Australian Resume Format: Tips, Examples, & Templates
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What to Expect
- Australian resumes are typically around two pages, although length varies based on your experience and the role.
- A strong Australian resume uses a clean, professional format with clear headings, relevant keywords, and an ATS-friendly layout.
- Australian resumes should use Australian English and focus on relevant skills, experience, qualifications, and achievements.
- Most Australian resumes include contact information, a professional summary, skills, work experience, and education, with optional sections added when relevant.
- Australian resumes generally don’t need personal details, such as age, marital status, religion, or a photo.
When applying for jobs in Australia, your resume should follow local conventions while clearly presenting the skills, experience, and qualifications most relevant to the role. While Australian and U.S. resumes share many similarities, differences in length, language, and personal information can matter when applying for jobs in Australia.
This guide explains Australian resume format best practices, including what to include, how to structure and format your resume, and how to tailor it for Australian employers.
What Makes Australian Resumes Unique?
In many ways, Australian resumes and U.S. resumes are similar, with a few differences in content and structure. Here’s what to know when adapting your resume for Australian employers:
Resume vs CV Terminology in Australia
In Australia, “resume” and “CV” are often used interchangeably, although “resume” is generally more common. In some contexts, “CV” may refer to a longer, more detailed document, particularly for academic, research, or specialized roles.
In the U.S., “resume” and “CV” refer to distinct documents, with CVs used only for academic, research, medical, and highly specialized positions.
Explore our guide to CVs vs resumes for more details on how these two documents differ.
Typical Australian Resume Length
One common difference between U.S. and Australian resumes is their length. While a one-page resume is common in the States, Australian resumes are often around two pages, although they may be longer depending on your experience and the role.
The exact length of your Australian resume will depend on your professional background and years of experience. As a general guide:
- University students or recent graduates: 1–2 pages
- Early career or mid-level professionals: Around 2 pages
- Senior or executive-level professionals: 2–3+ pages when additional detail is relevant
Ultimately, relevance matters more than reaching a specific page count. Focus on the experience and qualifications that demonstrate your fit for the job rather than adding content simply to make your resume longer.
Australian English Spelling & Vocabulary
Follow Australian English spelling and vocabulary conventions to align your resume with local expectations. Here are a few examples of how Australian English differs from American English:
Spelling
- American English: “color,” “center,” “realize”
- Australian English: “colour,” “centre,” “realise”
Vocabulary
- American English: “elevator,” “apartment,” “gasoline”
- Australian English: “lift,” “flat,” “petrol”
Units of Measurement
- American English: “miles,” “pounds,” “quarts”
- Australian English: “kilometres,” “kilograms,” “litres”
Explore variations in industry terminology that may apply to you. For example, in Australia, the legal system is influenced by British common law, and terms like “barrister” and “solicitor” are commonly used. In contrast, in the U.S., “attorney” or “lawyer” is more prevalent.
Australian Resume Format Best Practices
A strong Australian resume format is clean, professional, easy to scan, and compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS). Use straightforward formatting that keeps the focus on your qualifications and makes important information easy for employers to find.
Here are a few formatting tips to keep in mind while you write your resume:
- Use a professional resume font. The Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations recommends Calibri or Arial at 11-point size as good options.
- Set your document margins to 1 inch on all sides. If you need additional space, you can reduce the margin size, but it should not go below half an inch.
- Use single spacing throughout your document, or up to 1.5 spacing to enhance readability. Additional white space makes your resume easy to scan.
- To create an ATS-friendly resume, avoid complex images, tables, or graphics that can confuse ATS software.
- If you plan to print your resume, use A4 (8.3” x 11.7”) paper size rather than U.S. letter (8” x 11”) paper size.
You can use one of our resume templates to easily create a polished resume that aligns with the expectations of recruiters and hiring managers in your industry.
Australian Resume Templates
Explore the resume templates for Australian roles below and easily customize them with our Resume Builder to include the skills and experience that align with your target role.
These examples are one page long, but your finished resume may be longer, depending on your experience and the role’s requirements.
Construction Manager Resume
Registered Nurse Resume
Software Engineer Resume
Choose an Australian resume template with a clear structure that gives your most relevant qualifications plenty of space. You can also browse our library of resume examples for additional samples built by professional graphic designers.
What to Include in an Australian Resume
Learn how to write an Australian resume and what to include in each section to stand out from local and international candidates.
Contact Information
Your Australian resume should include a header with your full name, email address, and phone number, including the international dialing code.
You generally don’t need to include personal information, such as your age, marital status, religion, or nationality. Australian government guidance for migrants recommends limiting personal information to your name and contact details and focusing instead on information relevant to the position.
If you haven’t yet established residence in Australia, you can also make it clear that you’re relocating or open to relocation.
Here’s an example header for an applicant who is relocating to New South Wales:
Lucy Garcia
lgarcia@email.com | +1 (555) 555-555 | WA, USA (*Relocating to NSW, AU)
Professional Summary
Include a three- to five-sentence resume summary at the top of your Australian resume. Your summary should highlight the key qualifications that make you an excellent fit for the role.
Tailor your resume to the role by highlighting skills and qualifications that directly relate to the job description. Here’s an example:
Results-oriented marketing professional with over 5 years of experience developing and executing successful digital marketing campaigns. Skilled in SEO, SEM, social media marketing, email marketing, and content creation. Proven track record of driving brand awareness, customer engagement, and revenue growth through strategic planning and innovative marketing strategies.
Keep your summary confident but specific. Rather than relying on broad adjectives, such as “exceptional” or “outstanding,” use concrete skills, experience, and achievements to demonstrate your value. For instance, the sample above uses “proven track record” and then identifies the candidate’s relevant marketing expertise.
Skills Section
Ensure that your resume skills section features job-relevant skills that accurately describe your capabilities. Australian government job-seeker guidance emphasizes identifying and highlighting the skills and qualifications most relevant to the role.
Consider including skills such as:
- Teamwork
- Organizational skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Communication skills
- Creativity and initiative
Remember to balance hard skills (e.g., Google Analytics and A/B testing) with soft skills (e.g., cross-functional collaboration and creative problem-solving).
Here’s an example skills section for a digital marketing position:
SKILLS
- A/B testing
- Google Analytics
- Social media marketing
- Content strategy development
- Campaign planning and execution
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Creative problem-solving
Work Experience
The work experience section on an Australian resume can be more detailed than a U.S. resume. Australian employers often appreciate comprehensive information about a candidate’s work history, responsibilities, and achievements.
Most Australian resumes use a chronological format, listing work experience in reverse-chronological order, beginning with the most recent role.
If you think the hiring manager won’t be familiar with the company names, you can provide a short blurb for each. For example:
WORK EXPERIENCE
Marketing Manager | Feb 2026–Present
BrightWave Corporation, Seattle, WA
BrightWave Corporation is a leading technology company specializing in software development and digital solutions for businesses worldwide.
- Led a team of 5 marketing professionals in developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies to increase brand awareness and drive lead generation.
- Implemented targeted digital marketing campaigns that resulted in a 30% increase in website traffic and a 25% increase in qualified leads.
- Managed the company’s social media presence, including content creation, community engagement, and advertising, leading to a 50% growth in followers.
In the example above, you’ll also notice that the job seeker uses strong action verbs to describe their responsibilities (“led,” “implemented,” and “managed”). Action verbs reduce wordiness and convey confidence.
Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with specific numbers or percentages to demonstrate the impact of your work. For example, instead of saying “Increased sales,” you could say “Increased sales by 20% in 6 months.”
Education
Include an education section on your resume that clearly lists relevant degrees, qualifications, training, or credentials. Workforce Australia recommends including your education history, qualifications, and relevant licenses as core resume information.
Here’s an example:
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California, Los Angeles – Los Angeles, CA
Optional Sections
Adding optional sections to your Australian resume can help you stand out. Consider adding one or more of the following bonus sections to your resume if they further highlight your fit for the role:
- Volunteer work to demonstrate your passion, values, and commitment
- Awards to distinguish you as an exceptional job candidate
- Hobbies to provide a glimpse into your personality and relevant side projects
Share Your Career Story
Key Takeaways
- Tailor your resume to every Australian job posting, prioritizing the skills, experience, and keywords the employer identifies as important.
- Use a clean, ATS-friendly format with readable fonts, clear section headings, and limited graphics or complex design elements.
- Localize your application by using Australian English and focusing on relevant professional information rather than unnecessary personal details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a good resume look like in 2026 Australia?
A good Australian resume in 2026 has a clean, professional layout that makes your skills, experience, and qualifications easy to scan. Aim for around two pages, though the length may vary based on your experience. Use clear headings, a readable font, Australian English, relevant keywords from the job ad, and a simple design that works well with ATS software.
Do Australians call it a CV or a resume?
Australians use both “CV” and “resume,” and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Resume is generally the more common term among Australian employers. A CV may also refer to a longer, more detailed document, particularly for academic, research, or specialized roles.
Does Australia use ATS for resumes?
Yes, many Australian employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to organize, search, and screen job applications. ATS use is particularly common among larger employers receiving high volumes of applications. To create an ATS-friendly resume, use straightforward formatting, recognizable section headings, and relevant keywords from the job description while avoiding unnecessary graphics, tables, and text boxes.
What is the best CV template for Australia?
A strong CV or resume template for Australia uses a simple, professional layout with clearly labeled sections for contact information, skills, work experience, and education. Choose a template that’s easy for employers to scan, and customize it for each job.
How should an Australian resume look?
An Australian resume should look clean, organized, and professional, with consistent formatting and plenty of white space. Use clear headings, bullet points, and an easy-to-read font, such as Arial or Calibri. Keep the design relatively simple, so both recruiters and ATS can quickly identify your qualifications.
Should an Australian resume include references?
References, or “referees,” are commonly requested during the Australian hiring process, but requirements can vary by employer. Instead of listing references on your resume, Workforce Australia recommends including referee contact details and getting each referee’s permission first. If you prefer not to place contact details directly on your resume, follow the employer’s application instructions and have a separate referee list ready when requested.
Should I add a photo to my Australian resume?
No, you generally don’t need to add a photo to an Australian resume. Focus on your skills, experience, education, and qualifications rather than your appearance or other unnecessary personal information. A professional photo may still be appropriate for a LinkedIn profile or portfolio when relevant to your field.
How do I write a resume with no work experience in Australia?
When writing a resume without experience, focus on education, volunteer work, projects, extracurricular activities, and transferable skills that demonstrate your ability to succeed in the role. Tailor these experiences to the job description and highlight skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. Include any relevant U.S. or international work experience as well.
How We Reviewed This Article
Since 2012, we have helped more than 11 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
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Australian Resume
Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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