Complete Australian Resume Guide

1. Australian Resume Basics

In Australia, both "CV" and "resume" are used — the terms are interchangeable. The document format is 2–3 pages for most professionals, following single-column layout conventions that are compatible with Australian ATS systems.

Australian employers generally value specific evidence of scope and impact. Use genuine numbers where you know them, but a precise factual description is better than an estimated or invented metric.

2. Format and Layout

3. Quantification — Use Real Evidence

Strong Australian resumes use specific evidence rather than generic duty lists. Quantify achievements where you genuinely have a defensible number, but do not invent a metric simply to make a bullet look stronger.

Examples of strong AU resume bullet points:

• "Led a cross-functional team of 14 across three states to deliver a $6.8M CRM implementation, on schedule and 4% under budget."
• "Reduced customer complaint resolution time from 8.4 days to 2.1 days through process redesign, increasing NPS from 42 to 71."
• "Managed a $2.3M annual marketing budget across 6 channels, generating $14.2M in attributed revenue — an ROI of 517%."

If a genuine number exists — for example team size, project value, timeframe, volume or a measured outcome — use it. If you do not know a number, describe the responsibility or result specifically without estimating one.

4. Australian ATS Systems

Recruitment platforms differ, but a simple single-column document with standard headings and selectable text is a conservative choice that also reads well for recruiters.

5. Keywords for AU Applications

Use important vacancy terminology where it truthfully describes your experience. Natural synonyms are fine; the goal is accurate alignment, not mechanical keyword repetition.

For government roles (Commonwealth and state), the selection criteria are typically published with the job listing. Address each criterion explicitly in your cover letter or selection criteria response — these are assessed separately from your resume.

6. Section by Section

Contact details: Name, phone (AU format: +61 4xx xxx xxx or 04xx xxx xxx), email, city and state, LinkedIn URL, visa/work rights status if applicable. No date of birth, nationality, or marital status.

Professional summary: 3–4 sentences. Professional identity + key strengths + most impressive credential. Tailored to each role.

Key skills: A concise list of genuinely supported skills that are relevant to the role.

Work experience: Reverse chronological. Use concise evidence-led bullets; quantify only where genuine figures are available.

Education: Qualification, institution, year. Australian qualifications first if dual-country experience.

References: "References available on request" or include 2 professional referees.

7. What NOT to Include in an AU Resume

• Date of birth or age
• Nationality or country of origin
• Marital status
• Photo (unless specifically requested)
• Salary expectations
• Tables, text boxes, or graphics
• More than 4 pages

8. AU vs NZ — Key Differences

Australian and New Zealand resumes are more similar than different. If you are moving from NZ to AU, review terminology, work-rights context and role-specific evidence rather than forcing metrics into every bullet.

The file naming convention also differs: NZ uses FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf; AU uses FirstName-LastName-Resume.docx (signals AU-local awareness).

9. Australian Job Boards

• SEEK.com.au: A major Australian job platform used across many industries and experience levels.
• LinkedIn: Essential for professional and management roles. Strong recruiter activity.
• Indeed.com.au: Broad aggregator. Useful secondary platform.
• CareerOne: Established AU-specific board. Strong in certain sectors.
• APSjobs.gov.au: Australian Public Service (federal government) roles.
• State government portals: Each state has a dedicated government jobs site.

10. AU Cover Letter Basics

Keep the cover letter concise, professional and direct, using Australian English. Select a few relevant achievements and quantify them only where genuine, defensible figures are available.

For government roles, address each published selection criterion separately, either in the cover letter or a separate selection criteria response document.