Last updated: January 9th, 2025
Applying for jobs in Australia can be challenging, especially if you’re not sure what the hiring process looks like, what an Australian resume should include, and if you don’t have any great Australian resume examples to learn from.
Yet, we’re at the starting blocks of 2025 – and despite the lowest unemployment in history, competition for the best Australian jobs is tough.
Below, you’ll find Australian resume examples, resume templates and guidelines designed to help you meet the expectations of Australian recruiters and hiring managers.
9 Role-Specific Australian Resume Examples.
Start by checking whether the role-specific resume examples below match the role you’re applying for. If you don’t find one, scroll down to see a universal example that will suit any role.
Lawyer Resume Example
Accountant Resume Example
Graduate Resume Example
Customer Service Resume Example
Business Analyst Resume Example
Executive Chef Resume Example
Hospitality Manager Resume Example
IT Project Manager Resume Example
Registered Nurse Resume Example
Universal Australian Resume Example.
You can use the resume example below to apply for any role. This resume does everything right. It’s the perfect resume for the Australian job market.
Above: Don’t be scared. You’ll be able to write a resume just like this by the time you finish this article.
I’ll guide you through this resume example step by step, explaining why it works and how you can create one just like it.
Page 1 Resume Example (+ Writing Guide).
Above: Note the abundance of white space. I use it to create a clear hierarchy of information and a friendly, approachable feel.
The first page of your resume makes or breaks your job prospects. No pressure!
In most cases, it will contain a headline, your professional profile, employment summary and key skills. Here’s how to get them right.
1. Your Headline.
The headline on a resume typically appears under your name, and is essentially your tagline.
Match your headline with the job you are applying for.
Include any certifications that add credibility and, if possible, provide commercial context and your unique points of value.
For example:
- Jackie Wong / Marketing Assistant / Influencer Partnerships / TikTok & Instagram
- Ben Barnes | Finance Manager | Chartered Accountant | Manufacturing / MBA
Ask yourself – what makes you different? What experience do you have, that other candidates don’t?
Jackie and Ben, in the examples above, made an effort to distinguish themselves from other Marketing Assistants and Finance Managers. Do the same.
Expert Tip.
This is not the place to be cool, so no ‘Number Monkey’, ‘Head Honcho’ or ‘Moral Captain’ references. Please.
2. Your Profile.
Also known as a resume summary, this is a place to inject some ‘colour’.
Think story. Think brand. Think impact.
(Related: 25 Elements You Must Include On Your Resume).
This section is typically used to detail experience and qualifications, but most candidates fall into the trap of using bland clichés and dead corporate platitudes.
For example:
You can do better. Don’t be generic.
Get to the heart of what makes you unique. Think about what makes you 1) different and 2) better. Refer to your experience, beliefs and values.
For example:
Much better, right?
3. Your Employment Summary.
You may have heard about a study that claims recruiters spend just 6 seconds reviewing most resumes.
Using an eye-tracking technique, researchers found that recruiters focused on your name, current job title, company and dates of employment.
They move on if the resume doesn’t provide all this information within 6 seconds.
It gives the recruiter a bird’s eye context of your most recent professional history, tickling their curiosity without overwhelming them with data.
Expert Tip.
Do not include more than four of your most recent on the front page. This section is a teaser, not a complete dossier of your career.
4. Your Key Skills.
Also known as “Key Assets”, this section is a condensed summary of the impact you bring to the table.
It’s an opportunity to provide recruiters and hiring managers with a glimpse into your:
- Technical skills.
- Hard skills.
- Soft skills.
Expert Tip.
Include any ATS-worthy keywords here. For example, if you’re applying for a Project Assistant role, mention skills like “clerical skills”, size of projects you’ve worked on “1m – $50m” and responsibilities (“cost management”). Read the Position Description closely to find them.
Resist the temptation to list generic skills like “problem-solving”, “empathy” and “negotiation”.
Instead, create a set of 1-2 sentence stories that showcase your most commercially relevant strengths. For example:
Or:
Or:
(Related: How To Defeat Applicant Tracking Systems).
Page 2 Resume Example (+ Writing Guide).
Above: Some recruiters will skip straight to this section. They want to know two things: why you were hired and what you achieved.
Here, Australian employers expect you to get into the meat of your roles.
Kick off each role with a 2-3 sentence summary of the company and your mandate. Why were you hired, and by whom?
For example:
List each of your roles in reverse chronological order, ensuring that you provide both the big picture context and tactical detail of your responsibilities and achievements.
Here are my power tips for getting it right:
- Don’t confuse responsibilities with achievements. They’re not the same.
- Don’t use 3rd person references – unless you’re the King. “Jonathan leads a team of 5 HR Advisors”. Ergh, too much puffery.
Most importantly, front-load and quantify your achievements and explain their impact on the business.
For example:
Is much better than:
Don’t you think?
Page 3 Resume Example (+ Writing Guide).
Above: Resist the temptation to put in less effort on the last page. Finish strong.
Well, it’s time to wrap things up.
This typically means listing your education, additional career history, professional development and references.
1. List Your Education.
To quote the great Sir John Monash, pioneering scholar, soldier and engineer who lent his name to one of Australia’s leading universities:
Australians, like most Westerners, value education and continuing professional development.
Be sure to highlight your academic and professional qualifications by including the name and major of your degree, along with the awarding institution:
- Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors, GAICD
- Bachelor of Science, Psychology The University of Cambridge
There is no need to include the year of completion on your resume. Also, don’t worry about including education that is no longer relevant (e.g. high school).
2. List Your Earlier Career History.
Do you have roles that fall outside the 15-year window?
Don’t list the gory (but entirely irrelevant) details in your precious professional experience section. Stick them here instead.
3. List Your References.
Australian recruiters appreciate data protection restrictions and don’t expect to see referee names, addresses, and telephone numbers on your resume.
- Writing “References available on request” is perfectly acceptable.
- Referee details will be requested in later stages of the recruitment process
4. Optional Sections.
Aside from your previous experience, achievements and personality flavour, there are a few other details that you can consider including on your resume:
- Non-Executive / Committee / Voluntary Roles: Don’t be afraid to expand on these, as you would your professional experience, provided they enhance your value proposition as a professional.
- Professional Memberships / Affiliations: e.g. Member of the British Psychological Society, Fellow of the Financial Planning Association of Australia or the National Association of Sales Professionals
- Visa Status: Show that you are eligible to work in Australia. For more info on Visa requirements and applications, head to the Australian government’s “Working In Australia” website.
- Publications: Provided they are relevant and credible.
- Awards: List them simply as you would your education, e.g. Award Name, Awarding Body, Year. If you’ve earned the award at work (e.g. President’s Club 2021), include it as an achievement for a specific role.
- Volunteer Experience: Always a good idea to include if you have this under your belt.
- Personal Interests and hobbies: Include if you’re early in your career. If you’re a manager and above, you can probably put your resume’s real estate to better use.
What Makes Australian Resumes Different?
Australian employers look for these 6 features when deciding whether your resume warrants their attention:
- Clean design with white space and subtle graphics.
- Precise targeting of a specific role.
- Resume length is appropriate for the candidate’s level of seniority.
- Work history provides big-picture context.
- Achievements are front-loaded, quantified and commercially relevant.
- Correct Australian English throughout.
Before I unpack each of these, let me share a little-known but essential nuance of Australian culture.
Important!
Knowing this secret will massively improve your chances of getting your resume noticed in the Australian job market.
The #1 Resume Mistake You’re Probably Making.
Australians are famous for their laid-back attitude. They appreciate confidence and professionalism but severely dislike arrogance and hubris.
Don’t get carried away, though. Your resume should not read like it was written by Conor McGregor, for Conor McGregor.
Above: He never had a chance against Mayweather.
Aussies don’t relate well to overly brash and self-aggrandising people. (They reserve a term for them that begins with a “w” and rhymes with “tanker”).
Striking a balance is vital.
- You don’t want to undersell yourself, but…
- You must not come across as God’s gift to employers, either (more on this shortly).
What’s The Ideal Resume Length?
Australian resumes vary between 2 and 5 pages in length. The exact length of your final draft will be driven by your level of seniority and the complexity of your skillset.
- Don’t submit a one-page resume (unless you’re a graduate). It lacks the detail Australian recruiters are looking for.
- Don’t exceed 5 pages. If you find yourself needing more pages, you’re probably trying to create a laundry list of everything that you’ve done, ever. Go back to the drawing board and ask yourself whether your targeting is still on point. Your most recent roles should have the most detail.
- 3 pages is a good length if you’re a mid-level professional or a manager. But if you’re a senior executive, don’t be surprised if you end up with 4 or even 5 pages.
Should You Use The Chronological Resume Format?
No, because:
- In 99% of cases, the reverse-chronological format is your best friend. (This means organising your work history by date, with the most recent role appearing first).
- If you are in the 1% of the population that would benefit from a different resume format, you already know who you are. (And you need to decide between a functional resume format, a chronological resume format or a hybrid format).
What Design Principles Must Your Resume Follow?
Keep your design clean and simple. Don’t create a fruit salad with excessive font styles, sizes and fonts.
Limit yourself to two font sizes and two font styles across the entire document.
- Stick to the internationally accepted font styles and sizes (e.g. Calibri, Myriad Pro, 11pt).
- Don’t use tables, images or graphs. Many Australian companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) recruitment software tools – and these tend to be easily confused by unnecessary detail.
- White space is your friend. Dance in the tension between white space and text. Too much of the former, and you’ll have a very long resume that looks empty. Too much of the latter, and your resume will appear dense and intimidating.
Do You Need To Include Your Photograph?
In some countries, it’s standard practice to include your headshot at the top of your resume. Not so in Australia.
Important!
Do not include a photograph of yourself – regardless of how handsome or pretty you think you are.
What Spelling Quirks Do You Need To Be Aware Of?
A few. Replace American English with correct Australian English spelling. That’s:
- ‘Analyse’, not ‘Analyze’
- ‘Behaviour’, not ‘Behavior’
- ‘Centre’, not ‘Center’.
This is obvious, but I need to say it anyway – triple-check spelling and grammar (read my guide to linguistic mistakes that make you look dumb).
Do Australians Expect A Specific Paper Size?
It’s HIGHLY unlikely that an employer will ask you to print your resume, but if they do, follow these rules:
- Use A4-sized paper. Australia and Europe follow the same rules here.
- Don’t use US Letter size (8” x 11”).
Do You Need To Include Your Marital Status and DOB?
No. No need to include your race or religion, either. (Why?)
If I Wanted To Get A Job In 2025, I’d Do This.
The resume examples above will help land your dream job in Australia. But before we wrap up, here are my bonus tips for securing a job “down under”:
- Pay attention to your online presence. LinkedIn plays a significant role in Australian recruitment and should be part of your professional brand.
- If you’re an executive or a senior business leader, more rules apply to you – be sure to read my piece about executive resumes.
- Be patient. Landing a role in Australia can take 6-12 months, especially at the senior level.
Alright, that’s all I have for you today.
Irene
P.S. Let me know in the comments below if you want to see any specific Australian resume examples (or Australia-specific job search tips).
