How to Write a Resume in Australia 2026

How Long Should an Australian Resume Be?

Australian resumes are typically 2-3 pages for experienced professionals and 1-2 pages for graduates or entry-level candidates. Unlike the US, where one page is standard, Australian hiring managers expect more detail — but don't pad it out unnecessarily. Not sure whether to call it a resume or a CV? In Australia, the two terms mean the same thing for most jobs.

What to Include in an Australian Resume

A strong Australian resume includes: contact details (name, phone, email, LinkedIn, suburb and state — no full street address needed), a professional summary of 3-4 sentences, work experience in reverse chronological order, education and qualifications, key skills, and optionally professional memberships or referees.

Contact Details — What to Include and What to Leave Out

Do include your name, phone number, professional email address, LinkedIn profile URL, and your suburb and state. Do not include your date of birth, photo, marital status, or nationality — these are not standard in Australia and including them can expose employers to discrimination risks.

Professional Summary

Open with a 3-4 sentence professional summary that positions you clearly for the role. Avoid generic phrases like 'hardworking team player.' Instead, lead with your years of experience, your specialist area, and one or two key achievements. For example: 'Senior project manager with 8 years of experience delivering infrastructure projects across Queensland. Proven track record of delivering on time and under budget, including a $4M road upgrade completed 6 weeks ahead of schedule.'

Work Experience

List roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each role include: job title, employer name, location (suburb/state), dates (month and year), and 4-6 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements. Quantify achievements wherever possible — numbers, percentages, and dollar figures stand out to both ATS systems and hiring managers. If your work history includes an employment gap, see our guide on how to explain a career gap on your Australian resume.

Australian Resume Format Tips

Use a clean, professional font such as Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10-12pt. Keep margins at 2cm. Use clear section headings. Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics if applying through an online portal — these confuse ATS systems. Save as PDF unless the job ad specifically requests a Word document. For a full comparison of resume formats for Australian jobs, see our dedicated guide.

ATS Optimisation for Australian Job Applications

Most Australian employers with more than 50 staff use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before a human sees them. To pass ATS screening: use keywords from the job description, avoid headers and footers for important information, use standard section headings, and submit in the file format requested.

Common Australian Resume Mistakes

• Including a photo (not standard in Australia)
• Using a US-style one-page resume
• Listing references with full contact details unprompted
• Using an unprofessional email address
• Failing to tailor the resume to each role

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pages should an Australian resume be in 2026?

Two to three pages for most experienced professionals; one to two pages for graduates. Unlike the United States where one page is the standard, Australian hiring managers expect more detail.

What personal information should I leave off an Australian resume?

Leave out your date of birth, photo, marital status, nationality, and religion. These are not standard on Australian resumes and including them can expose employers to unconscious bias — which most Australian employers actively try to avoid.

Should I list referees on my Australian resume?

Write "References available on request" or leave it out entirely. There is no need to include referee names and contact details on your resume — employers will ask for them at the appropriate stage of the process.

What is the best file format for an Australian resume — PDF or Word?

PDF is preferred for most applications because it preserves your formatting across all devices. Only submit a Word document if the job ad specifically requests it or if the employer's ATS is known to have trouble reading PDFs.

Do I need a different resume for each job application in Australia?

Yes — at minimum, tailor your Professional Summary, skills list, and key bullet points to match each role. A resume tailored to the specific job description significantly outperforms a generic one in both ATS screening and with human reviewers.

Use AI to Optimise Your Australian Resume

ProfessionalResume.au's AI Resume Rewriter analyses your resume against the job description and rewrites your bullet points to match the language hiring managers and ATS systems are looking for — built specifically for the Australian job market. For more strategies, see our top 10 resume tips for Australian job seekers. Try it free.