Australian Resume Writing Guide 2025: ATS-Friendly Templates

Key difference: Australian resumes (CVs) are typically 2-3 pages, include no photo, no date of birth, and focus on achievements with measurable results.

Australian Resume vs International CV

Element	Australia	Other Countries
Photo	No (anti-discrimination)	Often required
Length	2-3 pages	1-2 pages (US)
Date of Birth	Never include	Sometimes required
Marital Status	Never include	Sometimes required
References	"Available on request"	Often listed

Essential Resume Sections

1. Contact Details

Full name (as appears on ID)
Phone number (Australian mobile preferred)
Professional email (firstname.lastname@email.com)
LinkedIn URL (optional but recommended)
Suburb/City, State (no full address needed)

2. Professional Summary

Good Example

"Customer-focused retail professional with 3+ years experience in fast-paced environments. Consistently exceeded sales targets by 15% and trained 10+ new team members. Seeking to leverage strong communication skills in a Team Leader role at Woolworths."

Bad Example

"Hard-working individual looking for a job. I am a team player and work well under pressure."

3. Key Skills

ATS-Friendly Skills Format

Use bullet points or columns
Match keywords from job description
Include both hard and soft skills
Be specific (e.g., "Microsoft Excel - Pivot Tables" not just "MS Office")

4. Work Experience

Format Each Role

Job Title | Company Name | Location

Month Year - Month Year (or Present)

• Achievement with measurable result
• Responsibility with impact
• Key project or contribution

5. Education & Qualifications

Qualification name (e.g., Bachelor of Commerce)
Institution name
Year completed (or expected completion)
Relevant coursework or achievements (optional)

ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Tips

Beat the Bots

Use standard headings: "Work Experience" not "My Journey"
Simple formatting: No tables, headers/footers, or text boxes
Standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman
Save as .docx or PDF: Most ATS read these formats
Match keywords: Use exact terms from job description
No graphics: ATS can't read images or icons

Action Verbs for Achievements

Leadership

Led
Managed
Supervised
Coordinated
Mentored

Achievement

Achieved
Exceeded
Improved
Increased
Delivered

Problem-Solving

Resolved
Implemented
Streamlined
Developed
Created

Resume Checklist

✓ No spelling or grammar errors
✓ Consistent formatting throughout
✓ Achievements include numbers where possible
✓ Tailored to specific job application
✓ No personal information (age, photo, marital status)
✓ Professional email address
✓ Saved with your name in filename (John-Smith-Resume.pdf)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Generic objective: Tailor for each application
Too long: Keep to 2-3 pages maximum
Outdated info: Remove jobs from 10+ years ago
Duties only: Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities
Unprofessional email: Create a new professional one if needed
Lying: All claims should be verifiable

Resume Template Structure

Section	Space	Notes
Contact Details	3-4 lines	Top of page 1
Professional Summary	3-5 lines	Tailored to job
Key Skills	6-10 items	Match job keywords
Work Experience	1-1.5 pages	Most recent first
Education	3-5 lines	Most recent first
References	1 line	"Available on request"

IntuitiveCalc

Australian Resume Writing Guide 2025