How to write a CV for Australian jobs
Two pages, one column, and every line pointed at the job you are applying for.
4 minute read · Last updated 5 October 2026
The shape
Australian CVs are usually two pages, single column, no photo, with a short profile, then experience, then education and skills. Simple formatting survives automated screening and human reading alike.
Put the most relevant thing first. A recruiter reads the top third of the page before deciding, so that third must answer the advertisement.
Turning tasks into evidence
Do not list duties; list results. "Served customers" becomes "handled up to 90 customers a shift and closed the till accurately". Numbers make a claim credible.
Mirror the words of the advertisement where they honestly describe what you did. This is not dishonesty; it is helping the reader see the match.
The finish
Check spelling and the phone number twice — a typo in a contact detail loses the job before anyone reads the rest. Save it as a PDF with a sensible file name.
Tailor the top third for each application. A tailored CV beats a generic one every time, and it takes ten minutes, not two hours.
The one thing to take away
Write to the advertisement, not about yourself in general.
Always check the official source. Rates, fees and rules change.