Australian resume format: what employers in Australia expect

Leave these out

• Photo, date of birth, marital status, religion and health details.
• Tax file number or other ID numbers.
• Full street address. Suburb and state are enough, for example Parramatta, NSW.
• Hobbies, unless they relate directly to the role.

Include these

• Name, suburb and state, mobile number, email and LinkedIn URL.
• Work rights near the top if you are not a citizen or permanent resident, for example Full working rights, Temporary Skill Shortage visa.
• A career summary that names the job you are applying for.
• Key skills matched to the advertisement.
• Employment history in reverse chronological order with month and year.
• Education, licences and tickets such as a driver licence, White Card, Working with Children Check or RSA, when the job needs them.
• Referees: two professional referees with name, title and phone, or Referees available on request.

Length and layout

Two to three A4 pages is common for experienced candidates; one to two for graduates. Use a single column, clear headings and a standard font. Use Australian spelling: organise, centre, licence.

Government jobs and selection criteria

Australian Public Service and state government roles often ask for a pitch or responses to key selection criteria. Address each criterion with a short real example using the STAR structure: situation, task, action and result.

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