Life at Greenwich

Writing a good résumé

Whether you’re looking for a part time job or are hoping to find permanent work in Australia, making sure you have a strong résumé is key. Australian employers and recruitment companies have particular expectations as to what they expect to see in a résumé, and it is often very different to what you might expect in your home country.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when putting together your résumé.

The Australian résumé

In Australia, a résumé (also sometimes called a CV) is meant to give an employer an idea of your professional qualifications as well as how you would fit in with their team and work culture. That means that you should generally do more than just provide a list of the jobs and the experience you’ve had.

• Include your contact details such as your address, phone number or email.
• Include your education and qualifications.
• DON’T include a photograph or information on your physical attributes (i.e. your height or weight) unless it’s specifically requested and relevant to the job you’re applying for, such as in entertainment.
• The standard résumé in Australia is around 2-4 pages depending on the amount of experience you’ve had. This might be a bit longer than in some other countries such as the US.
• Include a list of the relevant skills and qualifications for the job you are applying for – don’t include experience that would be confusing for your employer.
• It might be a good idea to include a list of 1 or 2 references that the employer can contact. Be sure these references are relevant to your professional experience (your mother or flatmate won’t cut it).
• Most professional job applications will require a cover letter. Your cover letter should be short (250-300 words) and highlight why are you applying for the role and why you think you will be a suitable employee to the organisation. Don’t just re-hash what’s on your resume.
• Providing clear examples is a great way to demonstrate your achievements.

And of course, be sure to check your English – accurate spelling and grammar are important, even if it’s not essential for the role. It’ll be worth getting someone to review your résumé before you submit it to check for any errors and to get some additional pointers – your Greenwich College teacher will be happy to help.

Read more about finding a job in Sydney.

What tips do you have for a good resume? How did you find a job in Australia?

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