With a strong job market and a high standard of living, Australia has become the primary target for job seekers all throughout the world.
Creating an Australian resume is an important step towards finding a job down under, particularly because the format is quite different from what you are used to back home.
However, we have seen many migrant resumes that are simply not appropriate to how Australian employer expect.
In this post, we have collated a list of proven tips to help you adapt your resume to successfully go through the job application process in Australia.
Resume Length
Australian resumes are often longer than you might be used to. For instance, resumes in Western Europe or the United States are typically drafted in 1-2 pages, whereas Aussie resumes are usually 2-3 pages for experienced professionals.
Delete all personal information
While it is a requirement in your country of origin to indicate your birthday, age, marital status, or even salary expectations on your resume, Australian hiring managers and recruiters definitely do not expect you to do the same.
All this information could potentially lead to discrimination, so there is no need to include it.
Your marital status will not affect your ability to do the job, so it is best not to include it. By mentioning your age, you are opening yourself up to age discrimination. The only dates that you need to mention on your resume are your employment dates.
Delete other irrelevant information
This includes the link to your social media profiles, your school grades, and details of ‘personal circumstances.’
Unless you are using your social media in a professional manner or for something which is relevant to the job you are targeting, it is best to leave it off. The only exception to this rule is your LinkedIn profile as it is a professional network. Just make sure to update your LinkedIn profile before including this on your resume.
If you already have relevant work experience, then your grades at the University or High School become irrelevant. This is particularly true if you have completed further education or have professional qualifications.
If you have got gaps in your work history, specifically for the recent one, it is advisable to include the dates you were out of work. It is totally understandable to just put ‘out of work due to personal circumstances’ if you were attending to a sick relative or travelling, but there is no need to go into a lot of details as to what you were dong during that time.
You may also list down the skills you have developed while out of the workforce, including any volunteer activities you have taken during that period.
For resume tips for the habitually unemployed applicants, read here.
Don’t include your photo
It is a standard practice in some countries to include a recent photograph of yourself on your resume. But in Australia, it is best to leave it off.
Similar to age and marital status, adding photos to your resumes could increase the risk of you being discriminated against. A notable exception to this would be job seekers applying for acting or modelling roles.
Make sure you are using UK English, not U.S. English
Just as with other job applications, if you have spelling mistakes on your resume, you are well behind your competition from the start.
Set the spellcheck on your word processing application to the UK English setting and not U.S English. The biggest spelling difference between the two is the use of ‘-ize’ and ‘-ise.’ For example, U.S. English uses ‘organize,’ ‘prioritize,’ and ‘centralize.’ Whereas UK English uses ‘organise,’ ‘prioritise,’ and ‘centralise.’
List of references
It is common for Australian job seekers to find their referees before applying for any job. However, instead of using a prime space on your resume to list their contact information, simply state ‘References available upon request.’
Hiring managers usually do not ask for these details until you make it to the final stages of the interview process.
Be careful though when doing this, as some job requires that you explicitly mention your references on your resume. If this is the case, be sure to include them to avoid being disqualified from the further process.
Your address
If you are intending to relocate to Australia, you probably already know it is best to leave your current address off your resume.
You can just indicate your target city/suburb, state, and zip code. Also, include your target month and year of relocation.
Final thought
When writing your resume for the Australian job market, keep in mind these simple yet very effective tips in tailoring your application document.
If you still have concerns about crafting an Australian resume, have it written by an expert in Australian resume development.
Click here for more job search tips and advice.
For more ideas on how to craft winning resume, visit www.rev-upyourresume.com.au or connect with us through LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
