Australian CV vs UK CV — What's Different?
- Referees: Australian CVs often include 2–3 referee names and contact details at the bottom — this is more common than in the UK, where "references available on request" is the norm.
- Career summary: A strong, targeted career objective or summary is expected at the top — Australian employers value directness.
- Length: 2–4 pages is standard for experienced professionals. Australians generally accept slightly longer CVs than US employers.
- Spelling: Australian English — "organisation" not "organization", "colour" not "color".
- No photo: Do not include a photo unless specifically requested (rare in corporate roles).
Australian CV Structure
1. Personal Details
Full name, phone (Australian mobile: 04XX XXX XXX), professional email, LinkedIn URL, suburb and state (not full address). Include your right to work if relevant (e.g., "Australian Permanent Resident" or "Working Holiday Visa holder").
2. Career Objective / Professional Summary
3–4 lines summarising your experience, speciality and career direction. Australian employers appreciate clarity about what you are looking for — unlike UK CVs, a brief objective can be appropriate here. Example: "Experienced civil engineer with 9 years of experience in infrastructure and transport projects across NSW and Victoria. Seeking a senior project engineer role with a Tier 1 contractor on major infrastructure works."
3. Key Skills / Core Competencies
A brief bullet list of your top 6–10 relevant skills. This is more commonly included in Australian CVs than UK ones — it helps recruiters scan for specific capabilities quickly.
4. Work Experience (Reverse Chronological)
Company name, job title, dates, location. 4–6 bullet points per role focusing on achievements and outcomes. Quantify where possible. Lead with strong action verbs.
5. Education and Qualifications
Degree/certificate, institution, year. Include any relevant licences (e.g., Class C Driver's Licence), trade qualifications, or industry certifications (e.g., White Card for construction).
6. Professional Memberships (if applicable)
Engineers Australia, CPA Australia, AIPM, AHRI, etc. These carry weight with Australian employers and demonstrate professional commitment.
7. Referees
List 2–3 professional referees with name, title, company, phone, and email. Always get permission before listing someone as a referee. If you prefer not to list them, "Referees available upon request" is acceptable — though listing them is more common in Australia.
What Australian Employers Look For
- STAR-formatted achievements: Situation, Task, Action, Result — many Australian employers and their recruiters expect this type of evidence-based writing.
- Industry-specific certifications: Mining, construction, healthcare and government roles in particular have mandatory licences and certifications that must appear prominently.
- Cultural fit signals: Volunteering, community involvement, and extracurricular leadership are valued — especially in SMEs and government roles.
Cover Letter in Australia
Cover letters are expected in Australia — more so than in the US. Even for roles that don't explicitly ask for one, submitting a tailored cover letter demonstrates interest and effort. Keep it to 3–4 paragraphs (350–450 words), directly addressing the selection criteria listed in the job posting.
Key Sectors and CV Tips
- Mining and resources: Include FIFO (Fly-In Fly-Out) experience if applicable, safety certifications, equipment competencies
- Healthcare: AHPRA registration number, state-specific requirements, clinical competencies
- Government (APS): Selection criteria-based applications — each criterion addressed separately, often with 250–400 words each
- Tech: Standard international format — GitHub, portfolio, specific tech stack prominent