Australian Resume Format 2026: Complete Guide

Planning to work Down Under? Or maybe you're already there and your American-style resume isn't getting callbacks?

Here's the thing about Australian resumes (yes, they call them "resumes," not CVs): they're different from what you're used to. Different length. Different conventions. Different expectations.

Get it wrong, and you'll look like someone who didn't bother to learn the local norms. Get it right, and you'll stand out as a professional who understands the Australian job market.

TL;DR

2-3 pages is standard (longer than US, sometimes shorter than UK)
No photos unless specifically requested
Use British/Australian English spelling (colour, organise, centre)
Include your visa/work rights if applicable
References are often expected (or at least addressed)
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How Australian Resumes Differ From US and UK

Feature	Australia 🇦🇺	USA 🇺🇸
Typical Length	2-3 pages	1 page (strict)
Photo	No (generally)	No (never)
Terminology	'Resume' or 'CV' (interchangeable)	'Resume' only
Spelling	British (colour, organise)	American (color, organize)
Paper Size	A4 (210mm x 297mm)	US Letter (8.5" x 11")
References	Often included or addressed	Not included
Personal Details	Minimal (name, contact, location)	Minimal (name, contact)

The biggest adjustment for Americans: length is not a concern. Australian recruiters expect detail. A one-page resume for an experienced professional looks incomplete.

The Australian Resume Structure

Here's the standard format Australian recruiters expect:

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  NAME & CONTACT DETAILS             │
│  (Phone, Email, LinkedIn, Location) │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY / PROFILE     │
│  (3-4 sentences, tailored)          │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  KEY SKILLS / CORE COMPETENCIES     │
│  (6-10 relevant skills, keywords)   │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE            │
│  (Reverse chronological, detailed)  │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  EDUCATION                          │
│  (Degrees, certifications)          │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  ADDITIONAL SECTIONS                │
│  (Volunteer, affiliations, etc.)    │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  REFERENCES                         │
│  (2-3 contacts or "available")      │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Let's break down each section.

Section 1: Contact Details

What to Include

Full name (as it appears on legal documents)
Phone number (include +61 country code if you're overseas)
Email address (professional)
LinkedIn URL (increasingly expected)
City/State (e.g., "Sydney, NSW" — full address not needed)

What NOT to Include

Omit These

Photo (unless specifically requested)
Date of birth / Age
Marital status
Nationality (except to clarify work rights)
Full home address
Passport number

Work Rights (Critical for Expats)

If you're not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, clarify your work status:

Work Rights: Australian Permanent Resident
Work Rights: Valid Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) until Dec 2026
Work Rights: Full-time work rights in Australia

This saves recruiters from having to ask and shows you understand the local hiring context.

Section 2: Professional Summary

Australian recruiters call this the "Career Profile" or "Executive Summary." It's your 6-second pitch.

The Formula

[Current role/expertise] + [Years of experience] + [Key achievements/skills] + [What you're looking for]

Example

Strong Australian Summary

Results-driven Marketing Manager with 8+ years of experience driving brand growth across APAC markets. Proven track record in digital campaign optimization, with recent campaigns generating $2M+ in incremental revenue. Seeking a senior marketing role with a forward-thinking organisation in Sydney.

Note the British spelling ("organisation") and the specific regional context (APAC, Sydney).

Section 3: Key Skills

Australian recruiters often scan for specific skills before reading experience details. Make this section work hard.

Format Options

Column Layout:

• Digital Marketing         • Project Management      • Stakeholder Engagement
• Google Analytics          • Agile Methodology       • Budget Management
• Content Strategy          • Team Leadership         • Data Analysis

Categorised Layout:

Marketing: SEO, SEM, Content Marketing, Social Media, Email Campaigns
Technical: Google Analytics, Salesforce, HubSpot, WordPress, Tableau
Leadership: Team Management (10+ reports), Budget Oversight, Strategic Planning

Pro Tip

Mirror keywords from the job advertisement. Australian ATS systems work similarly to US ones — keyword matching matters. Use our Keyword Scanner to check your match rate.

Section 4: Professional Experience

This is where Australian resumes differ most from American ones: detail is expected.

Format

Job Title
Company Name, City | Month Year – Month Year (or "Present")

[1-2 sentence role overview]

Key Achievements:

Achievement with quantified impact

Achievement with quantified impact

Achievement with quantified impact

Example Entry

Digital Marketing Manager
Telstra, Melbourne | January 2021 – Present

Leading a team of 5 across SEO, SEM, and content marketing for B2B division. Reporting to Marketing Director with $500K annual budget oversight.

Key Achievements:

Increased organic traffic by 65% YoY through technical SEO overhaul and content strategy refresh

Launched lead generation campaign that delivered 1,200+ qualified leads in Q3 2024

Reduced cost-per-acquisition by 25% through Google Ads optimisation and A/B testing

Implemented marketing automation workflows that saved team 15+ hours weekly

Tip

Australian recruiters appreciate context. Mention team size, budget, reporting lines, and scope where relevant. Our Bullet Point Generator helps you craft achievement-focused bullets.

Section 5: Education

List in reverse chronological order:

Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)
University of Melbourne | 2015

Certificate IV in Project Management
TAFE NSW | 2018

Google Analytics Certification
Google | 2024

Notes for International Candidates

If your degree is from overseas, consider including a credential evaluation if it's not well-known in Australia
Australian employers recognise most UK, US, Canadian, and NZ qualifications
Use Australian terminology where possible (e.g., "Bachelor of Commerce," not "BBA")

Section 6: References

Unlike US resumes, Australian resumes often address references directly.

Option 1: Available Upon Request

References: Available upon request

Option 2: Include References (Preferred for Senior Roles)

References:

Sarah Thompson
Marketing Director, Telstra
sarah.thompson@telstra.com.au | 0412 345 678
Relationship: Direct Manager

James Wilson
Head of Digital, NAB
j.wilson@nab.com.au | 0423 456 789
Relationship: Former Client

Always Ask Permission

Never list references without confirming with them first. Australian recruiters will call them.

Australian English Spelling

This matters more than you might think. Using American spelling signals that you haven't localised your resume.

American 🇺🇸	Australian 🇦🇺
color	colour
organize	organise
center	centre
analyze	analyse
program	programme (sometimes)
behavior	behaviour
labor	labour
honors	honours
focused	focussed

Quick Fix

Set your word processor's language to "English (Australia)" or "English (UK)." It will catch most of these automatically.

Industry-Specific Considerations

Mining & Resources

Longer resumes accepted (3-4 pages)
Include specific certifications (Working at Heights, Confined Spaces, White Card)
Reference FIFO experience if applicable

Healthcare

Include AHPRA registration number if applicable
Detail specific ward/specialty experience
List continuing professional development (CPD)

Finance & Banking

Emphasise regulatory knowledge (APRA, ASIC)
Include specific product/market experience
Reference compliance training

Tech & Startups

Can be more flexible on format
GitHub/portfolio links matter
Slightly shorter (2 pages) is acceptable

Common Mistakes Australians See From International Applicants

Mistake 1: One-Page Resume

American candidates often try to squeeze everything onto one page. Australian recruiters read this as a lack of experience or effort.

Mistake 2: Including a Photo

Unless you're applying for a role where appearance is relevant (acting, hospitality front-of-house), skip the photo. It looks unprofessional.

Mistake 3: American Spelling

"Color," "organize," "behavior" — these jump off the page as non-local. It signals you haven't adapted to the market.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Visa Status

If you're not Australian, recruiters need to know your work rights immediately. Don't make them guess.

Mistake 5: US Paper Size

A4 is standard in Australia. If your resume is formatted for US Letter, margins and spacing will look off when printed.

Resume Length by Career Stage

Career Level	Recommended Length
Entry-Level / Graduates	1-2 pages
Mid-Career (3-10 years)	2-3 pages
Senior Professionals (10+ years)	3-4 pages
Executive / C-Suite	4-5 pages
Academic / Research	5+ pages (CV format)

The key: be comprehensive but relevant. Every word should add value.

Australian Resume Checklist

Before You Apply

2-3 pages (or appropriate for your level)
No photo (unless role-specific)
Australian/British English spelling throughout
A4 paper formatting
Work rights/visa status included (if applicable)
References addressed (included or 'available upon request')
Phone includes +61 country code (if overseas)
LinkedIn URL included
Quantified achievements in experience section
Keywords from job ad incorporated naturally

Your Move

Australia is a fantastic place to build a career — but only if you can get your foot in the door.

A properly formatted Australian resume shows that you understand the local market, respect local conventions, and are ready to contribute from day one.

Build your Australian-ready resume

Our AI Resume Builder helps you create properly formatted, ATS-optimised resumes for the Australian job market. Start free in minutes.

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UK CV Format Guide — Another Commonwealth comparison
Canadian Resume Format — Similar conventions, different market
Expat Resume Guide — For international job seekers
Resume Summary Generator — Craft your executive summary
Bullet Point Generator — Write achievement-focused bullets
Resume Templates — A4-formatted, ATS-friendly designs
Resume Examples — See proper Australian formatting in context

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an Australian resume be?

Australian resumes are typically 2-3 pages for most professionals. Entry-level candidates can use 1-2 pages, while senior executives may extend to 4-5 pages. The US one-page rule doesn't apply in Australia.

Should I include a photo on my Australian resume?

Generally no. Photos are discouraged to prevent discrimination in hiring. The exception is for roles where appearance matters (acting, modeling) or when explicitly requested.

Do I need to use British or American English in Australia?

Use Australian/British English — colour (not color), organisation (not organization), centre (not center). Set your word processor to English (Australia) to catch these automatically.

Should I include references on my Australian resume?

References are more commonly included in Australia than in the US. You can either list them directly or write 'References available upon request.' For senior roles, 2-3 references are typical.

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