A resume has one job: to make someone decide, in seconds, that you are worth reading properly.
What it needs
- Name and contact. A mobile number and a professional email address.
- Work rights. Citizen, permanent resident, or the visa you hold. State it plainly.
- Location. Suburb and state, and whether you would relocate.
- Experience. Employer, role, dates and what you achieved.
- Education. Qualification, institution and year.
- Registration where required — AHPRA, teacher registration, trade licences — with the number.
- Referees. Commonly expected, two or three with consent.
What to leave out
Photograph, date of birth, marital status, nationality beyond your work rights. These are not conventional and can work against you.
Work rights come first
Employers screen on it early. Ambiguity costs interviews rather than protecting you.
Achievements, not duties
Australian employers read for what you accomplished. "Responsible for" is weaker than "delivered", "reduced" or "led".
"Operations Coordinator" says little. "Coordinated logistics for 14 sites across NSW, cut delivery costs 18% in a year and managed a team of six" says a great deal more.
Use numbers.
Healthcare
AHPRA registration number and status, clinical specialisations, and any overseas qualifications with their assessment status.
Trades and construction
Licences with the issuing state and expiry dates, tickets and inductions, and site experience.
Mining and resources
Certifications with dates, site experience, and FIFO availability if relevant.
Cover letters
Commonly expected, particularly for professional roles and government applications, which often use structured selection criteria.
Length
Two to three pages is normal in Australia, longer than in some markets.
Government applications
Often require responses to selection criteria. Address each one explicitly with evidence.
Keep it current
A complete profile means employers find you in their searches. Review licence and registration expiry dates first.