How to Write a Resume for Australia & New Zealand

Applying for jobs in Australia or New Zealand requires adjusting your resume to local recruitment culture. While Australian hiring processes share similarities with both British and American systems, the local market has distinct expectations around document length, structure, and evidence.

Whether you are already living in Sydney, Melbourne, or Auckland, or applying from abroad, this guide outlines the conventions expected by Australian and New Zealand employers.

In short: In Australia and New Zealand, resumes are typically 2 to 3 pages long. Never include a photo. Explicitly state your work rights (citizenship, permanent residency, or visa class). Clearly separate daily responsibilities from quantifiable achievements.

Resume vs. CV in Australia & New Zealand

In Australia and New Zealand, the terms resume and CV are used interchangeably. Unlike in the United States—where a CV denotes a multi-page academic dossier—an Australian recruiter asking for your "CV" simply expects your standard professional resume.

Standard length: Why 2 to 3 pages is the norm

Candidates coming from the US are often surprised to learn that a strict 1-page resume can hurt their chances in Australia:

• Early-career candidates (1–3 years experience): 2 pages.
• Mid- to senior-level professionals (4+ years): 2 to 3 pages.
• Senior executives and specialists: 3 to 4 pages.

Australian hiring managers and recruiters prefer to see a comprehensive overview of your responsibilities, technical toolkit, and project scope. Condensing 8 years of experience into a single page often leaves recruiters feeling you omitted critical context. Learn more in our resume length by country guide.

Contact information and work rights

Keep your header simple and focused:

• Name and professional title: Clearly state who you are and your functional specialism.
• Location: City and state are sufficient (e.g., Melbourne, VIC or Auckland, NZ). Full street addresses are no longer necessary.
• Contact details: Mobile number and email address. A customized LinkedIn profile link is expected.
• Work rights (critical): If you are an immigrant, expat, or visa holder, state your legal status directly below your contact details (e.g., Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, TSS Subclass 482 Visa Holder, or Full Working Rights). Local recruiters screen heavily for work rights before reviewing qualifications.

What to exclude

In accordance with Australian Fair Work regulations and New Zealand Human Rights Commission guidelines, omit:

• Application photos or headshots
• Date of birth or age
• Marital status and family details
• Gender and nationality

Structuring the work experience section

Australian recruiters look for a balanced structure that outlines both your daily operational scope and your measurable impact:

Senior Product Manager | Horizon Digital, Sydney, NSW
March 2022 – Present

Key Responsibilities:
• Led a cross-functional squad of 11 engineers, designers, and data analysts across retail banking workflows.
• Owned the product roadmap, backlog prioritization, and quarterly stakeholder reviews.
• Managed third-party vendor integrations and compliance audits under APRA guidelines.

Key Achievements:
• Increased digital self-service adoption by 28% within 9 months, cutting call-centre volume.
• Spearheaded the launch of real-time payment notifications, achieving a 4.7-star rating on the iOS App Store.
• Delivered the FY25 checkout redesign 3 weeks ahead of schedule and 8% under budget.

By separating Key Responsibilities from Key Achievements, you make it easy for time-pressed recruiters to verify your qualification match.

Tone: The Australian "fair go" approach

Australian business communication values pragmatism, directness, and authenticity:

• Avoid excessive hype: While American resumes frequently use terms like "visionary leader" or "disrupted the industry", Australian hiring managers find grandiose language off-putting. Let your verifiable metrics speak for themselves.
• Use active, grounded language: Words such as managed, delivered, implemented, streamlined, and coordinated resonate well.
• Quantify with Australian context: Use AUD ($) or NZD ($) where relevant and reference recognized industry certifications (e.g., CPA Australia, Prince2, Scrum Alliance).

Referees and reference checks

Reference checking in Australia is a pivotal final step in the recruitment process rather than a formality:

• Most offers are conditional upon passing two detailed telephone reference checks, typically with your direct managers from the last five years.
• You can either state "Referees available upon request" at the bottom of your resume or provide the names, titles, and companies of two referees (with mobile and email provided once an interview stage is passed).
• Always ask your referees for permission beforehand and brief them on the role you are targeting.

Adapting your global profile with FlowResume

FlowResume makes it simple to generate an Australian-tailored resume from your existing master profile. Choose an ATS-friendly multi-page layout like modern-split or ats-linear, configure your Australian work rights, and create a targeted, professional document ready for the AU and NZ job markets.