Omari Gates
A resume is a concise document that outlines an individual's educational and professional background. In Australia, a resume should only go back 10–15 years unless highly relevant experience justifies a longer history. It should be clean and professionally laid out with consistent formatting, clear headings, bullet points, and a legible font. Personal information such as age, marital status, and photos should be avoided to prevent bias and potential discrimination. Instead, focus on skills, experience, and achievements, highlighting why you are a good match for the role.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Layout | Clean and professional |
| Formatting | Consistent throughout the document |
| Headings | Clear |
| Readability | Use bullet points |
| Font | Legible (e.g. Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) |
| Length | No longer than 2 pages |
| Content | More important than length |
| Time period covered | Only go back 10-15 years |
| Language | Use Australian English |
| Photo | Do not include (unless requested for the role) |
| Personal information | Do not include age or marital status |
| Education | List degrees in reverse chronological order |
| Skills | Divide into hard and soft skills |
| Achievements | Highlight |
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What You'll Learn
Layout and formatting
When it comes to the layout and formatting of your resume in Australia, there are several key considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, aim for a clean and professional layout with consistent formatting throughout the document. Use clear headings and bullet points to enhance readability and make it easy for employers to find the information they are looking for. Select a legible font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. While there is no standard page limit, aim for a concise document that captures the essential information. Two pages may be sufficient for some employers, while others may be open to reviewing longer resumes of 5-6 pages as long as the content is well-formatted and relevant.
In terms of content, your resume should highlight your educational and professional journey, including qualifications, work experience, and skills. Start with your most recent degrees and list them in reverse chronological order, along with the name of the institution and the date of graduation. If you are a recent graduate, you can also highlight relevant coursework, academic achievements, and projects. When listing work experience, focus on the last 10-15 years unless you have highly relevant experience that dates further back.
Instead of providing a detailed career history, create a concise summary that showcases why you are a good fit for the role. Highlight your achievements and provide a clear snapshot of your key skills, both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal skills). Avoid including personal information such as your age, marital status, or a photo, as this is not relevant to your ability to perform the job and could potentially lead to discrimination.
Finally, while it is important to include references or "referees" in Australia, you don't need to list them on your resume. Instead, simply state "referees available upon request" and prepare a separate document with your contacts' names and positions when they are requested.
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Length
The length of your resume can depend on several factors, including your industry, the amount of experience you have, and the job you're applying for. While some sources suggest that a resume should be kept to a maximum of two pages, others advise that Australian resumes are typically longer, especially for mid-career professionals.
If you are a recent graduate or have less work experience, one page may be sufficient to highlight your skills, education, and relevant experiences. However, professionals with several years of experience may require two or more pages to adequately detail their work history, skills, and accomplishments. It is recommended to focus on relevance and conciseness, ensuring that your resume reflects your current skills, experiences, and accomplishments.
Australian hiring managers prioritize showcasing your work history and relevant skills over adhering to a strict page count. As your employment history lengthens, so can your resume. Executive-level employees with 15 or more years of experience may have resumes between three and five pages.
It is generally advised to avoid creating a resume that is longer than five pages. It is essential to highlight the main points, support them with evidence, and save additional details for the interview. A longer resume should not be a substitute for a concise and assertive presentation of your qualifications and experiences.
To manage the length of your resume, consider maintaining a master document with all your jobs and experiences in both short and long formats. This allows you to tailor your resume for specific job applications, ensuring that the most relevant information is included without unnecessary detail.
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Spelling and vocabulary
When it comes to the spelling and vocabulary of your Australian resume, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, it is crucial to use correct spelling and grammar throughout your resume. Consider asking a friend to proofread your resume to ensure accuracy.
Secondly, it is recommended to follow Australian English spelling and vocabulary conventions. This demonstrates your ability to adapt to the local culture and may impress Australian employers. For example, if you are in the legal field, terms like "barrister" and "solicitor" are commonly used in Australia, whereas "attorney" or "lawyer" is more prevalent in American English. Therefore, tailoring your resume to align with Australian English usage can make your resume more effective and showcase your knowledge of the local industry.
Additionally, when describing your education and qualifications, ensure you provide clear and concise information. List your degrees in reverse chronological order, including the name of the institution, the degree obtained, and the date of graduation. If you are a recent graduate, you can also highlight relevant coursework, academic achievements, and projects.
Keep your resume concise and focused. Think of it as a summary that showcases why you are a good match for the role, rather than a detailed account of your entire career history. Focus on highlighting your achievements, skills, and experiences that are most relevant to the position you are applying for. This will help capture the employer's interest quickly and make it easier for them to assess your suitability for the role.
Lastly, avoid including any personal information that is not relevant to the job, such as your age or marital status. This type of information is typically not necessary and could potentially lead to discrimination. Instead, focus on providing a clear snapshot of your qualifications, work experience, and skills that are relevant to the specific role you are applying for.
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What to include
When crafting your resume for the Australian job market, it is important to remember that it is a concise document highlighting your educational and professional journey. It should be tailored to the job you are applying for, succinctly presenting your qualifications, work experience, and skills. The content of your resume is more important than the length, but it is recommended to only go back 10-15 years unless you have highly relevant experience that dates further back. Here is what to include:
Education
List your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Include the name of the institution, the degree obtained, and the date of graduation. If you are a recent graduate, you can also highlight relevant coursework, academic achievements, and projects.
Skills
Divide your skills into hard skills (technical abilities like software knowledge) and soft skills (interpersonal skills like communication). Provide context for your skills by demonstrating how you've utilised them in your previous work experience. You can also mention additional skills such as language proficiency or certifications.
Work Experience
Present your work experience in a clear and concise manner, focusing on the most relevant roles and achievements. Use bullet points and clear headings to enhance readability. Avoid going into excessive detail, as the goal is to provide a snapshot of your career history rather than an exhaustive account.
Referees
In Australia, employers often prefer to speak with references who can attest to your skills and abilities. Instead of listing references directly, simply state "referees available upon request." Prepare a separate document with the names and positions of your contacts, including local references whenever possible.
Formatting
Use a clean and professional layout with consistent formatting throughout your resume. Choose a legible font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid including a photo, as this can introduce biases in the hiring process. Also, refrain from including personal information such as your age or marital status, as it is irrelevant to your ability to perform the job and could potentially lead to discrimination. Focus on showcasing your qualifications and skills, letting your merits speak for themselves.
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What not to include
When crafting your resume for the Australian job market, it is important to remember that it should be a concise document that showcases your skills, experience, and achievements. While there are many things to include in your resume, there are also several things that you should not include.
Firstly, do not include your age or marital status. This type of personal information is not relevant to your ability to perform the job and could potentially lead to discrimination. Similarly, avoid including a photo of yourself. Unless the job specifically requires it, such as for a modelling or acting role, adding a photo is often discouraged in Australia as it can introduce biases into the hiring process.
Your resume should only include relevant information that showcases why you are a good fit for the role. Avoid the temptation to include everything from your entire career history. Instead, focus on your most recent and relevant experience, education, and achievements. In Australia, it is generally recommended to only go back 10-15 years unless you have highly relevant experience that predates this period.
While it is important to provide a comprehensive overview of your qualifications, work experience, and skills, do not include references or a list of referees in your resume. In Australia, it is common practice to simply state "referees available upon request" and provide a separate document with referee details when requested.
Lastly, while it is important to proofread your resume for spelling and grammar, do not get too caught up in minor details. Focus on presenting your skills and experience clearly and concisely, ensuring your resume is easy for potential employers to scan and understand.
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Frequently asked questions
An Australian resume should include a summary of your educational and professional journey. This includes qualifications, work experience, and skills. It should be noted that in Australia, it is not common to include a photo, age, or marital status on your resume.
Your resume should have a clean and professional layout with consistent formatting throughout the document. Use clear headings, bullet points for readability, and a legible font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
In Australia, your resume should typically only go back 10-15 years unless you have additional highly relevant experience.
