How to write a resume for Australia

Australian resumes are unique, and in this article I quickly outline some of the key characteristics of the modern Australian resume.

Length of the Australian Resume

In Australia, we like our space and this love affair with space is also evident in our resumes.  If you undertake a search on how to prepare a resume, so often you end up on career sites that make a strong suggestion as to the length of your resume.  Please IGNORE those sites that advice you to limit your resume to one or two pages, as usually these are American or UK sites where the recruiting practices are different from those prevalent in Australia.

Instead, focus on a resume that truly reflects your skills and experience and even if this takes five pages, so be it (unless a page limit is imposed by the employer).  HOWEVER, make sure you don’t waffle, and don’t include information that is not required, repetitive, or irrelevant. 

Note:  The average length of an Australian resume is usually anything between three and five pages long. Anything longer and you need to shorten your document.

Brag in a subtle but effective way

In Australia, we are lousy at bragging about ourselves, but not as low key about telling the world how great we are on paper as the English.  We are probably half way between the Americans and the English in how we talk about our accomplishments and achievements.

So if you are creating a resume for Australia, make sure you really focus on contributions and achievements, but don’t go way over the top with the language.

Objectives are just ‘oh so old fashioned’

In Australia our love affair with objectives within a resume is coming to an end.  Instead the modern Australian resume usually incorporates a profile, which outlines the skills, knowledge and experience that meets the needs of the employer.

Personal data is no longer required within resumes

In Australia, there is a large trend away from providing any personal details, such as date of birth and marital status within a resume.  While in Australia, there is a raft of legislation protecting candidates from discriminatory practices, most professional resume writers, don’t include personal information that could unnecessarily place their client in a position of being ‘pigeon holed’ by employers and selection panel members, or indirectly discriminated against.   In Australia, the following details are usually left out of the resume, unless these personal attributes will enhance the application.

1. Date of birth
2. Martial status and number of children
3. Photographs, no matter how photogenic you are
4. Personal data, such as health status, height and weight
5. Interests and hobbies
6. Photocopied written references attached at the end of your resume.Save these for the interview, unless specifically requested in the application form. 

Formatting trends

Yes content is KING – but equally important is the formatting of your resume.  

In Australia we tend to be conservative, so it is important to use a conservative formatting style.  This includes being consistent in design treatments, adding white space, breaking up lengthy paragraphs, using bullet points to highlight skills and achievements balancing the resume top-to-bottom and left-to-right and using no more than 2 font styles.

Referee's

Although there is a current trend away from including referee's within an Australian resume, many people still include the details of their referees. Remember it is no longer necessary to include the details of your referees, but if you decide to include them, make sure you get their permission and they are going to sell you effectively to potential employers.

If you are not from Australia:

• The standard paper format size is A4
• Use Australian English, not US English - e.g. it is colour, not color, or organisation, not organization.

Relevant Articles and Resources

• The Great Australian Resume - (e-book by Carolyn Smith)
• Blank resume form - free for CareerDIY Readers
• Outline of a resume
• The top 10 resume mistakes to avoid
• Sample resume objectives
• Top resume myths
• Resume fraud - why you should not lie or exaggerate on your resume
• The difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae
• Transform your resume - a quick lesson from a professional
• How to use action words to enhance your resume
• Key words for resumes
• Should you include hobbies / interests in your resume?
• Free resume examples for Australia
• Why you should blow up your current resume and start from scratch