Last updated: January 8th, 2025
Is it a good idea to use an online resume template? Absolutely – as you know how to showcase your value and tell your career story.
But a generic template packed with dull, cookie-cutter clichés will only hold you back.
Let me make it easy for you. Write an excellent Australian resume in 3 easy steps:
- 1. Download one of my excellent templates below. You’ll find handy resume writing instructions inside each template.
- 2. Read my secret tips on crafting an excellent Australian resume (also below).
- 3. Stuck? Consider using resume building software or hiring a resume writer. Both will save you time (but will cost money).
1. Download A Resume Template.
Here are two attractive, modern resume templates for the Australian job market. They are Microsoft Word-friendly and are available for instant download.
Contemporary Australian Resume Template.
Classic Australian Resume Template.
Expert Tip.
Both templates contain step-by-step instructions inside. Open yours after downloading to start writing an excellent resume.
2. How To Use Your Resume Templates.
You’ll notice that my templates provide layout and instructions – but not content.
This is deliberate, as copying someone else’s achievements and resume headline will lead to rejections by recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
The Australian job search landscape is competitive, and a cookie-cutter resume won’t help you land a job.
Important!
Resist the temptation to plagiarise your resume content from the Internet or to use ChatGPT. The Australian job market is tough in 2025, with some roles attracting over 500 applications. You must demonstrate what you uniquely bring to the table to stand out.
But here’s the good news.
I have created helpful guides to help you write a resume that does your career justice. Start with these three:
3. Resume Template vs Resume Builder.
Resume builders are great. They are better than downloadable resume templates and cheaper than professional resume writers.
They save you hours by providing a structure and helpful prompts to quickly guide you in writing your resume.
Their resume templates are often attractive and modern, like these examples from Resume.io:
All you have to do is select a resume template that you like best and start customising it.
Expert Tip.
AI-powered resume builders can handle the entire writing process, but I advise against letting them take full control. Spend a few hours editing and tweaking the draft produced by the resume builder for optimal results.
4. Resume Template vs Professional Resume Writer.
This is your best option if you have more money than time, have a complex career history, or want the best results possible.
Even if you’re an exception, you’re probably struggling to write your own resume. Why?
Because you’re too close.
You don’t have an objective, 3rd-person view of yourself.
Important!
This is why investing in a professional resume writer often leads to significantly better outcomes than downloading a resume template and writing your resume from scratch.
A great resume writer will provide you with a personalised, targeted marketing tool that communicates your value proposition and positions you as a clear answer to a specific employer’s commercial needs.
But not all resume writers are the same. Far from it.
5. How To Get A Job In Australia.
I’ll leave you with one final thought.
The secret to landing a great job quickly is understanding what you bring to the table that others don’t.
In other words, your career has a story. You need to learn how to tell it.
Resist the temptation to regurgitate boring responsibilities (e.g., “I was responsible for managing the website” and corporate platitudes (e.g., “I’m an innovative, hard-working thinker”).
Instead, think about your impact.
See the difference?
Irene
