Australia runs long. Where a US recruiter wants one page, an Australian recruiter happily reads two to four — with a career profile up top, a key skills section, and detailed achievements under every role. Photos and birth dates stay off (anti-discrimination law), but referees go on: listing two or three referees with name, title, and contact is still common Australian practice, which surprises candidates arriving from markets where "references on request" is the rule. Australian English spelling throughout — organisation, specialise, analyse.
Quick facts: the Australia resume
| Length | 2–4 pages |
|---|---|
| Photo | Never |
| Personal details | None — anti-discrimination law |
| Tone | Confident, detailed |
| Language | Australian English |
| ATS screening | Common at enterprise + gov |
The rules Australia recruiters expect
- 2–4 pages is standard — more detailed than a US resume
- No photo, date of birth, or marital status (anti-discrimination law)
- Career objective or professional profile section (4–6 lines) at the top
- A "Key skills" section near the top is expected
- Detailed "Key achievements" under each role
- Australian English spelling (organisation, realised, specialise)
- Citizenship or PR status can be mentioned if you hold it
- A referees section with 2–3 referees (name, title, contact) is common
Mistakes that get Australia applications rejected
Submitting one cramped page
Australian recruiters read detail as substance. A single page can look like a junior profile.
Leaving referees off entirely
Many Australian employers expect named referees or at least "Referees available" with context ready.
US spelling
"Organization" and "analyzed" signal an unadapted template.
Skipping the key skills block
Australian screeners scan it first to map you against the selection criteria.
Skip the manual reformatting. Upload your current CV, pick Australia, and AlterCV rewrites it in the exact local format — rules above included — with a live ATS score.
Applying to other countries too?
Every market has different rules — that's the whole point of AlterCV. Related guides: New Zealand CV format · United Kingdom CV format · Singapore resume format — or browse all 15 country formats.