How To Write An Australian Resume (CV)

To get a job in Australia you will most likely need a CV highlighting your skills & attributes relating to the work. They may look different in your home country, so we have noted down some important tips for making your CV ... Australian. Does your resume, make the cut?

Layout
Tailoring
Get Seen
Example CV

The only way to do great work is to love what you do!

Layout

First things first is deciding on a layout, the simpler the better. No need for fancy colours, photos or extravagant designs. Either write it on a word doc (or google doc) or use a template from Canva or Express CV to make it stand out (just don’t go OTT)

Make sure you have Australian contact details - this one is super important. Most employers are looking for someone to start relatively quickly. If they cannot get hold of you then you may miss a great opportunity. An Australian phone number is a minimum recruiters expect, having an email and an Australian address (even your hostel address) will also help in your application.

Tailoring

Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. You may be applying for a variety of different roles and parts of your CV may be irrelevant to that employer, for example; a restaurant manager doesn't need to know that you worked as a painter in your previous job. Instead you could highlight just your hospitality experience. If you have none, then it might be worth mentioning other relevant skills you’ve picked up in your life such as customer service roles. If you are applying for numerous industries, you may need to make 2 or 3 different CV’s to match each position.

Get Seen

Finally getting it in front of people - make sure when you complete your CV to save it in PDF format for when you have to send it electronically. This will prevent the format from changing when it's sent. If you are going to go and hand it out personally, dress smart, try to speak to the manager if possible and present yourself as you would on an interview as you may end up getting interviewed on the spot. Print at least 20 resumes for when you walk around. You can always grab more if you run out. Go to office works or your local library to make prints

What information should be on my CV?

How you arrange the information on your CV is up to you, however, we recommend having your most recent experience or education first as a general rule and try to keep it to one page. Do not go over 2 pages...if you are applying for a specialized role and you need to go into specifics, just keep it relevant, however for things like construction or hospitality, going over one page could seem excessive and probably won't get read. It is your choice whether you want to add a photo, however, it is not necessary. Your age on your CV is not recommended.

Resume (CV) Template

Add a small snippet about you

Include any qualifications and certificates that are relevant or transferrable to the position

Specify any additional languages you speak

Include clear contact information

Include contact info for references

Hospitality

Include your employment history with some details about your main responsibilities

Make sure the name and dates of employment are correct

Include a list of your relevant technical and personal skills

Including hobbies shows a little about your personality , and is optional but recommended

layout

tailor

getseen

Example CV