How to write an Australian resume (as a student)

Having a part-time job during your university studies provides you with many rewards. Besides financial benefits, you can gain practical work experience, develop essential skills, build professional connections, and experience Australian work environments. All these things will help you become a competitive candidate in the job market before you graduate. 

In Australia, you will need to submit a resume as part of your job application. Your resume is a concise document that highlights your education, skills, work experience and achievements to help employers decide whether you are the right person for a role.  

To help you stand out and show employers that you’re a strong match for a job, it’s important to learn the correct format for a well-structured resume and tailor it to each job description. This means using keywords from the advertisement and highlighting the most relevant experience and skills first.  

In this blog, you will learn how to write an Australian resume that will catch the attention of employers – even if you don’t have much work experience.  

To help you get started writing your Australian resume, you can use resume templates from Seek and Resume now. 

1. Format 

The length of a resume depends on your industry, the role and the amount of experience you have. The standard length of an Australian resume is 2-3 pages. For recent graduates or those with less work experience, 1-2 pages is usually sufficient. The most important thing is that all the content in your resume is relevant and adds value. 

Follow these steps for formatting: 

• A clear, simple and professional design with headings.  

• Concise content that is straight to the point. Employers may receive hundreds of applications and will only spend a short time reading each one. Therefore, your information on the first page must be relevant and persuasive.  

• Use standard fonts such as Arial, Calibri and Times New Roman. Don’t use fancy fonts. 

• Use white space and a single-column format for easier readability. 

• Avoid using graphics, images, tables. Many recruiters in Australia, use Applicant Tracking System software when processing digital resumes. This software does not recognise graphics and can get confused when images and tables are included.  

2. Key sections (in order of appearance) 

• Contact information 

  
  

Your contact information should appear at the top of your resume. Provide your full name, Australian mobile number, professional email, LinkedIn profile (if you have one). You do not need to provide your date of birth nor your full address; just the city you live in (e.g. Sydney, Adelaide). You are not required to include a profile photo. 

In Australia, it’s illegal for an employer to ask you about your age, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation and nationality.  

• Professional summary 

  
  

A professional summary is an overview of your career objectives, skills, experience and achievements. It is usually around 3-5 sentences. This section can grab the attention of the recruiter and encourage them to read further.  

Here’s an example: 

Motivated international student currently studying Foundation Studies in Sydney with the goal of pursuing a career in law. Skilled in research and critical thinking with a strong interest in legal systems, justice and advocacy. Eager to contribute strong communication and customer service skills, adaptability, and enthusiasm to a part-time administrative role in any industry, preferably in the legal sector.  

• Career history 

List any part-time or casual jobs, internships and school leadership roles in reverse chronological order (the most recent one first). For each role, explain your main responsibilities using bullet points and action words such as ‘assisted’ and ‘organised’. Tailor this section to the job you’re applying for by listing the most relevant experience and skills first.  

Top tip 

If you have little work experience, emphasize the soft skills you have developed during your studies and previous work. Explain how you’ve demonstrated them. 

After writing your main responsibilities for each role, outline 1-2 major achievements that are measurable (data-driven). Employers are interested about the impact you have made to the company or people in your previous roles.  

Here’s an example: 

Customer Service Assistant – ABC Supermarket, Melbourne (2024-Present) 

 Main responsibilities 

• Assisted customers daily with product enquiries and transactions. 

• Operated the point-of-sale system and handled cash and card payments. 

• Maintained the cleanliness and organisation of store displays.  

 Achievements   

• Assisted over 50 customers each day with a wide range of enquiries. I received positive customer feedback online, which helped lift the supermarket’s approval rating. I was also awarded ‘Employee of the Month’ 3 times.  

• Assumed additional responsibilities, including the reconciliation of over 12 monthly reports and the training of 5 employees, improving overall team efficiency by 20%.   

• Education 

List your current studies or qualifications in reverse chronological order (the most recent one first). Include the course name, institution and expected graduation year.  

Here’s an example: 

Bachelor of Business (majoring in Marketing) 

Adelaide University 

Will graduate in 2027 

For recent graduates, relevant coursework, academic achievements and projects can also be included. You can also add other certifications (e.g. Google - Data Analytics) and awards (e.g. high achievers award). 

• Key skills 

List the skills relevant to the job you’re applying for. They can be divided into technical skills (e.g. software programs) and soft skills (e.g. communication, teamwork and problem-solving).   

Here’s an example: 

Technical skills: Microsoft Office, Canva, project management 

Soft skills / key capabilities: Communication and presentation skills, teamwork, critical thinking 

Provide examples of how you have used your skills at university or work. Employers will not just assess technical skills, but they also want to ensure you have the soft skills to work as a part of a team and fit within their company culture.  

List any other languages you speak and your level of proficiency (basic, conversational, fluent). They can be a great asset, especially for jobs that require communication with other nationalities.  

• Volunteer work / extracurricular activities 

If you’ve volunteered at school or university, joined clubs or community events, then you can list them here. These types of roles show initiative and community involvement. Add any ‘passion projects’ and interests that are relevant to the role.  

• References 

References are people you have worked with (unpaid and paid) who can attest to your skills, experience, character and work ethic such as previous colleagues and teachers. You do not need to list them on your resume – you can write ‘references available upon request’ to respect their privacy. 

After your interview, the employer may like to speak with 1-2 people who you have worked with previously, so ensure you have their contact details ready. Always ask your referees for their permission first and tell them the potential employers who may contact them, so they can be prepared to give you a positive reference.  

3. Other top tips 

• AI tools 

The rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can produce a resume instantly based on the content or prompts you write. They can assist with formatting, identifying keywords, content suggestions, tailoring your resume to the job description and editing. However, do not just copy and paste what AI produces. Instead, use the content as a base and then personalise it to effectively showcase your value.  

• Use Australian (British) English spelling 

Australian English is different to American English. For example, there’s a difference in the use of ‘s’ versus ‘z’ and ‘ou’ versus ‘o’. So ‘analyse’ is Australian spelling and ‘analyze’ is American. ‘Favour’ is Australian, and ‘favor’ is American. If you’re using Microsoft Word or AI apps such as Grammarly, ensure that spell check is assigned to Australian English. 

• Proofread your resume  

Read your resume several times to ensure it is free from spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting errors. These mistakes can signal to the employer that you lack professionalism, attention to detail or that you are not serious about the role. Check that the information is accurate, concise and tailored to the job description.  

• Keep your resume updated  

Update your resume every 6 months to a year or whenever you change jobs, learn a new skill or have a significant achievement. Regular updates ensure your resume reflects your current knowledge, skills, experience and achievements. Every job you apply for is a chance to tailor your resume and highlight your strengths.  

• Create a LinkedIn profile 

Many employers use LinkedIn - an online professional networking platform - to search for potential candidates. In fact, LinkedIn has helped 4 million people get jobs and users with a detailed LinkedIn profile have a 71% higher chance of getting an interview.  

Set up a LinkedIn profile and complete each section to showcase your career history, education skills and interests. Ensure what you have written for LinkedIn aligns with your resume. Learn more about how to build your personal brand on LinkedIn.  

At Kaplan International College Adelaide, our College Services team will assist you with adjusting to life in Australia and any other academic or personal challenges you may have. Read our essential career guide for students for advice on getting job-ready before graduation.