How to Write an Australian Resume

Use Australian English when composing a resume for employment in Australia.

Writing a resume to obtain a job in Australia requires a process similar to writing a resume for employment in the United States. Whether you live in Australia and are seeking a job or are traveling and wish to work part time to help pay for your trip, your resume should detail your education and employment history. An effective resume is succinct, free of errors and shows you in a positive light for potential employers.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Place your name and contact information directly at the top of the resume. In Australia, the term "curriculum vitae" is often used instead of "resume." When titling your resume, use a phrase such as, "The curriculum vitae of John Smith" rather than "Resume of John Smith."

2. Title the first section of the curriculum vitae "Employment" or "Employment History" and list your most recent jobs in the field that relates to the job for which you're applying. List the dates or years of employment, your title and a sentence indicating your primary and secondary responsibilities in that role.

3. Label the second section as "Education" and provide information about your current level of education or highest level of education reached. If you are still in school, indicate which grade you attend. If you have already graduated, write your secondary school's name and your year of graduation and your college and year of graduation.

4. Compile your relevant accomplishments in the third section of your resume, entitled "Accomplishments." The items in this list should provide a potential employer with reasons why you are desirable to hire. For example, you can list the awards you won at school or the formal recognition you received in a previous job.

5. List your references below the "Accomplishments" section in a section titled, "References." If you are visiting Australia, list contact names, phone numbers and email addresses for your references. If you are from overseas, a potential employer may wish to email your references rather than call them and pay a hefty phone bill.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the Australian English style of spelling instead of American English. Consider buying a dictionary or checking to see if your computer's word processor has an Australian English dictionary option. Several common words in are spelled differently in Australian English.

• Keep your resume to two pages. Anything over two pages can be too wordy, while a one-page document doesn't often give you enough space to sell yourself.

• If you are not an Australian citizen, indicate the status of your work or education visa to show a potential employer that you can work in the country legally.

• Avoid listing personal information, such as your hobbies and interests, on your resume.

References

• Goinglobal; Writing a Resume for the Australian Job Market; Gayle Howard
• Career One: Resume Writing -- Australian Style
• Australian Recruiting Group: Job Seeker
• Youth Central: How to Write a Resume