Australian resume vs CV: how to write one employers here expect

In Australia, “resume” and “CV” mean the same thing. What goes on one may be different from what you’re used to, though, and a resume written for another country can quietly count against you. Here’s how to write one that fits.

Leave these off

According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, you don’t need to include personal details such as:

• your date of birth
• a photo
• your sex or gender
• your marital status
• where you live

If those are standard where you come from, take them out. Your resume should be about what you can do.

Put these in

1. Contact details. Your name, an Australian mobile number if you have one, and your email.
2. A short summary. Study Australia suggests two or three sentences, or three or four bullet points, on your goals and skills.
3. Your visa status and work rights. Study Australia recommends stating your visa type, its expiry and any work limits, so employers know you can legally work here. If you’re a permanent resident, say so.
4. Work history, most recent first. Company, location, dates, what you did and what you achieved. If an employer isn’t well known here, add a few words on what it does and how big it is.
5. Education. Course, institution and dates. If your qualification has been assessed or recognised in Australia, say so.
6. Skills. Technical skills and software, plus languages you speak.
7. Referees. The Human Rights Commission says two is the usual minimum. You can list their details or write “available on request”, and always ask them first.

Keep it short and local

• Length: two pages or less if you can, according to the Human Rights Commission.
• Spelling: use Australian English (organise, colour, centre).
• Translate the jargon: swap job titles, grades or acronyms that only make sense at home for plain descriptions.
• Tailor it: adjust your summary and top achievements for each job, using words from the job ad.

Before you hit send

Struggling to get past “no local experience”? Read finding work in Australia.