensive, relevant industry experience, you might find it preferable to place ‘Employment History’ before ‘Education’.

Resume sections

Personal details.

• Use your name as the heading in large, bold lettering. There is no need to include the words ‘resume’ or ‘curriculum vitae’ anywhere in the heading.
• Include contact phone number/s and your preferred email address. You can also add a residential address, however, this is optional. Employers will be using these details to contact you, so ensure your email address and voicemail greeting reflect your professionalism. 
• International students or permanent residents may benefit from indicating their visa status and work rights.
• There is no need to add extra information such as a date of birth, photo or nationality.

Career objective/Profile/Summary [Optional]

• This section describes the type and level of position you are seeking and the industry or area in which you would like to be employed. A well-targeted career objective makes you look focused and enthusiastic and helps the reader interpret the information that follows in the resume.
• The objective should be brief and realistic with a focus on what you are able to offer, eg, ‘Seeking a research position within Environmental Sciences where my university studies in water management and my work experience in local government environmental management can be utilised.’

Skills summary [Optional]

• This section can be useful for drawing the recruiter’s attention to your key competencies.
• Focus on skills that are relevant to the job by checking the selection criteria or keywords in the job advertisement.
• Skills can be technical (eg, experience with a particular type of software or lab procedure), industry-specific (eg, classroom management for primary school teaching) or transferable (eg, team work, leadership, time management).
• Offer evidence when you claim to have a particular transferable skill, eg, ‘Excellent written communication skills developed through activities ranging from writing complex technical reports during my science degree to press releases in my role as Publicity Officer for the Student Biological Society’.
• Include your tertiary qualifications, and if recent, also your secondary qualifications. State the full name of the institution and the month and year you completed (or expect to complete) the qualification.
• Start with your most recent qualification/studies and work backwards.
• Other information you could include: your majors, your current grade or WAM, academic awards, merit scholarships, international exchanges, your thesis title and brief description (for research students) and any other relevant achievements.
• Note that this is not the best place to list short courses or trade certificates unless they are relevant to the role.

Experience is a broad term that can refer to a range of practical activities. You may wish to list all of your practical experience under this heading or divide it into different categories. If you have a mix of industry relevant experience and less relevant work, you can divide the section into ‘Relevant Experience’ and ‘Other Experience’. This will ensure that the employer sees the most relevant information first. Some other possible headings are below.

• This is one of the more common headings for listing experience.
• Start with your most recent job and work backwards. Include your position title, the name of the organisation and the month and year you commenced and concluded the employment.
• List your responsibilities and any outcomes or achievements. Quantify where possible, eg, ‘supervised 5 junior staff members’, ‘increased monthly sales by 12%’.
• Be clear about the skills you have used or developed, particularly if you have not included a skills summary on your resume.

Practicums/Placements

You can use this heading for any industry-related experience you have gained as part of your degree, eg, clinical placements for Nursing, teaching practicums for Education, field education placements for Social Work.

• List the name of the organisation, duration of the placement, responsibilities, achievements (if any) and learning outcomes.

Volunteering

This section refers to unpaid work undertaken in the not-for-profit sector, community groups, NGOs or charitable organisations. Most employers will be interested in your voluntary work because it offers evidence of initiative and transferable skills.

• Lay out your experience in a similar way to your employment – title, organisation, dates, duties, achievements/outcomes.

Extracurricular activities

Here you can include student clubs and societies, sporting activities, mentoring, student representative roles and more. As with volunteering, most employers value extracurricular activities.

• Again, lay out in the same way as your employment. Give enough detail for the employer to understand your contribution to the organisation/team/program and the skills you have used.

Memberships

Include membership of any professional associations or industry bodies .

• Use the full and correct name of the organisation, the year of your membership, and your level of membership, eg, student, affiliate, professional, etc.

Conferences/Publications/Articles

• Relevant for applicants with research-based qualifications , or those seeking media/communications/writing roles.
• List your papers and conferences in the formatting used by your industry or discipline area.
• If applying for a non-research role, consider summarising and/or quantifying your publications or conferences, eg, published three research articles on the topic of XYZ in high impact journals, demonstrating excellent written communication skills.

Add your own relevant section/s

You can include other relevant sections in your resume if you have a particular set of experiences that you would like to bring to the employer’s attention. Choose a clear heading that describes your experience and ensure that all points in the section are relevant to the heading. It is important that the section is closely related to the job to which you are applying. Some examples include:

• ‘Leadership’ – for students with experience in student leadership such as mentoring, executive roles in clubs/societies, student politics, or other leadership roles.
• ‘Community Involvement’ – for students who are active in charity or not for profit work, volunteering, advocacy or other community development activities.
• ‘Exhibitions’ – for students seeking work in the visual arts.
• This should always be the last entry on your resume. List 2 or 3 referees who can comment on your work-based skills. If you prefer not to list them on your resume, simply write ‘Available on request’. This will allow you to check in and warn your referees before they are called. Always seek a referee’s permission before you list them in your resume and give them information about the job.
• Choose the person who will give you the best reference, ideally, a previous work/volunteer supervisor, manager or an academic.
• Include their name, job title, current organisation, contact details, and their relationship to you, eg, ‘Thesis supervisor’, ‘Current manager’, if the relationship is not clear from their job title.

Final resume review

Is your resume:

• Targeted and relevant to the role and industry/type of employer?
• Demonstrating the transferability of your experience and skills to the role?
• Presenting your information in an accessible format that best promotes what you have to offer?
• Clear & concise?
• Professionally formatted with good grammar and spelling?
• Making the best first impression possible?

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How to Write an Australian Resume/CV

Resume/cv for international students.

Your resume is part of your personal brand in your Australian job search. Without relevant Australian experience, you need to shine even more.

Each country has it's own way of doing things, so we share the typical format for Australia. Of course, each industry may have it's own style of presenting your experience, but the overall expectation of the content is going to be the same.

We share some grammar & language structure tips and provide examples, to help you have a more 'natural' resume in English.

We recommend you bookmark this page - refer back to it as you are developing this very important document.

Is it a Resume or CV?

Traditionally, a resume focuses on the work experience and skills the job-seeker has developed. On the other hand, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) presents the academic qualifications. For example, in engineering a CV as you must be qualified, while in in the sales world it may be a resume, as experience is more important. Does it matter in Australia? No! We interchange the name. You can call the document what you like.

Preparing to write the document...

Do your research! Before you begin research the business and industry that you are submitting to resume to. Make sure you have the basic skills and experience needed for that company/industry.

Remember, hiring managers may have 50 resumes to read, so be clear and concise of you want the full document to be read.

Be honest! 40% of applicants lie about their employment history, 20% about their education level, and up to 30% give false references. Employers have a lot of tools to check information, so do not take any risks. Page layout It is best to keep it simple and easy to read:  

Times New Roman or Arial are popular fonts

A4 is the printer paper size in Australia - make sure you format correctly

Add the header to each page in case any of the pages of the resume get separated

Add a page number to the bottom of each page for the same reason, keeping your flow of thoughts in the correct order

Use the correct spelling for Australia

Australia = analyse, favourite, organise, centre, enrollment

USA = analyze, favorite, organize, center, enrolment

Sections of an Australian Resume/CV

A clear and well present resume, that is easy to read, may make the difference between your resume between on the top, or bottom, of the pile. Here we share how to prepare each section of a resume.

Tip: Keep your resume/cv short. 1-2 pages (3 maximum) is the general expectation. The power of words is in clarity & getting to the point.

Resume Header

Make sure it is easy for a hiring manager to connect for the interview!

Summary / Objectives

A powerful snapshot of why you are the best person for the job.

All formal & informal training & education shows you have what they need.

Work Experience

Workplace & volunteer experience gives you the best advantage.

What else can show that makes you the perfect candidate for the position?

In this section, include your full name, postal address, phone number & email.

You want to make it as easy as possible for the hiring manager to contact you for the next step.

Use a professional sounding email. [email protected] is far more professional than [email protected] !

In Australia, it is not common to include a photograph in your resume. However, this is becoming a little more popular. It is your choice whether to or not.

Never include the following:

your religion

your age / date of birth

your residential address

marital status (ie. married/divorced)

number of children you have

Including such information could make your application invalid due to anti-discrimination laws. in Australia, hiring managers are not allowed to consider such life information in the job hiring process.  Asking such questions is also not allowed in the job interview process.

Do I add a photo? While it is becoming more common, it is still not recommended to add your photo.

This is an example of a header:

Kevin Hopeful

Mobile: 0410 000 000

[email protected]

Executive Summary / Summary of Qualifications

As you can imagine, hiring managers receive many resumes, and often want to read them as quickly as possible. Sharing a strong statement at the beginning of the resume sells yourself in a quick way. This may be all the hiring manager needs to read!

Use this space very carefully and include the most important keywords that are connected to the job role.  Why are you the right person for the job?

If you have a lot of relevant experience and/or related education, in this part may be very easy for you.  if you don't have a lot of relevant work experience, you may need to rely on other information.  This might include goals for your career future, your hard work ethic, your connections in the industry, etc.

The best way to prepare for this section is to read the job ad carefully - what exactly are they looking for? What is the required experience?  What are the duties of the position?  Address these topics in the summary.

It is obvious to a hiring manager when the version of the resume is used for every job someone is applying for. Tailor your resume for this exact job, and you will show time and consideration in applying.

Never use he/she .  Use “I” or just the verb tense (ie "Worked as ...). It is impersonal and sounds like someone else has written your resume.

It is important to add your personal qualities into what you write. Sell yourself - it has taken years for you to develop your traits and abilities and employers are willing to pay for them! You will see examples highlighted in the Executive Summary below.

Here are some career-related adjectives you might use in your resume:

adaptable ambitious bright capable confident cooperative credible decisive

determined diligent eager efficient energetic enthusiastic fearless

industrious knowledgeable productive punctual receptive reflective

responsible

self-assured

skilful successful talented trustworthy willing wise

Executive Summary  

An experienced professional with 4-years of experience in the social media industry. A meticulous researcher, I make sure I understand the business objectives of my clients while focusing on the needs of the target market to which I am delivering social media content.  Most importantly, I rigorously stick to the budget I have been approved to use. I have a friendly nature and enjoy working in a team, but am self-motivated to deliver results on my own as required. As a flexible self-starter , I am happy to work on short or long-term projects.  I have experience in fast moving consumer goods and luxury holidays, and have demonstrated successful customer growth results for the last two companies I worked with. I am fluent in German and English.

Depending on your age and the industry that you are applying to work in, education may or may not be a strong focus in your resume.

If you are applying for a job that requires formal qualifications (such as nursing, teaching, accounting, etc), education will be one of the first sections of your resume, as you are often ineligible for the job without that qualification.

If you do not have much to share in this part, you can put this section below the work experience section.

If you are currently studying, list the qualification as in progress , especially as most international students are completing the qualification at the same time they are working.

Include the name of the institution, date of graduation and name of the qualification received. Also include the country if it is not clear.

Short courses should also be added in this section.  This might include business writing, presenting skills, short courses in coding, etc.

You can include your high school qualification if you are young and do not have further experience or qualifications, but do not include your primary school.

Education  

Master in Business Analytics                                             2023-present

Platypus University, Sydney AUSTRALIA

Coding for Digital Marketing                                             2018

Rome College of Coding, Rome ITALY  

Bachelor of Information Technology                               2013-2016

Pisa University, Rome ITALY

This is a section in which your language and grammar really matters.

Many companies now use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scan resumes, selecting only those that have the exact keywords they are looking for. You must be very clear about the skills and experience this specific job is looking for. Again, it is really important to read the job advertisement in detail .  Write down or highlight the most important things that they are looking for.  Then, make sure to include these topics in your work experience, if possible.

Also be aware that plagiarism is something companies can detect in resumes. Using an AI tool like Chat GPT to write your resume is risky! Make sure EVERYTHING is presented in your own words. 

Do not have long gaps in your experience. Add activities related to the experience they want - charity work, travel, volunteering, etc.  If you have had short periods of work in your jobs, explain why – contract work, relocation to another city, pregnancy, etc. Do not blame the employer a short employment periods - you may sound like you are making excuses for incompetence.

Focus on your verb tenses

You may use the past tense (past jobs) & present perfect (current job) when describing you r roles or duties

Use action verbs - developed, exc eeded, created, demonstrated, organised...

There are two things you want to present for each job:  

1.  the duties that you were/are responsible for day-to-day  

2.  your accomplishments during the position - these are not the duties, they are what you achieved while you performed the duties

Creating the Content:

List your employment from most recent to oldest.

Generally limit work experience to the last 10 years; unless it's extremely relevant to the job description.

Limit it to 5 to 6 duties for each role - don't go into too much unnecessary detail.

Include 2-3 accomplishments for each role.

Try to avoid large gaps of time your work history - include volunteer experience, travelling, raising a family, etc, if you need to account for time gaps.

If you only worked for a short period of time with a company, try to give an explanation as to why this was the case. For example, moving cities, for pregnancy. Be aware that employers may be concerned if you change jobs regularly, as this could show you are not reliable or you were not suitable to the job. Do not blame a company for the short gaps as it could come across that you are making excuses.

How do I express my accomplishments?

As mentioned, your accomplishments are a result of you doing your job well, or new initiatives.  

Business development is the duty, while increasing annual sales by 10% per each year through additional client visits is the accomplishment.

Selling registrations for an event is the duty, while grew event registrations from 100 to 450 participants over a two-year period through regularly time special offers is the accomplishment

Organising safe outdoor play activities at in early childhood centre is the duty, while reducing injuries in the playground by 15% year-on-year by keeping children in smaller groups is the accomplishment.

Work Experience  

Sales Manager                                                                                                                2022-present

Woodrun Timber Yards

Ensuring stock is continuously available in the timber yard

Assisting customers to select the correct timber type for the project

Organising deliveries to worksites

Coordinating the timetables of the part-time workers

Monthly product training sessions for all staff

Accomplishments:

Have increases customer retention through follow-up phone calls to ensure quality and happiness with our services

Have reduced turnover of th e team through staff appreciation activities like family day and monthly awards

more examples coming shortly ....

Do I include references/referees in the document?

This is your choice.

However, it is common practice to simply write: References available on request

If a hiring manager begins the reference checking process, it is assumed they will offer you the job if the outcome is positive.

However, what if they do not offer you the job? Do you want your manger to know you are looking for another job?

If you are applying for a more senior role, it is usually not until after the 2nd interview that they start reference checking. If it is for a part-time, casual or entry-level job, there may only be 1 interview, and then they reference check.

Whether or not your include the references now or provide them later,  make sure you have asked your references for permission to use them, and keep them up-to-date if they might receive a call.

The ultimate cover letter guide for international students

If you’re an international student studying in Australia, it is highly likely that you will be looking for casual or part-time employment at some point. While employment does depend on your visa type, it is a great way to supplement your studies and meet new people while living Down Under.

Joining the job hunt means you will have to create a resumé and cover letter at some stage. This can be a nerve-wracking task, especially if you want your application to stand out from the crowd and boost your chances of getting that job. You may already have a resumé based on your work experience back home but how about a cover letter? To assist in the process, we’ve created a cover letter writing guide for international students!

Include your name and contact details

It is important that employers know where and how to contact you, especially if they want to follow up and invite you to the next stage of the recruitment process! Write your first and last name, email address and phone number in the top right-hand corner of your letter so potential employers can keep in touch.

Add the employer’s details

Make sure you include the name of both the company and the contact person in the top left hand corner of your cover letter – it is an industry standard, so make your letter look professional by including it too.

Include a reference to the position you are applying for

Employers receive plenty of unsolicited paperwork every day, and they generally don’t have time to read through each document in depth. To avoid your cover letter going straight to the recycling bin, ensure that you include a reference line that clearly states the position you are applying for. You could even underline or bolden it to improve the chances of your letter being read rather than skimmed over.

Address the letter to someone

If you have the name of a recruiter or contact person from the company you are applying to, ensure that you address your cover letter to them. If you do not have a contact name, you can instead address it ‘To whom it may concern’.

Introduce yourself

Start your cover letter with a brief introductory statement so the employer gets a feel for who you are and what you do. Depending on the reputation and branding of the company you are applying to, you can make this opening statement as creative and unique as you desire.

Talk about yourself

This is the part where you show off why you are the perfect candidate for the job. Being an international student means that you have a unique perspective that could be a useful asset to the position, so make sure you convey your personality and experiences during the body of your cover letter. Address why you want to work for the company by highlighting your motivations, notable past achievements, your skills and what you are curious to learn about. Make sure that each of these points relates back to the requirements of the role.

Your closing paragraph is the perfect place for you to tie everything together. You can use it to summarise why you are the best person for job, before taking the opportunity to encourage further contact with the employer. You can also express your intention to be kept in the loop when other employment opportunities arise with the company.

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Tips on Writing an Australian-Style CV

The curriculum vitae (CV) is the most important part of a productive job-search process. If you get it right, you will find every other element or aspect of the process easier. There is a unique work culture in every nation, which means country-specific requirements with resumes as well. The same goes for Australia too.

Therefore, when searching for jobs in Australia, you must use a resume suitable for the Australian style. You must know what to include in a resume to make it stand out from a sea of CVs out there. Ideally, you would like your CV to help set you apart from other candidates while leaving a good impression on employers in Australia. Now, you might wonder how to write a resume for Australia that ticks all the boxes, so to speak.

Table of Contents

• What Makes an Australian-Style Resume Unique?
• Australian CV Tips and Rules to Follow
• Do’s and Don’ts While Writing an Australian-Style Resume
• Frequently Asked Questions About Australian-Style Curriculum Vitae

What Makes an Australian-Style Resume Unique?  

The Australian CV format is unique with regard to some details, which might determine your odds of getting an instant callback from an employer. Now, what to include in a CV in Australia? We will cover those details later, but before that, let us first discuss some basics.

Resume Versus Curriculum Vitae

The words CV and resume mean the same thing in Australia. You may come across the term resume used more often in Australia, but if you do not, remember that it is synonymous with CV.

The Length of the Resume

It may be a good idea to keep your Australian resume concise, but that does not mean that it should only be a one-page document. You rarely see an Australian CV format with content on multiple pages. One page would suffice if you recently graduated or lack experience. As a professional, though, employers would usually expect you to present a resume consisting of one to two pages. Even in that case, be sure to keep the information in your resume concise because recruiters generally do not get much time to go through each curriculum vitae.

The Tone of Voice and Language in the Resume

There are language-related expectations from employers in Australia for resumes. When you apply for an employment position in Australia, be sure to use a resume written in proper Australian English. 

Also Read:   Data Science – The Most Popular Course Choice Among Students?

Australian CV Tips and Rules to Follow  

• Include Your Personal Details Carefully

As with your photograph, including personal details can make it more likely for employers to categorise you based on race, gender, appearance or age. To avoid that form of categorisation, present only the essential contact details such as your name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn ID, and residential address. Employers in Australia cannot demand extra information from candidates, such as their sexual preference and religion to name a few.

• Include a Career Summary or Objective

It may not be mandatory, but we recommend including a resume summary or objective in your CV. A career objective or resume objective should state what you want to achieve in the position or your career. It is especially good for a recent graduate or a person who seeks a career change. An example of a career objective is as follows:

Graduate in journalism and mass communication seeking a role as a full-time copywriter. Strong skills in English and a good understanding of editing.

A career summary or resume summary should highlight your experience and provide the employer with an idea about your expertise before learning more about both from your CV. It is good to use for a vastly experienced job-seeker. Here is an example of a career summary:

Seasoned copywriter with 5+ years of experience in copywriting. Helped build 6 successful news websites over the last 3 years.

• Detail Your Employment Experience

You should show the experience according to its relevance to the position you apply for and in the reverse chronological order. It is an order starting with your most recent occupation followed by the previous job, and so on. You should present the dates you started and ended the jobs, alongside a summary of your roles, responsibilities, and achievements. Highlight your achievements in the previous job in a quantifiable way when possible. This would show the employer how different you are from the other applicants.

If you show significant gaps in employment in your CV, you would have to explain those as well. Your interviewer would most probably ask you why you have not worked for those months or years. Be sure to have an explanation in mind because unexplained gaps in employment can act as a warning sign for an employer or recruiter.

Besides, it is always a good practice to include a few details about your previous employer as well. Keep reading for more tips on how to make a good resume in the Australian style.

• Use a Summary of Your Skills

Add a list of your skills that offers the employer or recruiter an idea about where you excel and what you can offer them. Besides hard skills, you may include soft skills in your CV, such as 'decision making' and 'leadership', but be sure that you can explain those claims as well. Don't forget to check the keywords or selection criteria in the Australian job posting , and highlight the skills relevant to that job.

• Mention Volunteer Experience

Do you have any experience working for a nonprofit organisation, a community group, an NGO, or a charitable organisation? If so, you should add this information to your CV, as recruiters would appreciate it. Most employers in Australia will show interest in your unpaid work experience, as it serves as proof of your transferable and initiative skills.

Recruiters can often regard volunteer experience as employment experience, particularly if it is associated with your profession and goes well with the period where you were unemployed. If that is the case, you could add it to the employment experience section of your resume.

• Mention Education

Graduates are in demand in Australia, so present your foreign degrees, diplomas or certificates, or other equivalent qualifications. You should present the qualifications that are relevant to that job in the reverse-chronological order. In other words, you should mention your latest qualification first, then the other most recent studies, and so on. Every single entry should include the name of your institute, the relevant dates of your course , your specialisation, and any awards or honours related to your educational history. Are you undertaking any additional course? If so, include that in your CV as well. Read further for more about how to write a CV in the Australian style.

• Use a Photograph Only If Required

If you are not applying for a position where your appearance matters the most (modelling, for example) you should exclude a photograph from the document. If the employer wishes you to add your photo to the resume, it would specify the same in advance. Read on for more tips about how to write a resume for Australia.

Include Your Own Section

You may add another relevant section to the resume if it makes sense for the job you apply for and you want to draw the recruiter's attention to something. For instance, if you apply for a creative job, the employer may value your exhibitions, hobbies, and extracurricular activities. Make sure that whatever you mention in this custom section is relevant to the position you apply for in Australia. 

Do's and Don'ts While Writing an Australian-Style Resume  

• Write Your Personal Statement in First Person

You should write your personal statement/resume summary in first person. The use of third-person narrative would make it uncomfortable for the reader and make it seem like another individual wrote the resume for you. That said, you should write only this part of your resume in first person. You should list out your achievements and responsibilities without the word 'I'.

• Be Wary of Spelling Mistakes

The use of misspelt words in a resume is a sign of a lack of focus. More than the words themselves, employers are likely to be concerned about the related case of oversight on your part. In other words, it might make them feel that you could overlook errors a lot of times at work. Therefore, you must run a spell check with a purpose-built tool that has more advanced features. It would also be helpful to ensure that your spellings are specific to Australian English (for example, specialisation instead of the American version - specialization).

• Avoid Bad Formatting

Recruiters usually cannot spend much time reading your CV, so be sure to present it logically and neatly, without any fancy colours, charts, graphs or fonts. You must choose the best font for the document, such as Calibri, Arial or Cambria. Remember, creating a resume in Australia is no art project!

• Avoid an Inappropriate File Name

The recruiter should be able to identify you from the name of the document itself. This would be important, especially if they should retrieve your resume from a big database or Inbox.Recruiters will always search resumes by name, so be sure to name your CV accordingly.

• Use an Appropriate Email Address

An email ID represents a personal brand, so choose a professional address for your job-related correspondence. Your email address should contain your first name and surname, should be easy to memorise, and should not contain any special character. 

  Frequently Asked Questions About Australian-Style Curriculum Vitae

How can i write a good australian cv.

You can use our guide in the form of a starting point because there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to resume building. Consider the industry you want to work for when writing a resume for a job in Australia. Do you have much industry-relevant experience? If so, you may wish to put the experience section before the education part in the document. 

Should I Put My Address on My Australian CV?

 Yes, you should, because it is a standard practice for resumes in Australia.

Can You Get a Job in Australia Without Work Experience?

 Yes, you can get a job in Australia without work experience. Upon saying that it will be difficult at first as most Australian companies would prefer to have someone with Australian work experience. Thus, you would need patience in finding your first job in Australia. Having volunteer experience in Australia is an excellent way to start as well. Aside from that, you can look for unpaid internships that your university or college offers if you are an international student.

How Do You Write a Resume for the First Time?

If you are writing a resume in Australia for the first time, you should use a specific format for the document. For instance, you can have the work experience section in the resume but with information about your projects, internships, and extracurricular activities. 

How Do I Make My Own Resume?

Yes, you can get a job in Australia without work experience. That said, it will be difficult at first as most Australian companies would prefer to have someone with Australian work experience. Thus, you would need patience in finding your first job in Australia. Having volunteer experience in Australia is an excellent way to start as well. Aside from that, you can look for unpaid internships that your university or college offers if you are an international student. 

Found it helpful? We can help you take it further. Contact us and get all your queries on PR, visas, migration, scholarships, and others answered today! 

About the author

AECC Australia

Related posts, top 6 tips in choosing the best migration agent, 5 job hunting tips for international graduates to get hired immediately, job hunting tips for international students, tips for international students about student accommodation, how to study data analytics courses in australia: tips and insights, australian migration trends in 2014-2015.

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How to Write Your First Resume as a High School Student

So, it’s time to write your first resume! You’re nervous and excited and probably asking yourself questions like “how do I write my first resume? “, “what do I include on my resume?” or even “what should a resume look like?”

Luckily for you, we’ve got this ultimate guide to writing your first resume so you can go out and nail your job hunting!

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in!

Contact Information Education Previous Work Experience Volunteering Leadership Roles Extra-curricular Activities Awards Skills Availability References

What Should Your First Resume Include?

1. Contact Information

Your contact information should include your:

• Mobile Phone Number
• Home Address
• Link to your LinkedIn profile (if you have one!)

Note: If you’ve still got an email that has an old nickname in it with a bunch of numbers or even your birthday using Hotmail, it’s probably time you made a new and more professional email account!

That means goodbye to [email protected] and hello [email protected] !

Try setting up your new email in Gmail or Outlook as no one really uses Hotmail anymore.

If you’ve got a common first name and surname that’s already been taken, try putting the initial of your middle name in it e.g. [email protected] or if that doesn’t work, initial your first name and middle name e.g. [email protected] .

Learn more about having a LinkedIn profile in high school ! You can also check out more about email etiquette .

2. Education

Here, you should mention what high school you go to and what year you’re in and the years you’ve been there – easy!

This might look something like: Smith College | 2015 – 2020

If you’ve already graduated from high school and you’re proud of your ATAR, you may want to include that here.

3. Previous Work Experience

If you did some work experience in Year 10, maybe had a summer holiday job or even have you own little side hustle, then now is the time to write it down in your first resume!

Make sure you mention the business’ name , what your position title was and the start and end date .

For example, you might stylise this as: Cashier | McDonald’s | February 2018 – September 2020

If you still currently work there, you can put February 2018 – present.

Here, you want to mention your title and underneath dot point or write a brief paragraph about what you did in your role, your key responsibilities and any skills you learned or refined through the job.

4. Volunteering

If you do any volunteering, such as at your place of worship, then list that down! Similar to what you’ve written for  Previous Work Experience , mention the  organisation’s name , the  name of your role , and  dot point or write a short paragraph about what you did within the organisation.

Volunteering looks great on resumes and it’s an easy way to impress employers, so don’t be afraid to show off in this section!

5. Leadership Roles

Were you a Prefect, House Captain, School Captain, or some other leader at your school?

Now’s the time to mention and write about it in your first resume! Here, you want to mention your title and underneath dot point or write a brief paragraph about what you did in your role e.g. any initiatives you started, fundraisers etc, your key responsibilities and any skills you learned or refined e.g. teamwork and communication.

6. Extra-curricular Activities

Have you ever stayed back after school to participate in activities or train for sports? Were some of your lunches spent attending meetings for your school’s Social Justice group or practising for choir?

Well, this section is all about the extra stuff  you do on top of your classes and even outside of school! If you participate in any sports , academic clubs , creative clubs , or even take exams for a musical instrument , list these activities through dot points.

Extra-curricular activities on your resume will show that you get involved in things and are well-rounded as a person!

Did you come first in any subjects? Were you Dux of your cohort? Or maybe you got a commendation award?

Now’s the time to mention any academic related awards , volunteering related awards , leadership awards or any spirit awards you may have received over the course of your time in high school! Try to choose the ones that are the most recent.

As an HSC student, you have excellent communication skills , as you’ve been practising written and oral communication all throughout school and now you’re an expert. Communication skills are essential to any area of the workforce you’re wanting to apply to so writing this on your resume is essential!

If you have any extra experience with communication e.g. you were an MC for a school event or attended a writing course, then you should add this as well.

Teamwork ! You’ve been doing group-work all throughout school, and potentially you’ve done team sports or organised a school/community event and you should be including this in your resume! This looks great to an employer because it is essential that employees get along and cooperate to give the best service possible.

You have great technological skills ! You might be like me and feel that technology was designed to make you look foolish… However, chances are you understand how to operate most computer programs, and if not, you’re able to quickly learn this!

In my part time job I was required to learn how to select items from a drop down menu and ensure that the codes matched exactly; I would then have to put the number of each item in. My 40-year-old boss warned me that it was “quite complicated,” however I learned it with ease, and so would most of you!

The point is that your technological skills are good enough to put them on your resume and if you have extra skills i.e. an excellent grasp of Photoshop , you can add this.

Showing initiative is an excellent skill to have on your resume. Employers are looking for someone who can think on their feet to solve problems , this is especially true for retail.

Interpersonal skills are also a good thing to add; the ability to relate to others is highly desirable to employers as it makes for a cohesive work environment, and in retail makes for good sales!

An ability to work under pressure is essential for most jobs, so it is a good idea to include this in your resume.

9. Availability

When going through your resume, employers will already be thinking about whether your availability will be suited to the needs of the company. Think about your schedule and how often you’d be able to work!

Then, list down the days and the times throughout those days that you’d be able to work. You might want to lay it out like this:

• Thursday: 4pm – 9pm
• Saturday: All day
• Sunday: All day

10. References

You don’t actually have to list references on your resume, but for some job applications, you may be asked to include them. Either way, be sure to have 2-3 references, their contact details (phone number and email), role and organisation e.g. Mentor, Art of Smart Education.

People you can have as references include teachers , any supervisors you’ve had for work experience , or adults who can vouch for any volunteering you’ve done. Be sure to ask your chosen references if they are happy to recommend you for jobs first!

If you choose not to include your references on your resume, you can simply write, “References available upon request”.

Tips for How to Write a Great First Resume

Tip #1: formatting is key.

How you format your resume is super important because if your resume doesn’t look good, or at least organised, no one is going to bother to read it . And then they won’t be able to tell how fantastic you are!

This means you should be using a uniform font – my font of choice has always been Georgia but any font is fine as long as it is clear and legible . Group favourites when I asked my colleagues what font they thought I should use included Calibri and Arial.

You should also have headings!

For each of the sections in your resume, such as  Work Experience  and Volunteering , you should list activities below each heading in reverse chronological order (from most recent to least recent). This ensures that the most relevant information is what your prospective employer will first see!

Short and sweet is key so your resume should be 1-2 pages (without enclosed references). If you aren’t a fan of how Microsoft Word can alter your entire document by moving one text box, try using the free online program Canva !

Here’s an example of how you might want to format your resume:

Tip #2: Tailor your resume to the type of job you are going for

While it’s easy to have a generic resume that you can submit for any job application, hiring managers would rather see experiences relevant and specific to the job they’ve advertised.

So, if you’re looking for a job in food service , highlight any previous experience or skills which would convey why you would be great in such a role ! For a role that involves working with children , highlight previous experiences such as babysitting – you get the gist.

My friend was applying for a job at Smiggle and used a rainbow design for her resume, in an attempt to cater to the organisation and it worked! However, most stores won’t love your rainbow resume and you should stick to just one colour (mine is navy!).

Tip #3: Always edit your resume!

Make sure your resume is free of any typos and grammatical errors ! If it  reads clearly and is  easily scannable , hiring managers won’t have any difficulty going through your resume and seeing if your skills match the needs of the company.

Keep it up to date too, by including your most recent achievements or experiences — so it accurately reflects you!

Need help with writing a great cover letter? Learn more about how to write a cover letter !

Now that you know how to write your first resume, you’re one step closer to landing a job!

If you’ve just finished your HSC and need some help with your job hunt, check out our guide to getting a job post-HSC !

Sophie Dyson  finished the HSC and then realised she needed to get a job,  fast.  Her dad helped her to draft a resume and she proceeded to walk around 4 different shopping centres handing out resumes with friends. This landed her with a Christmas Casual position which she greatly enjoyed, and online applications landed her an ushering gig and her internship at Art of Smart! Sophie wishes you the best of luck in your job hunting and reminds you to be patient when applying for jobs.

• Topics: 💼 Careers

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• How to write an Australian-...

How to write an Australian-style resume

On this page, keep it brief and simple, include your personal details, indicate your career profile, summarise your key skills, detail your work experience, include your education and qualifications.

Topics covered

Before you begin job hunting in Australia, it is essential that you prepare a professional resume that suits the Australian style. It’s important to make a resume that is not only suitable for use in Australia but creates a great impression on potential employers.

So, whether you’re a fresh graduate looking for your “big break” into the workforce, a student wanting to gain work experience, or a professional with years of experience under your belt, writing an “Aussie” style resume might just get you a step ahead of Australia’s competitive markets, particularly if you have an international background. Here’s what you need to know:

More likely known as a CV (Curriculum Vitae), a resume is designed to highlight your skills, experience and achievements. It would be wise to limit your resume to 1 to 2 pages so hiring managers can see easily what makes you a better candidate than others. More importantly, use a standard font style (i.e. Times Now Roman or Arial), neutral colours like black or grey, and bullet points for easy reading.

Your resume should contain all necessary personal details, such as your name, address, phone number, email address, nationality and languages spoken. Professional memberships and clubs, as well as hobbies and interests, are optional. Make sure to keep your email address professional-sounding, too. After all, your CV is a document that will help market yourself.

For fresh graduates, it is advisable to start your CV with a career objective to inform potential employers of what they can expect from you. It should be straightforward and directly speak about your qualifications and accomplishments.

As for professionals, it’s better to begin with a career overview to give hiring managers a preview of what they can find on your resume. This should include your professional and academic training and some information about your current job.

If you want to give recruiters a quick snapshot of what you can offer and be placed in the “yes” pile, summarise your key strengths and competencies that are relevant to the role you want to pursue. It will also be to your advantage to mention some personal traits.

When providing information about your previous jobs, begin with the most recent one. Indicate the organisation’s name, your position and dates of your employment. Describe your key responsibilities, projects completed and achievements.

Students who have completed a higher education are highly sought after in Australia, so this creates a great first impression among many employers. As such, indicate your certificates, diplomas or degrees attained – or their Australian equivalents. If you are currently taking up an additional qualification, include this information as well.

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Student visa (subclass 500)

Find out about the Student visa (subclass 500) including study types, work restrictions and fees.

This visa allows you to

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a course at an Australian education provider.

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in your application including your partner, child or partner’s child.

in Australia for the duration of your course (maximum five years) and travel in and out of Australia

up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course of study is in session. Students who have started a master's degree by research or Doctoral degree have no work hour limits.

Types of study covered

The student (subclass 500) visa allows you to study the following study types:

• higher education
• Vocational and Education Training (VET)
• pathway courses
• English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS)
• primary and secondary school
• secondary school exchange programs
• postgraduate research
• non-award courses (such as Study Abroad and Exchange semesters), and
• international students sponsored by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) or Defence.

You will need to enrol in a course at an Australian education or training provider first and then apply for a student visa after you have been issued a confirmation of enrolment (CoE) from the provider. For more information on applying for courses, visit the how to apply to study page.

Fees and processing time

In Australia, student visa fees are from AUD$1,600 per visa application* unless you are exempt. Australian student visa processing times vary from person to person. Visa processing times are available on the Department of Home Affairs website . You can also get tips on how to improve your processing time.

*Prices are correct at July 2024.

Student visa work restrictions

The number of work hours allowed during study terms and semesters is capped at 48 hours per fortnight. If you fail to comply with this visa condition, you may have your student visa cancelled.

Students who have already started their Master degree by research or Doctoral degree have no work hours limit.

Check the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO) to see the work conditions that apply to you.  

International students are protected by Australia's workplace laws. Find out more on our Working in Australia page.

Other Student visa conditions

There are some other important visa conditions that you need to take note of, including that you must:

• notify your education or training provider of your residential address within 7 days of arriving in Australia
• meet your course requirements, remain enrolled and maintain satisfactory attendance and course progression – tell your provider if you are sick or have any other issues that may affect your attendance
• maintain adequate health insurance for visa holders for the whole of your stay in Australia, and 
• not over-stay your visa period in Australia.

You can check your visa status and full list of conditions any time at the Department of Home Affairs Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO).

‘Course packaging’ on a Student visa (subclass 500)

You can apply to study two or more courses on your Student visa (subclass 500) where there is clear progression from one course to another. This is known as course packaging.

You will need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each course you plan to take. The final course that you will undertake as part of your package will be your main (or ‘principal’) course of study.

For your visa application, the Department of Home Affairs will use your main course of study to work out what:

• evidence of finances you need to provide
• English language skills are required.

If your visa application includes a package of courses, course gaps must be less than two calendar months. This gap can be longer (three to four months) if:

• the first course finishes at the end of the Australian academic year (November), and
• the following course starts at the beginning of the next academic year (February).

Standard visa grant periods apply to packaged courses. To find about more about the most popular pathway (or packaged study) options, visit our Pathways page.

Changes to onshore applications

From 1 July 2024, holders of certain visas , including Visitor, Temporary Graduate, and Maritime Crew visas, can no longer apply for Student visas while in Australia.

Student visa applicants with a genuine intention to pursue studies in Australia will still be able to apply for a Student visa from offshore (outside of Australia).

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Who can i contact if i have any questions about my visa.

The  Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO)  allows visa holders to check their visa conditions. 

If you have any questions, you can  contact the Department of Home Affairs .

What should I do if I cannot complete an English test, biometrics or health examination within the specified time frame?

Once a visa application is lodged, a decision can be made by the Department of Home Affairs at any time. If your application is incomplete, it may be refused. So, if you cannot complete any of these tests in time, please attach evidence of the steps you have taken to your application in  ImmiAccount . For more information,  visit the Department of Home Affairs website .

How long before the commencement date can I lodge a visa application?

You can submit your student visa application at any time. However, it is recommended that you check the current processing times before you lodge and allow enough time for processing before your planned arrival date. 

My Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) has changed since I lodged my visa application. Do I need to tell the Department of Home Affairs?

If you already hold a student visa, your education provider will provide the Department of Home Affairs with your new CoE. However, if your student visa application is still being assessed by the Department of Home Affairs, you should attach your new CoE to your student visa application through ImmiAccount as soon as possible.

If your new CoE is for study at a lower AQF course level, you may need to apply for a new student visa. The Australian Qualification Framework sets course levels. 

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Presenting your CV for Australian Visa application

If you’re thinking of migrating to Australia, you’ll need to obtain an Australian Visa in order to work. In order to maximise your chances of success, we’ve put together some “need to know” points about presenting your CV for Australian Visa applications.

Remember, it isn’t a job application.

When you’re applying for a Visa, your CV should focus on facts that you can prove, that will show you meet the eligibility criteria for the Visa you’re applying for.

What to include:

Dates: When applying for a Visa, all dates must be provided in DD/MM/YYYY format.

Supplying accurate dates in this format is essential for data entry into governmental systems, and calculating eligibility for different things such as work experience, and things relevant to the number of years of experience you have.

Exact Employment and Education History:

Being exact with your employment history is important for use when the government is determining eligibility for skill based visas. Here’s what you need to include:

*Specific dates for commencement and termination of employment and qualifications (including whether your qualification was full or part time, and the length of study.)

* A short overview of your job positions, with a list of tasks

* Your country of employment and education.

Outcomes of English Tests:

These are critical for a large number of Australian Visas. If you have any result, list:

* The name of test, e.g. IELTS or OET.

* The date of the test report

* The results for each individually part of the test (speaking, reading, writing and listening), not just your overall score.

Outcomes of Skill Assessments:

This will only be relevant if you have had your skills assessed for the purpose of migration, but if you have include all details such as:

* The name and ANZSCO occupation assessed.

* The name of the assessing authority

* The date of outcome, and whether the outcome was positive or negative

Licences and Registration:

List all details of any licenses and registration you have, such as:

* Which occupation is licensed or registered

* The name of licence or registration

* The date it was awarded, and whether it’s current

* The country of award

Just like with work CVs, there are things you shouldn’t include. Such as:

Your personal statement, and career goals: Just stick to the things listed above; they don’t need to know about your career goals, what you like to do in your free time, or what your referees think of you.

Improper formatting isn’t acceptable; you need to format your CV like the professional document it is. Be consistent, and present your CV professionally. You don’t want to risk the Department of Immigration thinking you’re not what you say you are.

The main thing to include is PROOF.

What your CV should be doing is proving that you meet the eligibility requirements for an Australian Visa.

Make sure that everything on your CV that you’re using to support your Visa application is completely accurate and you have supporting documents; you will need to provide evidence and prove all of your claims.

If you make statements that are found to be false or misleading then you may find your Visa application refused, and have a three year ban placed on further applications.

Posted by: Sheila Woods

A very experienced migration agent, Sheila has always been fascinated by this field. Her university degree thesis was on Australia’s post-war immigration history (and it earned her first-class honours).

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Top 10 tips for writing your first resumé

Careers Published 10 Jul, 2023  ·  7-minute read

Wondering how to make a resumé for your first job? We share our best resumé-writing tips with expert advice from a member of UQ's Student Enrichment and Employability Development team.

Is there anything more intimidating than a blank Word document?

Probably. But it’s pretty high on the list – especially when you need that doc to get you a job.

You have to:

• make a good first impression
• summarise your education and experience
• showcase your talents and abilities
• convince an employer you deserve an interview .

And you need to do all this with just one or two A4 pages.

Hey, nobody said it was easy. But it might not be as hard as it sounds. A couple of resumé-writing tips can help you turn that scary empty page into a CV* that gets you a job. ( *We’ll be using ‘resumé’ and ‘CV’ interchangeably in this article ).

We spoke with Madelaine-Marie Judd , Service Improvement Manager (Careers) at UQ, to compile this list of tips on what to put on a resumé for a first job and beyond.

1. Tailor your resumé to the job

A classic mistake people make is writing their first resumé and then just submitting it as is for each application. For a better chance of success, you should tailor your CV to suit the job description and match any keywords from the ad.

According to Madelaine-Marie, the first step is to review the duties and selection criteria to make sure you’re a good fit for the role.

“Ensure the roles and responsibilities that you detail in the Experience section align to these criteria,” she says.

“This shows the employer that you’re engaged and have an understanding of what they’re looking for – you!”

2. Structure your resumé with signposts

A clear, logical structure is vital for your CV. Your first resumé template should be clearly signposted, using subheadings ( Education, Experience, Referees ) to organise your content and guide the reader.

This is one of Madelaine-Marie’s top tips for writing your first resumé because a confusing layout means a potential employer won’t even read your details – no matter how good they are. Plus, if you get your structure right in your first resumé, you’ll have a great template to use for future versions.

3. Use full sentences

Don’t shy away from going into detail, even if you’re using dot points (which are great for structuring your CV, btw). This is particularly true for the Experience section of your resumé.

“Rather than just listing a couple of words to describe what you did in previous roles, include full sentences to describe the what and the why ,” says Madelaine-Marie.

Here's an example on how to write your first resumé:

• Instead of Working in a team , you might say: “I adapted my work style to suit my co-workers and contributed to a positive team culture.”
• Instead of Roster management , you might say: “I coordinated the team’s work hours to ensure sufficient staffing at key times.”
• Instead of Customer service , you might say: “I ensured all customers were satisfied by being attentive, helpful and friendly at all times.”

This approach shows that you don’t just have the capabilities. You also understand how to use them and why they make you a valuable employee.

4. Be conscious of your design elements

If you’re a visual person, you might start with the layout of your resumé or spend a lot of time making it look good. And that’s great – a strong aesthetic can indeed help you stand out from the pool of candidates.

But be careful. Dedicating too much space to graphics can make it tough to include all your information.

“For some positions, there may be a cap of one or two pages for a resumé,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“You need to ensure you have enough space to convey the depth and range of experiences that have shaped you.”

It can take time to find the right balance between text and graphics. It’s also possible that your resumé will go through recruitment software that won’t translate your graphics properly. So, always prioritise making room for the details you need employers to know.

Did you know? You can purchase first resumé templates on websites like Etsy or Creative Market to give your CV that little extra something it needs to stand out in the crowd. You can also use free tools like Canva to create your own personal branding.

5. Don’t neglect your experience (even if it’s not work experience)

Since we’re looking at tips for writing your first resumé, we asked Madelaine-Marie what she would suggest for people who have limited work experience (or none at all).

Is there a way to compensate for not having many (or any) jobs on your CV?

Well, yes, there is.

Resumé-writing tips for students with no work experience

“One of the most common mistakes is not including valuable experiences such as extra-curricular activities in the Experience section,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“These types of activities are incredibly meaningful and help create a conversation starter during interviews .”

Once you’re in uni, there’s a whole world of extra-curricular activities you can explore that will look great on your CV:

• work-integrated learning placements
• student-staff partnership projects
• internships
• volunteering
• representing your uni as an ambassador.

But there are plenty of opportunities during high school too. Perhaps you’ve:

• represented your school at an external event
• been elected for a student leadership position
• participated in an academic club (e.g. debating)
• taken part in another extra-curricular activity that demonstrates your positive attitude and abilities.

Whatever these activities might be, include them.

“Employers understand and appreciate that experience can take shape in many different forms.”

Resumé-writing tips for students with some work experience

If you’ve had a paid casual job, don’t you dare leave it off your resumé – even if it doesn’t seem relevant to the jobs you want.

“Paid casual jobs, such as in hospitality or retail, are incredibly important to include in your resumé,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“There may not be a direct correlation between the job you’re seeking and your casual role. But this experience may demonstrate your ability to manage competing demands ( study, extra-curricular and work ) and work in a team environment. These are transferrable skills that are in demand in every industry.”

6. Ask a friend or family member to review it

Writing about yourself can be tough. You may forget to include attributes and skills that are obvious to the people who know you best. This is why asking a close friend or family member to peer-review your resumé is a great idea.

Make sure to share the specific job description with them, so they know what you’re applying for. Ask for constructive feedback/ideas for improvement and keep an open mind to their suggestions.

Your family member or friend may even provide the extra pair of eyes needed to spot a crucial typo (see resumé-writing tip #9 below).

7. Ask a mentor or teacher to review it

Your friend or family member is a great starting point for feedback, but they may not have the experience to pick up every important detail. This is where a trusted teacher or mentor can help. This person may be able to look more objectively at your draft and is less likely to hold back with their feedback.

If nobody comes straight to mind to fill this role for you, consider which of your teachers you might feel comfortable asking for their opinion.

Did you know? At UQ, we have a huge range of resources to help students tailor their resumé and cover letter to apply for a job. From checklists to tips and workshops , we're committed to helping our students land their dream job.

8. List your education and experience in reverse chronological order

This resumé-writing tip is obvious to some but not to everyone.

If you’re not quite sure, think of it this way: will your potential employer care more about what you’ve done in the last year or what you did three years ago?

Yep, exactly. Lead with your most recent awards, experiences and educational achievements. This helps your interviewer ask about the things you’ll remember in detail – and it gives them a clear picture of who you are today.

9. Pay attention to spelling and formatting

Look, you’re probably not applying to write articles for the UQ Study website (please don’t; the role is taken). But you should still take care with the spelling, grammar and formatting on your resumé – even if writing isn’t an explicit part of the role.

These aspects of your CV speak to your attention to detail, which is highly valued in any profession. While the reader might not necessarily appreciate if everything is correct and well-presented, they’ll almost certainly notice if you’ve misspelt their name or their business’s name, used the wrong ‘there’ or put no effort into formatting your text consistently.

So, spend 10 minutes after you’re done to check for typos and clean up your font sizes. It’s worth the extra time.

10. Don’t let your resumé stand alone

If you follow all nine of these tips for writing a good CV, you should end up with a solid resumé. But your resumé doesn’t want to do all the work for you – and it shouldn’t have to. It’s only one part of the overall application process.

A good application includes a cover letter that complements your resumé and sometimes a separate response to selection criteria. Even then, a resumé can only get you so far, no matter how amazing it is. You’ll need to be interview-ready to seal the deal as well.

Luckily, moving from high school to uni leads to heaps of opportunities to develop your dream career path. For example, at UQ, we have several teams dedicated to enhancing your employability . This includes having experts like Madelaine-Marie available to support and empower you to develop the capabilities required to navigate the working world.

If you join us to study, we look forward to supporting you in enhancing your employability. In the meantime, we hope these top tips for resumé-writing have helped you show that blank Word document who’s boss.

Looking for more tips and tricks on how you can increase your employability and map out a clear career path while studying? Read up on how you can prepare for your future career at UQ .

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Curriculum Vitae (CV)

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Each step of an average admission process is so designed that it provides the complete picture about the candidate applying for the university. Of all of the procedures, the one that's easiest to complete, but also the one that carries the most weight is the Curriculum Vitae or the CV. A CV is just a plain record of all your accomplishments presented on a piece of paper (two at most.) Since you're applying to a prestigious university and the task is quite simple, it can be quite daunting, leading one to procrastinate it to the end. Once one finds enough motivation to begin the task, one notices that there isn't much to writing a CV. All it takes is a knack to present yourself in such a way that the admission officer would want to skim all the way through to the end of the document.

The first thing to remember while writing a CV is that this is not the place for modesty. While it might do you well in real life, it does not bode well to be modest if you want to attract the attention of the university that thousands of similarly, if not more, qualified people are applying to. The basic contents of a CV are listed underneath

• Full name of the candidate in clearly visible size and font
• Address and contact number of the candidate
• Short-term goals during the time you would be at the college (Optional)
• Academic qualifications in reverse chronological order (Recent first and earliest last)
• Work experience/summer programs
• Other courses that you have done
• Co-curricular activities
• Extra-curricular activities including but not limited to volunteering work carried on etc.
• Other skills you have acquired
• Recommendations from any professors you have

Do's and Don't's of writing a CV

A CV highlights a list of your accomplishments. It is your chance to showcase and impress the admission officer. While not possessing such a descriptive chance to impress the officer as with an SOP, a CV is really concise. As metioned before, do not shy from mentioning your achievements. If you've score #3 in your class in graduation, feel free to include that as well. Many times you'll be surprised as to what matters while the officer is examining your CV. While your academic qualifications maybe mentioned chronologically, mention the other activities that you've done in the order that you believe important, whether or not actually chronological.

There is no need to type out full sentences in a CV. In all likelihood, the officer is going to skim over to key words. So it is better to give him just the key words. Be sure to use action words. For example, always prefer "Presented Research paper titled Gen Y: Workplace Productivity Conundrum at an International Conference in Mysore" over the whole thing typed out grammatically.

If you've done any college level courses during your high school or attained any other diplomas while doing your graduation, make sure to highlight them. Never use abbreviations where you can use the full form. Always assume that the officer would not know the abbreviation. Sit down and rack your brain to understand what you've done. While on the surface it seems like you haven't done much, you'd be surprised at how much pops up once you've sat down and jotted down everything you think could go onto your CV. Always remember that details from your High School only count. Please don't go around including achievements from your primary school or your middle school. The only exception is if the achievement was for a prolonged period such as doing an NCC Camp (Boy/girl scouts) etc.

Once you feel you have enough on it, work on organising it. Most CVs are made or unmade in major part by the presentation. Presentation shows clarity of thought. It helps the officer understand what you want to tell him and in most cases, makes the work of analysing your CV easier, and in a way you'd want him to analyse. In case you have a lot of things to put on the CV, always put the ones with more importance attached to them. It is important to catch the officer's eye with those first three achievements. That's going to determine whether or not he's going to read through the rest. Always remember to try to keep the CV to one page. But if you feel that it is going cross one page, make sure that at least half of the second page is full. Don't mail or send via post a CV with only quarter of the second page filled, and that too with unimportant descriptions about something lost in the last lines of the first page. The top of a second page always attracts attention. So make sure you type your CV out that way.

If you feel that second page is not enough too, and that it's going to the third page, re-evaluate your CV to trim it down to two pages. It is ideal to keep a CV within two pages. You have two ideal spots- one at the beginning of the accomplishments, and one at the start of the second page. Make sure you utilise them to your maximum benefit. While modesty is certainly not the word of the day here, exaggerating your accomplishments makes the CV look shallow. Don't embellish your achievements. Keep it simple, but don't downplay them

Always use bullet points. Bullets make the language seem more concise. Avoid using personal pronouns. Abstract subject language psychologically adds weight to your CV. For example, don't write, "I have excellent research skills." Instead type, "Received general acclaim to three papers published in national conferences." Always group relevant information together. Don't seem all over the place. It is important so that the admission officer will have a clear picture of each and every aspect of your achievement. And most importantly, always proof-read, rewrite, edit and repeat before sending it.

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