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Top 10 tips for writing your first resumé

Careers Published 10 Jul, 2023 · 7-minute read

Wondering how to make a resumé for your first job? We share our best resumé-writing tips with expert advice from a member of UQ's Student Enrichment and Employability Development team.

Is there anything more intimidating than a blank Word document?

Probably. But it’s pretty high on the list – especially when you need that doc to get you a job.

You have to:

make a good first impression
summarise your education and experience
showcase your talents and abilities
convince an employer you deserve an interview .

And you need to do all this with just one or two A4 pages.

Hey, nobody said it was easy. But it might not be as hard as it sounds. A couple of resumé-writing tips can help you turn that scary empty page into a CV* that gets you a job. ( *We’ll be using ‘resumé’ and ‘CV’ interchangeably in this article ).

We spoke with Madelaine-Marie Judd , Service Improvement Manager (Careers) at UQ, to compile this list of tips on what to put on a resumé for a first job and beyond.

1. Tailor your resumé to the job

A classic mistake people make is writing their first resumé and then just submitting it as is for each application. For a better chance of success, you should tailor your CV to suit the job description and match any keywords from the ad.

According to Madelaine-Marie, the first step is to review the duties and selection criteria to make sure you’re a good fit for the role.

“Ensure the roles and responsibilities that you detail in the Experience section align to these criteria,” she says.

“This shows the employer that you’re engaged and have an understanding of what they’re looking for – you!”

2. Structure your resumé with signposts

A resume template example of a word document outlining a job applicant's name and segmented information

A clear, logical structure is vital for your CV. Your first resumé template should be clearly signposted, using subheadings ( Education, Experience, Referees ) to organise your content and guide the reader.

This is one of Madelaine-Marie’s top tips for writing your first resumé because a confusing layout means a potential employer won’t even read your details – no matter how good they are. Plus, if you get your structure right in your first resumé, you’ll have a great template to use for future versions.

3. Use full sentences

Don’t shy away from going into detail, even if you’re using dot points (which are great for structuring your CV, btw). This is particularly true for the Experience section of your resumé.

“Rather than just listing a couple of words to describe what you did in previous roles, include full sentences to describe the what and the why ,” says Madelaine-Marie.

Here's an example on how to write your first resumé:

Instead of Working in a team , you might say: “I adapted my work style to suit my co-workers and contributed to a positive team culture.”
Instead of Roster management , you might say: “I coordinated the team’s work hours to ensure sufficient staffing at key times.”
Instead of Customer service , you might say: “I ensured all customers were satisfied by being attentive, helpful and friendly at all times.”

This approach shows that you don’t just have the capabilities. You also understand how to use them and why they make you a valuable employee.

4. Be conscious of your design elements

If you’re a visual person, you might start with the layout of your resumé or spend a lot of time making it look good. And that’s great – a strong aesthetic can indeed help you stand out from the pool of candidates.

But be careful. Dedicating too much space to graphics can make it tough to include all your information.

“For some positions, there may be a cap of one or two pages for a resumé,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“You need to ensure you have enough space to convey the depth and range of experiences that have shaped you.”

It can take time to find the right balance between text and graphics. It’s also possible that your resumé will go through recruitment software that won’t translate your graphics properly. So, always prioritise making room for the details you need employers to know.

Did you know? You can purchase first resumé templates on websites like Etsy or Creative Market to give your CV that little extra something it needs to stand out in the crowd. You can also use free tools like Canva to create your own personal branding.

5. Don’t neglect your experience (even if it’s not work experience)

High school students in school uniform inspect pamphlets on a table

Since we’re looking at tips for writing your first resumé, we asked Madelaine-Marie what she would suggest for people who have limited work experience (or none at all).

Is there a way to compensate for not having many (or any) jobs on your CV?

Well, yes, there is.

Resumé-writing tips for students with no work experience

“One of the most common mistakes is not including valuable experiences such as extra-curricular activities in the Experience section,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“These types of activities are incredibly meaningful and help create a conversation starter during interviews .”

Once you’re in uni, there’s a whole world of extra-curricular activities you can explore that will look great on your CV:

work-integrated learning placements
student-staff partnership projects
internships
volunteering
representing your uni as an ambassador.

But there are plenty of opportunities during high school too. Perhaps you’ve:

represented your school at an external event
been elected for a student leadership position
participated in an academic club (e.g. debating)
taken part in another extra-curricular activity that demonstrates your positive attitude and abilities.

Whatever these activities might be, include them.

“Employers understand and appreciate that experience can take shape in many different forms.”

Resumé-writing tips for students with some work experience

If you’ve had a paid casual job, don’t you dare leave it off your resumé – even if it doesn’t seem relevant to the jobs you want.

“Paid casual jobs, such as in hospitality or retail, are incredibly important to include in your resumé,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“There may not be a direct correlation between the job you’re seeking and your casual role. But this experience may demonstrate your ability to manage competing demands ( study, extra-curricular and work ) and work in a team environment. These are transferrable skills that are in demand in every industry.”

6. Ask a friend or family member to review it

Writing about yourself can be tough. You may forget to include attributes and skills that are obvious to the people who know you best. This is why asking a close friend or family member to peer-review your resumé is a great idea.

Make sure to share the specific job description with them, so they know what you’re applying for. Ask for constructive feedback/ideas for improvement and keep an open mind to their suggestions.

Your family member or friend may even provide the extra pair of eyes needed to spot a crucial typo (see resumé-writing tip #9 below).

7. Ask a mentor or teacher to review it

Two people sit chatting at a desk with laptops

Your friend or family member is a great starting point for feedback, but they may not have the experience to pick up every important detail. This is where a trusted teacher or mentor can help. This person may be able to look more objectively at your draft and is less likely to hold back with their feedback.

If nobody comes straight to mind to fill this role for you, consider which of your teachers you might feel comfortable asking for their opinion.

Did you know? At UQ, we have a huge range of resources to help students tailor their resumé and cover letter to apply for a job. From checklists to tips and workshops , we're committed to helping our students land their dream job.

8. List your education and experience in reverse chronological order

This resumé-writing tip is obvious to some but not to everyone.

If you’re not quite sure, think of it this way: will your potential employer care more about what you’ve done in the last year or what you did three years ago?

Yep, exactly. Lead with your most recent awards, experiences and educational achievements. This helps your interviewer ask about the things you’ll remember in detail – and it gives them a clear picture of who you are today.

9. Pay attention to spelling and formatting

Look, you’re probably not applying to write articles for the UQ Study website (please don’t; the role is taken). But you should still take care with the spelling, grammar and formatting on your resumé – even if writing isn’t an explicit part of the role.

These aspects of your CV speak to your attention to detail, which is highly valued in any profession. While the reader might not necessarily appreciate if everything is correct and well-presented, they’ll almost certainly notice if you’ve misspelt their name or their business’s name, used the wrong ‘there’ or put no effort into formatting your text consistently.

So, spend 10 minutes after you’re done to check for typos and clean up your font sizes. It’s worth the extra time.

10. Don’t let your resumé stand alone

If you follow all nine of these tips for writing a good CV, you should end up with a solid resumé. But your resumé doesn’t want to do all the work for you – and it shouldn’t have to. It’s only one part of the overall application process.

A good application includes a cover letter that complements your resumé and sometimes a separate response to selection criteria. Even then, a resumé can only get you so far, no matter how amazing it is. You’ll need to be interview-ready to seal the deal as well.

Luckily, moving from high school to uni leads to heaps of opportunities to develop your dream career path. For example, at UQ, we have several teams dedicated to enhancing your employability . This includes having experts like Madelaine-Marie available to support and empower you to develop the capabilities required to navigate the working world.

If you join us to study, we look forward to supporting you in enhancing your employability. In the meantime, we hope these top tips for resumé-writing have helped you show that blank Word document who’s boss.

Looking for more tips and tricks on how you can increase your employability and map out a clear career path while studying? Read up on how you can prepare for your future career at UQ .

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How to Write Your First Job Resume [For 2024]

So there you are, sitting in front of a screen, staring at a blank Word page for hours, with one task at hand: writing your first job resume.

Where do you even start?

And most importantly: How do you fill those 1-2 pages when you have no work experience?

We feel your struggle and we’re here to help!

In this article, we’re going to guide you through the entire process of creating a first job resume from start to finish.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

How to Write Your First Job Resume

Pick the right resume template
Write down your contact information (correctly)
Include a resume objective
List your education (in detail)
Instead of work experience, focus on…
Highlight your skills
Mention optional sections
Stick to the one-page limit
Get inspired by a first-job resume example

Don’t worry, we’re going to cover all of the above in detail!

Starting with the first step:

#1. Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template

There are 3 main resume formats you can pick from. Each of them highlights a different part of your resume.

Reverse-Chronological Resume - In this format, your work experiences and education are listed in reverse-chronological order.
Functional Resume - Instead of work experience, this format focuses on your skills and achievements.
Combination (or Hybrid) Resume - This format focuses on both your skills and work experience.

For 99% of job-seekers, we recommend sticking with the reverse-chronological format.

While a functional resume can sometimes help for career changers or recent graduates, it’s still nowhere near as common as the reverse chronological one.

Plus, recruiters world-wide are familiar with the reverse-chronological format, making it a safer bet.

A reverse-chronological resume looks as follows:

reverse chronological format for first job

Once you’ve picked the format, the next step is to perfect your layout, font, and the like. Here’s what we recommend for that:

Use a Two-Column Layout. A two-column resume layout allows you to fit a lot more content into your resume.
Pick a Common Font. We recommend Ubuntu, Overpass, or Roboto.
Use Bullets to Describe Your Experiences.
Don’t Go Over One Page. Unless you’re a professional with a decade of work experience, we recommend sticking to the one-page resume limit.

Want to avoid all the hassle of formatting your resume layout? We don’t blame you - if you wanted to build a good-looking resume from scratch, it would take you hours before you could even start filling it in.

Thankfully, there’s an easier way out: using a resume builder.

With Novoresume, all you have to do is pick a template, and fill in the contents. It’s that simple.

And on top of that, Novorésumé resumes are ATS-friendly . Meaning, your resume won’t be swallowed up by an applicant tracking system just because it can’t read it.

Want to get started with Novorésumé? Browse our resume templates .

#2. Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly)

It’s important for the recruiter to have at least two ways of reaching back to you.

Meaning, you should always provide your contact information in your resume . That includes:

First and last name
Phone number

Apart from these must-haves, you can also provide:

LinkedIn URL - This is a good way to complement your resume. It also makes the recruiter’s life easier since they usually check your LinkedIn profile anyway. Make sure all information is updated and consistent with your resume, though.
Relevant social media (like Quora or StackOverflow) - Any social media that is related to the job position and puts you in good light should be included in your resume. In most cases. If you’re a developer, it could be projects on GitHub. Writer? Personal blog.
Website or blog - Again, this should be something related to the job. It shows your interest and dedication to the industry and how you spend some of your free time.

When it comes to your contact information, the key is to write everything correctly . Double-check you’ve spelled your name and email right, make sure the phone number you’ve listed can be reached, and that the accounts you have linked to are up to date .

Something else you should know regarding location is how much detail you should be providing.

The reason recruiters want to know your location is so that they have an idea of whether you’re in the vicinity of the company or not (and if you’ll need to relocate for work).

That means, providing the city and country where you live will be enough. No need for your full home address.

#3. Include a Resume Objective

Recruiters spend on average 7 seconds scanning each resume before deciding if it’s worth more consideration or not.

That means your resume has about 7 seconds to leave a great first impression and convince the recruiter you’re the person they’re looking for.

A good resume objective does that for you.

A resume objective is a 2-3 sentence snapshot of your skills, achievements, and career goals . Its purpose is to communicate your motivation for getting into the field and your interest in this particular position.

This makes it ideal for the first job resume of a recent graduate or somebody who’s changing careers. Basically, any resume with no work experience .

Your resume objective should be tailored to the position you are applying for and highlight skills that will help the company achieve its goal. Use as many facts and numbers as you can to back up any statements or achievements.

Creative and motivated recent graduate with a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Michigan. Seeking permanent employment in the field of marketing after completing successful internships in 2 major media companies. Looking to further develop my market analysis skills and contribute to future marketing strategy developments at XY Company.
I am looking to put my marketing skills into action by initially working for the marketing department of a well-known company until I can finally get to an executive position.

#4. List Your Education (In Detail)

For starters, you should know how to list your education entries correctly in the following format:

Program Name e.g.: B.A. in Information Systems
University Name e.g.: University of Chicago
Years Attended e.g.: 07/2013 - 05/2017
GPA (only if really high)
Honors (If applicable) e.g. Cum Laude

Exchange Program (If applicable) e.g. Exchange program in Berlin, Germany

Apart from your skills, your education is the biggest selling point in your first job resume. This is not the place to be humble and play down your achievements!

Write down your GPA (if it’s something impressive), emphasize your honors, and most importantly, highlight your academic achievements by describing them in detail.

What you can also do is list specific courses that you have taken that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Here’s an example of what an entry on the education section should look like:

B.A. in English Literature (Cum Laude)

Boston University

07/2014 - 05/2018

Courses: Advanced Topics in Literature: Shakespeare’s Work
Clubs: Boston University Drama Club
Exchange program in London, UK

#5. Instead of Work Experience, Focus On This

As a recent graduate, the recruiter knows you don’t have any work experience - and that’s OK. As long as you’re applying for a junior or entry-level position, the experience isn’t something expected from you.

Instead, the recruiter will be looking for other experiences that enrich your profile, like:

Internships
Extracurricular Activities

When talking about these experiences, format them just like you’d format your work experience.

Business Analyst Internship

AAA Company

Milan, Italy

05/2019 - 12/2019

Ran weekly and monthly analysis on diverse areas of the business
Created insightful reports of the analysis to present to managers and teams
Defined strategic KPIs, in order to monitor the efficiency of commercial operations

When possible, try to focus on listing your achievements and not your responsibilities. This will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Haven’t done any internships? Include extracurricular activities.

More often than not, an applicant with extracurricular activities and an average GPA will impress the recruiter much more than a 4.0 GPA student with nothing else to show. When listing your extracurricular activities, each entry should have the following format:

Moot Court Club Member

2017 - 2019

Participated for two years in a row at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, making it to the finals in 2019
Researched and prepared written pleadings, called memorials addressing timely issues of public international law
Helped train the new club members in topics of international law

Finally, you can also list independent projects, if you have any. Think, something you did on the side just for yourself. This can be a personal project, small business or startup, side-gig, blog, etc.

Amy’s Book Club Blog

2018 - Present

Created my own book club website for reviewing and discussing the latest books.
Curated a monthly book calendar for my followers to follow, combining trending, relevant, and classic books.
Created over 40 book review articles.
On average, received 2000 visitors per month to the blog.

#6. Highlight Your Skills

The two types of skills you can mention on your resume are soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills are attributes that help you adapt to work environments, work in a team, and apply your hard skills effectively. They are related to your personality, social skills, communication, attitude, etc.

Hard skills refer to technical knowledge and specific tools. They are skills that one learns and applies directly to the job. Some examples of hard skills include:

Financial accounting
Adobe Illustrator

Although soft skills are becoming more and more in demand by employers , for your first job resume, we recommend sticking to hard skills.

Sure, attributes like “teamwork” or “critical thinking” are much appreciated by just about any employer.

The thing is, though, the recruiter can’t really tell if you actually have critical thinking skills, or just listed it on your resume to fill space.

Hard skills, on the other hand, are very easy to test.

Tailor Skills to the Job Ad

Not sure which skills to mention in your first job resume?

The simplest way to find the essential ones is to check the job ad.

The recruiter themselves mentioned the skills they’re looking for - the only thing you need to do is mention them in your resume (as long as you have them, anyway).

Let’s say you’re applying for a graphic designer position that wants the following qualifications and skills:

Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat; XD, Animate and/or After Effects are a plus
Working knowledge of presentation software (Canva, PowerPoint and/or Keynote)
Ability to work under pressure, manage work on multiple projects daily, manage a large workload and meet deadlines.
Detail-oriented, highly organized

Based on that, your skills section should include the following:

Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat
After Effects and Cinema4D
Canva and Keynote
Time management
Detail-oriented

If the job ad isn’t too descriptive, you can also check out these 101+ most in-demand skills for 2024 .

#7. Mention Optional Sections

Still have some space on your resume?

That’s not a bad thing! You can use this space to your advantage and add some other useful sections.

Here are some ideas:

Volunteering - If you have some volunteering experience, make sure to include it in your first job resume. Such a section shows commitment, dedication, and a sense of purpose, something most recruiters will appreciate.
Languages - With companies becoming more and more international, additional languages are always appreciated.
Hobbies - You can show your genuine interest in the industry or field by listing some relevant hobbies/interests.
Awards & Certifications - Whether it’s an award from an essay competition in college or a certificate from an online course, anything that flatters your profile should be added.

#8. Stick to the One-Page Limit

“ How long should a resume be? ” seems like an eternal dilemma at this point.

Generally, the answer is: it depends.

Since you’re making a first job resume, the answer is: definitely one page .

Unless you have an extensive employment history that can’t fit into one page, there’s no need to go over that limit.

It’s unlikely that the recruiter will want to look at two pages of extracurriculars and hobbies.

#9. Get Inspired by This First-Job Resume

Need some inspiration for your resume? Check out the resume examples below.

First Job Resume FAQ

Still have some questions on how to write a convincing first job resume?

We’ll answer them here.

1. What do I put on my no-experience resume?

There’s plenty of other things you can include in your resume instead of work experience. For starters, you should:

Focus on your education, making sure the entries are formatted correctly.
Pick the right skills that match what the employer is looking for.
Talk about internships, personal projects, or extracurricular activities. Describe your achievements in detail.

If you still have some space left, you could use it to your advantage and add extra sections like volunteer work, languages, awards & certificates, or hobbies.

2. Is a resume necessary for a first job?

Depending on the region, a resume or CV is always necessary for a job application, be it the first or the 20th.

Before deciding if they should call you for an interview, the recruiters need to have some insight into you and your skills.

3. Do I need work experience to land my first job?

Short answer: You don’t!

If you’re a recent graduate, it’s a given that you won’t have any work experience. Most employers don’t actually expect years of work experience for an entry-level or junior position.

Instead, they’ll be looking at your other types of experiences (internships, extracurricular activities, etc.) to decide on whether you’re a good fit for the job or not.

4. How do you write a resume for your first job?

The process is quite similar to the one for writing a regular resume, but with a few tweaks.

The exact steps for creating a first job resume are:

Instead of work experience, focus on extracurricular activities, internships, projects, etc.

Key Takeaways

Writing your first job resume doesn’t have to be stressful!

Remember the following tips and you’ll do just fine:

Pick the right format and template to avoid the hassle of formatting your resume. Make sure to pick an ATS-friendly resume template.
Write a concise and attention-grabbing resume objective. Show the recruiter that you’re relevant for the role and that they should read the rest of your resume.
Instead of work experience, include information on your internships, projects, and extracurricular activities.

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How To Write an Australian Resume

In This Guide:

What is an australian resume format, what sections to include in your australian resume, example australian resume, final thoughts on an australian resume.

Searching for a new job is an ongoing process, but there are ways to decrease the time you spend looking for the ideal position. When you have an outstanding resume, you increase your chances of the hiring managers pulling your document out from the stack of other applicants.

Australia pays a higher minimum wage than the United States, so it’s no surprise that many job seekers want to move to make a better living. Read on to learn how an Australian resume differs from the standard format. You’ll find out what sections you should include to ensure the hiring manager knows you’re the right fit for the job.

Innovative Full Stack Software Developer resume example

An Australian resume looks similar to standard resumes, but there are some key differences you won’t want to miss. For example, skipping details can make the difference between a hiring manager giving you a callback or passing you by for a candidate that paid attention to the specifics.

A resume and a CV are two distinct documents in the United States. However, Australian job postings use the terms interchangeably. Therefore, as long as you have a resume that includes the sections below, you can apply to jobs that ask for a resume or CV with the same document.

Australian resumes are typically three to four pages long, depending on your work experience. New graduates looking for entry-level positions might have a two-page resume. This length differs from the standards in the United States, which ask for a concise one-page document.

When you’re ready to create your Australian resume, include the following sections. You can put them in different orders depending on your strengths. For example, professionals with plenty of work experience use the reverse chronological format to showcase relevant jobs. New graduates list education first, while people changing careers highlight their skills.

You should follow formatting guidelines regardless of the layout you choose for your Australian resume. Use a dark font so it’s easy to read. Write your resume in correct Australian English to show the hiring manager you can adapt to the language and culture.

Your resume always starts with a header that contains your contact information . You don’t need to include information about your demographic, as that can lead to profiling. You also shouldn’t have much personal information since the rest of your resume will show the hiring manager more about you.

The contact information in the header includes items such as:

Phone number
Email address

Some applicants may include their website if it’s a professional portfolio of writing samples, photography, or other information relevant to the job posting.

Career Profile

A career profile, also known as an objective or summary , states your career goal. While it’s not a required section, it’s ideal because it shows the hiring manager what you’re looking for in terms of employment. They can read this brief section and know whether you’re a match.

This section can range from one to three sentences long and gives a broad overview of who you are and what you want to do in the position. However, you don’t want to get too detailed because your specific work experience and education come later.

For example, someone fresh out of school can write: “Recent human resources graduate looking for a full-time position in payroll, employee benefits, and performance tracking.”

Someone with years of job history applying for the same position might write: “Human resources professional with over 12 years of experience seeks a role in hiring and onboarding.”

You can see how both objectives give information about the person while showing the hiring manager their intentions. Keep this format in mind as you brainstorm your summary.

Work Experience

Your work experience is an essential part of an Australian resume. This section is your opportunity to show the hiring manager what you’ve accomplished in the past and how you hope to continue in a new position.

The most common way to organize your work experience is in reverse-chronological order . This approach means your most recent job is at the top of the list since it’s where you currently work or the role you just left. From there, you go back through your job history, ending when you hit ten years or reach your first job, whichever comes first.

List your position since the hiring manager needs this information more than anything else. Then include the company name and the dates you worked there. Below this information, list any achievements you accomplished in the role in the form of bullet points.

Use active language in your resume. Instead of bland words like “did” and “tried,” use action verbs, such as :

Streamlined

These words express more action about your accomplishments and convey your sense of professionalism and productivity to the hiring manager.

Though you have up to four pages to fill, you don’t need to include irrelevant details in this section. For instance, applicants with years of work experience should only go back ten years. If you have relevant experience from jobs over ten years ago, create an additional “Other Professional Experience” section and list the highlights there.

List your education in reverse chronological order, just like your work history. Start with your most recent degree and work backward.

Most professionals only need to include higher education in this section. Include any degree you earned, listing the institution and dates attended. If you accomplished anything outstanding during your education, like Dean’s List or an academic scholarship, mention it.

People seeking entry-level jobs might also include their high school diploma if they have no other education. For example, if you completed Technical and Further Education (TAFE), list it here. Once you attend college, the hiring manager will know you have a high school education, so you don’t need to mention it.

If you’re applying for work and only have a high school diploma, include noteworthy details, like a distinction in a relevant course or membership in a club.

Your skills include strengths and knowledge you might not mention in your work history or education. These can be hard skills, like with graphic design software or another language. They can also include soft skills, like impeccable communication or time management skills.

If you have different ranges in your skill sets, consider separating them for clarity. You could have a section entitled “Areas of Expertise” separate from “Technical Skills,” showing the hiring manager where you exceed and where you have a working knowledge.

You should include skills that are relevant to the job. In fact, including specific terms from the job listing will help your resume stand out from the crowd. Many employers want to hire someone who

Volunteer Experience

Like skills, the volunteer section is a chance to share additional information about your passions and experience that might impact how well you can perform the job. Even if some volunteer experiences don’t align with the position, showing the hiring manager that you prioritize giving your time to volunteer organizations will make a positive impression.

If you have any gaps in your work history but volunteered during that time, be sure to list the experience in this section. Volunteering is a great way to explain what you were doing when you weren’t officially employed.

Hiring managers used to require applicants to list references on their resumes. You could name three professional contacts to verify the information on your resume. However, most hiring managers don’t need references as soon as they read your resume. They make a decision based on the information alone, then call you in for an interview or take you out of the running.

You should have three professional references in your notes, though. You might need to give the information to the hiring manager after your interview if they choose to move you ahead in the process.

Read the job description carefully. Some companies might mention that they want references with the application, so you could add them to your resume. You could also include this section and specify that references are available upon request, though it’s not necessary.

Below is an example of an Australian resume that gives you the basic format. Of course, since a professional with an extensive work history should have at least three pages of content, you’ll want to expand from this general foundation, but it’s a great starting point.

First and Last Name

Home Address

Phone Number

Email Address

Career Summary

Graphic designer with ten years of experience seeking to move from print multimedia to advertising campaigns. Expert use of Adobe Creative Cloud.

Print Production Manager at Global Graphics, 2013 to present

Conceptualize visuals based on the company’s rough drafts

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, Art University, 2016

Associate of Art in Graphic Design, Graphic Community College, 2013

Conversational experience with Spanish

Creating an Australian resume isn’t too different from the basic format, so you shouldn’t have trouble spotlighting your experience and education. Make sure you use Australian English and put your best foot forward to stand out from the crowd. Happy job hunting!

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Accessibility

Use this sample resume as a basis for your own resume if you:

Have completed (or are currently completing) VCE
Have had some formal (paid) work experience

For sample resumes designed for other levels of education/work experience, check out our Sample CVs page .

Download this sample resume

Sample Resume: VCE + Work experience - Word (142.11 KB)
Sample Resume: VCE + Work experience - PDF (124.18 KB)

If you have trouble with this sample resume, please contact us at [email protected] .

Features of this resume

This sample resume highlights:

The skills you've developed from your paid work
Your personal attributes

It features:

A marketing statement highlighting past experience and capabilities
Key skills relevant to the job (and examples of how you've used them)
Software skills relevant to the job and industry
A description and demonstration of personal qualities that are appropriate to the job
Employment history that demonstrates your skills and character
Volunteering that demonstrates your skills and character

As well as paid work, you can put the following on your resume:

Sport or community participation (if it's relevant to the job or demonstrates your good character)
Relevant work placements or work experience
Written testimonials that prove your capabilities and skills
Hobbies or interests relevant to the job or industry

How long should your resume be?

This sample is two pages long, but a one-page resume is fine if you're just starting out in the world of work.

If it ends up three pages long, you're including too much information. Try shortening some sections or cutting some things out.

More information

For more about resumes and cover letters, check out these pages:

Sample resumes
Sample Cover Letters
How to Write a Resume
How to Write a Cover Letter

Aaron Zlatkovic

Email: [email protected] Mobile: XXXX XXX XXX

Recent school leaver seeking to start a career in administration

Highly communicative individual with strong interpersonal skills and an ability to adapt to working in team environments. Motivated by challenge, an astute and dedicated student working to the highest of ability and effectively managing the challenges of part-time employment while successfully completing VCE. Ongoing volunteer engagement demonstrates a focus on community, while work in customer service field demonstrates reliability, honesty, integrity and ability to collaborate.

Key Skills:

Customer Service (phone and face to face)
Problem solving
Cash management
Sales reconciliations
Transaction processing
Data processing
Inventory control
Store-based security
Stock receipting
End-of-day processing
Sales negotiations
Product selection

Software Skills: Microsoft Word ~ Microsoft Excel ~ Microsoft Outlook ~ Firefox ~ POS Terminal ~ EFTPOS

Certificate II in Business Administration Campbellfield High School 2014

VCE Campbellfield High School 2014 ATAR: 79.2

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Effective Communication Skills : Articulate communicator with an appreciation for the different communication styles required when working with other team members or with customers.
Honest and Reliable: Able to take on tasks with a degree of responsibility due to strong morals and ethics, ensuring honesty and reliability.
Flexible: Understands the need to remain flexible to support last-minute demands and changes. Comfortable with changing environments and situations ensuring the ability to remain flexible and adaptable.
Time Management: Dedicated to effectively prioritising and managing time by allocating tasks and activities and keeping track of them in diaries and daily to-do lists.

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

KSmart (2013 - 2014) Customer Service Assistant & Lay-By Assistant

Working on a casual basis, this position involved meeting general customer service demands and assisting with processing customer lay-bys and stock requests.

Achievements and Contributions:

Customer Service: Provided customer service at registers, lay-by counter and on retail floor. Responded to all customer enquiries providing support and guidance as required.
Cash Management: Ensured accurate management of all cash sales. Counted out all amounts of cash in front of the customer to minimise conflict and ensure accurate reconciliation of daily sales.
Stock Control: Returned stock to the floor and assisted with restocking of products as required. Supported visual merchandising standards while setting up new displays and rotating required stock.
Transaction Processing: Created customer records when processing lay-bys, stock movements and refunds. Ensured stock was allocated and all required information was accurately recorded.
Sales Reconciliations: Assisted shift supervisor with reconciliation of sales transactions. Provided support by re-checking while helping to resolve discrepancies.

Maccas (2014) Front Counter Assistant

First-time casual position with this well-known fast food outlet involved undertaking extensive training in customer service skills and sales techniques.

Customer Service: Assisted customers with all orders. Ensured the accurate collection of information relating to specific orders and special requests.
Transaction Processing: Managed cash and EFTPOS payments. Accurately recorded all cash movements while following policies on large note transactions and cash out.
Cleaning: Attended to shift cleaning duties including general cleaning, rubbish removal and floor mopping to meet both HACCP and Food Safety regulations.

STUDENT WORK PLACEMENTS

Taylor Smith Partners - Receptionist (2-Week Work Placement - 2013)

Administration: Typed general communication and letters to customers and businesses as directed. Ensured accurate development of communication by providing correspondence to supervisor for approval.
Records Processing: Entered customer information into internal records management system. Updated existing customer records while creating new data files as directed.
Visitor Management: Greeted all visitors to site and ensured they understood their obligations and expectations while on site. Ensured all visitors added details to visitor log.

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS

St Vincent De Paul (2014)

Provided support during various fundraising activities for local community group. Assisted at events and gatherings including providing suggestions for ways to meet fundraising targets. Personally attended various events, including spending time with homeless youth in Melbourne CBD.

Melton Community Gardens (2014 - Current)

Worked in community gardens assisting members of local community with planting and caring for their own allocated sections. Assisted in setup and preparation of community garden including general repair and maintenance works.

PROFESSIONAL REFEREES

Carmen Smith Customer Service Manager KSmart Phone: XX XXXX XXXX

Allan Blue Maintenance Manager Melton Community Gardens Phone: XX XXXX XXXX

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How to Write Your Teen’s First Resume

August 21, 2018

Do you have a teen who’s about to apply for their first job? They’re probably feeling excited at the prospect of earning their own money, being a bit more independent, and making new friends. But first thing’s first: if they want to get a job, they’ll need a resume.

Writing a resume for your teen (or helping them write their own) might sound simple… after all, there’s not a lot to write about yet. But in some ways, that’s what makes it more challenging.

I’ve put together some tips and a super basic format to make it as simple as possible to write a resume for your teen. You might be surprised at just how much experience they already have and how impressive their resume can look, even if they’ve never had a job before.

Before we get into it…

What makes a teen’s resume different?

Let’s state the obvious for a sec. It can feel like catch-22 for your teen when it comes to applying for a job. You need a job to get experience. But you need experience to get a job. A well-written resume bridges the gap so that a school-leaver or student who’s never worked before can demonstrate enough experience and value to secure a paid job.

Bridging this gap means writing their resume a little differently than, say, your own… since you’ve probably got a couple of decades of professional experience to talk about! You’ll have to think outside the box about what counts as “work” experience.

To make it super easy for you, I’ve created a basic layout for a teen’s resume below. I’ll walk you through it with instructions on what to write under each heading.

Contact details at the top

The standard resume format includes a clear heading at the top with the applicant’s name. Just under that you’ll include the applicant’s contact details: ● Mobile ● Email ● Location (suburb and state)

Don’t get fancy – make it super easy for the hiring manager to find the information they’re looking for.

Just a note on contact details. If your child has their own email address, make sure it’s something sensible. Ideally, it should resemble their name and not include any words that might give the wrong impression. If not, have them set up a professional email address through a free host like Gmail. And ask them to consider what might happen if they miss a call. Do they have a sensible voicemail message set up? If not, they’ll need to fix that too.

Tip: You don’t need as much contact info on your resume as you used to a few years ago. Date of birth, marital status, fax number, multiple phone numbers, and street numbers aren’t really necessary. Oh and while I’m at it… leave your photo off as well!

Professional profile

Right underneath the contact details, you’ll include the professional profile. Obviously, a professional profile for a teenager’s first resume is going to be very different from someone who’s studied at a higher level or had years of experience in the workplace. Instead of professional skills, you can talk about any soft skills that will support them in the workplace. Things you might mention (if they’re true for your teen) include:

Communication
Positive attitude
Friendly manner
Problem-solving
Strong work ethic
Working in a team
Independence
Time management
Decision making

You could use this opportunity to talk about where they’ve picked up these skills. For example, volunteering with a community group or being involved at school. If your teenager has their own transport, like a car and driver’s licence, this is a great place to mention it as well.

Use the professional profile to give a snapshot of your teen and the attributes that will make them a good candidate for the job. Don’t make it too long – a short paragraph is enough for this section. You’ll get the chance to talk about the specifics in the next couple of sections. We want to make sure this is a smoothly written paragraph. Think along the lines of a blurb on the back of a book, rather than disjointed sentences.

Skills and expertise

This next section can seem a bit tricky at first. After all, it probably looks like your teen is rather short in the skills and expertise department! But once again, I try to bring this back to soft skills backed by any relevant real-life experiences.

But before we do that, let’s take a step back. Think about the kind of job your teenager is applying for. Usually, first jobs will fall under one of four categories: manual labour, retail, hospitality, and care. They’ll probably start out performing very basic tasks on weekends, the occasional afternoon and through the school holidays. These tasks (while they can be challenging at times) don’t require a huge amount of upfront knowledge or technical skills. What your teen really needs to succeed in these roles are soft skills and abilities they’ve already picked up through school, from after-school activities like sports and from other life experiences. If you can demonstrate these skills to the hiring manager, you’ll have a much better chance of landing an interview… and then hopefully a job.

Let me give you some examples of how you might match soft skills and life experiences to the job your teen’s going for.

For example, if I think back far enough, I can remember I used to volunteer at a store around the corner from my mum and dad’s business. It was an op shop with a café attached to it, and they took on volunteers. It was actually a great opportunity to practice some real work skills before I got my first real job – not to mention I got a referee to include on my resume that I WASN’T related to! I learned how to work the coffee machine, do basic food handling and prep and follow hygiene practices. Add to that learning the importance of good communication, putting a smile on my face, and turning up on time. If I was writing a resume for teenage-me, those are absolutely things I’d include under skills and expertise.

Achievements

The next section on their resume is “Achievements”. Once again, since your teenager hasn’t really worked before, you might have to think outside the box a little. So, ask yourself (or ask your teen)… what things have they done so far in life that they’re proud of? What have they done that’s different to most of their peers? Here are a few ideas of achievements that might apply to your teen:

Sporting achievements – teams, games, commitments, prizes, etc.
Academic achievements – awards, extracurricular programs, scholarships, grades they’re proud of, etc.
General life achievements – learning how to drive, climbing a mountain, travelling overseas
Fundraisers – meeting or exceeding a fundraising target
Relationships – mentoring younger students, developing leadership skills

While your teen may not have real work experience yet, they probably have some of the above achievements they can talk about. And they’re worth mentioning on their resume because they tell a story about what your teen is like as a person and can perhaps indicate what they’ll be capable of in the workplace.

For example, I helped a young man with his resume recently and he was able to multitask like a CHAMP. We illustrated this by talking about how he’d represented his school at an extremely high level of sport. By demonstrating how he balanced his sporting and schooling commitments (including HSC prep!) we were able to reinforce his maturity, ability to multitask and manage competing priorities.

Work history

Having a “Work History” section for someone who’s never worked before might seem a little odd. But this section is standard for all resumes and there are still plenty of things you can include here. You just need to get creative. I don’t mean making stuff up… I mean interpreting certain activities as work-related even if they weren’t technically paid work.

For example:

Volunteer work
Community engagement activities
Helping out in the canteen with the local footy team
Coaching kids at netball
Refereeing hockey games
Babysitting for friends, family, and neighbours
Looking after neighbours’ pets, mail, or bins when they’re away
Any odd jobs

Why are these relevant? Your teen has to turn up at a certain time, they have set tasks to complete, they’re working under others, and engaging as part of the team.

You might also use this section to talk about school. After all, it’s no secret that your teen is still in school or has recently left. So, you might talk about what school they’re at and what year they’re in (or when they graduated). But you don’t need to go into detail on grades and subjects.

Tip : When you write the cover letter, you could potentially talk about grades and subjects a little if it’s relevant. For example, if your teen’s pretty good at maths and they’re applying for a retail job that involves cash handling, it might be worth mentioning.

So, what about the “Hobbies” section? I always advise against including these in a professional resume, even for a teenager, because I just don’t feel like it adds value. If you have enough content elsewhere, I’d strongly recommend leaving this section out.

The only reason you’d keep it might be if their resume is looking a bit empty and you really feel that it would add something. If you do include hobbies, try to keep them relevant, so that there’s some connection to soft skills, life-skills, and the jobs your teen is applying for.

Because at the end of the day, it really depends on the individual and the job they’re applying for. You’re not creating a cookie cutter resume. You’re talking about why your teen is suitable for a role.

That’s it! But before you hit send…

Check your spelling and grammar. If you’ve got the time, set aside the resume for a day and come back to it – you’ll see obvious issues you might’ve missed before. Read each sentence out loud to make sure the sentences flow properly and are easy to read. Or better still, ask someone else to proofread it for you.

Over to you…

I really hope this blog helps you and your teen feel more confident in putting together a first resume. It’s an exciting time… this piece of paper will help them land their first job! If you’d like to give your teen a leg up, check out our Resume in a Day course.

Resume in a Day gives you access to four guided templates, a suite of video tutorials, the Acing Your Interview ebook, my short course Going Beyond the STAR Method, as well as examples of well done and ‘needs some work’ resume extracts.

With lifetime course access, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Writing a resume in Australia (CV) – Guide and templates

Are you planning a trip Down Under, and want to find a job while you’re over here? The first step to working in Australia is creating a great CV – but did you know that Australian CVs are quite different to English or American ones? Navigating the Australian job market can be challenging, especially for those new to the country. This guide provides you with essential tips and templates to craft a resume that stands out in the Australian job market.

Table of Contents

Tailoring your Resume for different Job types

As for all countries, a CV is an essential part of the job search in Australia. However, depending on the types of jobs you want to do in the country, your CV will be different. Do you see yourself working short-term on a farm, in a casual hospitality job, or in a long-term job in a city in your specific field? The steps for finding a job will vary depending on what you’re looking for. Now get creating the perfect CV to land you your dream job !

Do you need a resume for a farm job?

A resume is not always necessary to work in Australia . They won’t always ask you for one for farm jobs like fruit picking . If you are looking for a job on a farm, emailing a farmer your CV will often be a waste of time. It is better to go directly to the farms and speak with the owners or even call them and ask them if they are hiring. Independent farmers will usually not ask you for a CV in person but we still advise you to have one ready, for example if you have to apply online (this happens for some large companies).

CV for a long-term job

If you are looking for a long-term or stable job with a small or larger company, having a well-written CV that follows Australian criteria will be essential , especially for any job that requires experience or qualifications. Highlight specific professional skills, career progression, and significant achievements.

CV for a casual job

If you are looking for a more casual or temporary job in a supermarket or in catering, your CV will mainly serve to prove that you have a basic knowledge of English . It is also an excellent way to meet managers directly by handing in your CV. Focus on flexibility, customer service skills, and quick learning ability.

Since January 2024, working holiday visa makers can work for the same employer in Australia for more than 6 months without asking permission to the government if your work is: – in different locations and work in any one location does not exceed 6 months – in plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia – in certain industries (aged care and disability services, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction and mining, in northern Australia only) – natural disaster recovery work – in critical sectors, including agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care and childcare, anywhere in Australia – in the critical sector of tourism and hospitality anywhere in Australia. For any other situations not covered above, you must ask for permission to work longer than 6 months with one employer.

Certificates and trainings required to work in Australia

To work in certain industries in Australia, you will need to complete vocational training and obtain a certificate.

The most well-known certificates are:

the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol): mandatory to work in an establishment where alcohol is served.
the White Card : mandatory for all building trades, such as construction
the RSG/RCG : mandatory to work in gambling establishments, such as casinos and game rooms.
Barista : If you want to work in a coffee shop like Starbucks, MacCoffees or Gloria Jeans Coffee, you will need this training.

Showing on your CV that you have the certificates required will be a real asset when job hunting.

Save money on your RSA in Australia

Pay less for your RSA course (Responsible Service of Alcohol). With this certificate, you will be allowed to work in all places where alcohol is served or sold.

Download your free Australian resume templates

Download our customizable resume templates designed for the Australian job market. These templates cater to different job types and highlight the structure and content that employers expect.

👨‍🍳 CV template for working in hospitality in Australia

👨‍💼 cv template for working in marketing in australia.

Tip : For emailing your Australian resume, save the file in PDF format. This will prevent the layout from changing depending on different computers/operating systems.

Understanding Australian Resume Standards

Length of your resume.

First of all, you should know that an resume in Australia is often longer and more detailed than you might be used to. Resumes in Western Europe are usually kept to two pages, whereas an Australian resume can easily go up to five or even seven pages for a specialised job. So don’t hesitate to be specific about your experience and personal qualities.

You will also need to adapt your CV to the position you are applying for! This may seem logical, but consider presenting your experience differently depending on the job you are applying for. Some tasks, responsibilities or skills will be more relevant than others.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule! To work in the hospitality industry as a waiter or dishwasher, for example, it is advisable to opt for a shorter CV comprising 1 or 2 pages to make it easier to read quickly. (This does not apply if you are aiming for, for example, a management position in a large hotel!) Also remember to indicate the Australian certificates that are necessary mandatory for the job, such as your RSA .

Resume in Australia: Photo or no photo?

It is not generally recommended to include a photo on your Australian CV. You should also avoid including your age or date of birth as there are age discrimination laws in Australia.

However, make sure to add a section for references . You will need to include the names and contacts of previous employers who would be happy to recommend you to a new employer. Choose people who speak English and with whom you have had a good relationship.

Key Sections of an Australian Resume

Here are the different sections that must appear on your Australian resume. The order of the sections is up to you . For instance, if you have little professional experience but have completed a course or degree related to the job you’re applying for, put the “Education” section before “Work Experience”. If you are looking for a job in catering, making the “Skills” section (including your RSA) appear before your work experience could be a good idea. As a general rule, start with your most recent experience.

1 – Personal Details

Make sure to include your:

Local Australian address*
Australian phone number
Professional email address
Optional : your LinkedIn profile (highly appreciated in Australia for certain types of jobs).

* The majority of employers prefer to hire workers already in Australia. So put down a local address, even if it is a backpackers hostel!

Reminder: It’s not necessary to include details like your date of birth, marital status, or photo, as these could lead to unconscious bias.

2 – Introduction: Quick presentation of yourself and what you are looking for

Describe your professional motivation in two or three sentences. What you are looking for in a job, and why your qualities make you the right person for this specific job . Remember to specify your availability (eg. Available from January 7th 2024). This is a very short, but very important part of your resume – it’s like a mini cover letter. The idea is that your potential employer will glance at it and makes a decision on whether he or she is interested in reading the rest of your resume in a split-second.

This part can be short if you are looking for a temporary or holiday job. For example to find a job in service, you can write “I am a UK traveler on a Working Holiday Visa and I am looking for a position as a waitress in Brisbane. I have my RSA certificate and I am available to start asap.” You can also decide to say more about yourself if you wish or to highlight your skills more.

The Australian resume is typically more comprehensive than in some other countries. It’s not just about listing your experience; it’s about presenting yourself as the ideal candidate for the job.

3 – Work Experience: “Employment history”

Provide a detailed description of the jobs you have done in the past. This includes your tasks and the responsibilities you had within the company . Highlight what you contributed to the company of your previous employers (e.g. if you worked at a bar and set up a Facebook page for them). Employers like to see that you show initiative.

As a traveller, we often want to get away from the work we did at home and try something new. If this applies to you, emphasise what you did in the past that could be an asset for this new job . For instance, if you are applying for a receptionist position, specify that you have experience hosting clients at another company.

Specify the name of the business and its industry , the start and end dates of your contract , your previous job titles , and the city and country where you worked.

Put your previous work experience in reverse chronological order , with your most recent job on the top. If you have had many different jobs in the past, only include those related to the job which you are applying for.

4 – Training and education: “Education and training”

List your education in reverse chronological order. This section should include both your degree and any professional training you have obtained such as internships, apprenticeships. For each point specify the name of the educational course, dates, school/ institution, city and country of graduation .

The Australian school system may differ from your home countries. In principle, it is built up as follows:

High school degree;
Bachelor’s degree;
Advanced diploma ou Higher national certificate;
Master’s degree;
PhD (Doctorate).

5 – “Skills and strengths”

Highlight both hard and soft skills relevant to the job you’re applying for. Mention any certifications , languages, or technical skills .

For a job in graphic design , specify your computer skills in a ‘computer skills’ sub-section and your soft skills in a ‘personal qualities’ section (e.g. your creativity and adaptability);
To work in hospitality , emphasise your ability to work as part of a team, your organisational and interpersonal skills.

Specify the different languages you speak and your level of competency (e.g. native, intermediate, beginner). You can also add other diplomas and certificates here, such as the RSA , White Card , and Driver’s license.

This section is very important when looking for a job in Australia. If you are not a native English speaker, any potential employer will want to know whether your English is good enough for the job you’re applying for. Also, considering that for many jobs you are required to drive, it is important to mention whether you have a driver’s license or not.

6 – Hobbies: “Hobbies and interests”

Do not neglect this part of your CV, but do not list all your hobbies either! In fact, your activities, passions and commitments will allow your future employer to better understand you. Highlight the activities you do outside the professional sphere. Whether practising yoga, being a soccer captain or even participating in community activities, these elements reflect your personality and your qualities.

Volunteer Experience/Extra-curricular Activities: Especially for those with limited work experience, such activities can demonstrate your skills and commitment.

7 – References: “Referees”

Here you include the names of people you worked with in the past and their contact details . Make sure to check with them that they agree to be listed as a contact before adding them to this list. Your future employer will probably contact them to find out more about you and the way you work, so you want to only add people that will have something positive to say. If you are not comfortable giving this information at first, just add their names and state ‘Contact details available on request’ . This will also give you the opportunity to inform your contacts that they may get a call!

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Take advantage of our special offers to get your White Card and work in the construction industry.

Tips & tricks for a great Australian Resume

Put australian contact details.

Once your resume is in an Australian format, you should update your phone number and address as soon as possible.

Australian employers are much more likely hire candidates who are already in Australia. Those who have an Australian address and phone number will have a head start.

If you do not have an address in Australia, as many travellers do not, you can add the address of your hostel or a local post office. You will always be contacted by phone or mail, so it does not make a difference.

Add a title to your Resume

The CV title will allow the employer to quickly identify which position you are applying for. Write the position offered in the title of your resume. For example: – Barista Position – Waiter Position – Manager Position – Farm Hand.

Tailor your resume to the job

In fact, depending on the job for which you are applying, your experiences, degrees, passions, etc. must be revised to be in line with the job. Your CV must be targeted ! Don’t include information that doesn’t add value or is not relevant to the job you’re applying for.

For example, if you are looking for a job in construction but do not have the experience, highlight your DIY skills, your personal DIY-related experiences. If you are looking for a sales job and have never had one before, highlight your past customer relationships as a waitress or in admin.

Digital Literacy

In today’s job market, being tech-savvy is a must. Include your proficiency in software like Microsoft Office, digital marketing tools, or any industry-specific software.

Visual Appeal and Readability

As for the layout and the visual aspect of your CV, a word of advice: go for the simplest option . Avoid overly extravagant colours and layouts. The content is much more important than the format. Australians prefer a clean and clear CV. Use a professional and readable font . Keep the size consistent, usually between 10 and 12 points.

There are many free tools online to help you create your Australian resume. Many platforms offer simple and beautiful CV templates. You can fill them out free online then download them. CVDesignR and Canva are good options.

Ensure your resume is clearly laid out , with headings and bullet points to facilitate easy reading. Avoid large blocks of text.

Print your resume

Make sure to print quite a few resumes (20-30) to hand in to places in person . You will probably want to modify your CV as time goes on, so it does not make sense to print many more. In most cities, you will find a store called Office Works . They offer attractive rates for printing (from $0.08 per copy). Otherwise, you have the option to go to your local library . The problem with this is that sometimes it is necessary to buy a card to recharge with a minimum amount in dollars, so you end up paying more.

Do not print too many copies at once. You may not distribute them all, or you may want or need to make some changes to it over time to bring it up to date.

If you want to print a few copies, between 1 and 3, ask to have your prints done at your youth hostel, at a travel agency for backpackers or at a shop that does photo development. It will cost you less.

Hand out your resume personally

Try to walk around and hand out your CV directly to employers if you are searching for work in restaurants, bars, shops etc. Do not hesitate to ask to speak to the manager – this will allow you to meet your potential future employer and make more of an impression. First impressions are important. Wear clean and professional clothes. Avoid applying in a restaurant dressed in shorts, flip-flops etc. Sometimes handing your CV to a manager can turn into a job interview on the spot , so be prepared.

Use Australian English spelling .
Typos and grammatical errors . Proofread your resume multiple times or have someone else review it.
If you’re from overseas, clarify your work rights in Australia.
Be honest. Australian employers value integrity and straightforwardness.

Your resume is your ticket to the Australian job market. Use this guide to showcase your skills and experiences effectively. Remember, a well-crafted resume opens doors to exciting career opportunities in Australia.

How to get a professional job in Australia for foreigners

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Resumes Cover Letters

How to Write a Resume with No Experience

In this post, use a personal statement, highlight your attitude and personality, emphasise your transferable skills, make a personal connection, find examples of relevant experience, use a solid resume template, get started with a resume template.

In this post Show

Are you looking for your first job in high school, or entering the workforce for the first time? Here’s exactly how to write a compelling resume as a high school student without any work experience.

The catch-22 of applying for jobs as a young person is that in order to score a job, you need experience, but in order to get experience, you need to have had a job! Follow the points in this resume template to craft the perfect resume and get closer to landing your first job, even as a young person with minimal experience.

While personal summaries or statements at the top of your resume aren’t necessary, they can help to add substance to a beginner’s resume . Your personal statement allows you to talk about your long-term career goals, and assert your enthusiasm and suitability for the role.

Noticed how so many job descriptions talk about having a positive attitude or a strong work ethic or being a team player? That’s because these traits are universally tied to being a fantastic employee. Hiring managers are often looking for someone with a great personality that they can then train up in the relevant skills.

Use your resume and cover letter to shine a light on the personality traits that would make you a great coworker and employee. This could be by including personal achievements that illustrate your drive and willingness.

When it comes to entry-level roles, recruiters and hiring managers tend to focus on the skills that make you a good all-rounder . Again, specific skills can often be learned on the job. Use the skills section of your resume to list skills like time management or problem-solving, which you’ve probably already developed through completing assignments and meeting deadlines at school. Other great skills to highlight as a young job seeker are organisational skills, the ability to multitask, or hands-on experience with IT, and soft skills like being a strong communicator and a people person.

You’ve probably heard that when it comes to the job search, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. A good strategy when applying for your first job is to call the recruiter or hiring manager to simply have a conversation about the job posting . If getting on the phone with someone isn’t possible, try researching the relevant point of contact on LinkedIn so that you’ll be able to have a personable conversation with them if you do get called into an interview.

Of course, the biggest dilemma young people have when writing their first resume is figuring out what to include in the experience section of their resumes when they don’t have traditional work experience. But when you dig deep, you’ll realise that you do have plenty of life experience to draw on . This could be:

Informal jobs you’ve worked like mowing the lawn for a neighbour or babysitting for a family member
Completing extracurricular activities at school or through a sports club
Completing an internship or apprenticeship
Participating in volunteer work
Any relevant coursework , especially if it involved leading a team or a project, or if the subject you studied relates to the job you are applying for

Following a pre-made resume format will help you create a more professional resume , despite not yet having industry experience. Utilise bullet points, check for typos, include your contact information and use a resume template to properly structure your application. Presenting your resume in a professional way can help you look more experienced than you are, and ensure that the automated applicant tracking systems recruiters often use won’t miss any vital info in your application.

With the above tips, there’s no reason your lack of professional experience will hold you back from scoring a stellar job!

Using a resume template will help you properly structure the information on your resume, and make your resume appear more professional.

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My first resume

This free sample resume, for young people seeking their first job, has an accompanying sample cover letter to help you put together a winning job application.

Trisha Sinclair

17 Petersvan Road Carlingford North SA 5992 Mobile: 0469 777 777 Email: [email protected]

I am interested in a waitressing position. I am available for shifts all weekend and after 3.30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Employment History

Babysitting for several families after school, on weekends and during school vacations
Regularly walk elderly neighbour's dogs and help with feeding

Achievements

Distinction in Maths Competition
Dux of Year 8, Carlingford High School
Grade 6 AMEB flute
Best and Fairest award for netball under 15s
Speak French
Member of school photography group
Member of Carlingford Youth Band

Subscribe to get this template for free!

Ready to find a new job.

Thanks for your enquiry

Good luck with your studies.

Anthony Albanese says Labor has created more jobs than any first-term government on record. Is that correct?

Fact Check Anthony Albanese says Labor has created more jobs than any first-term government on record. Is that correct?

tight shot anthony albanese wearing black framed glasses. VERDICT: More to the story

Taking to the social media platform X recently, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that enough jobs had been created under Labor to fill 13 major sports stadiums combined, including the Adelaide Oval, the Optus Stadium in Perth and the MCG in Melbourne.

"You could even throw in another whole MCG for good measure," Mr Albanese said, before claiming: "That's 790,000 new jobs created. More than any first term government on record."

So, have 790,000 new jobs been created since Labor was elected, and is this a record for a first-term government?

RMIT ABC Fact Check investigates.

The verdict

There's more to the story than Mr Albanese's claim suggests.

In February of this year, there were an additional 789,700 employed people in Australia compared to when Labor came to power in May 2022.

This was indeed the largest such increase for a first-term government since 1966, the earliest year for which broadly comparable data was available.

However, experts told Fact Check that looking at the raw numbers alone was problematic, particularly since it ignored the role of population growth.

With population growth taken into account, the data reveals there was a greater increase in headline employment under Bob Hawke's first-term Labor government over a comparable (21-month) period.

The Hawke government also fared better during its early months on various other employment measures recommended by experts, such as overall hours worked, the rate of underemployment and the share of new jobs that were full-time.

And, importantly, experts stressed that governments cannot take sole credit for "creating" jobs.

Nathanial Bradford welding as part of his TAFE course.

Taking credit

At various times over the last year, Mr Albanese and other senior Labor figures have taken credit for creating more jobs than any first-term government on record.

In May 2023, for instance, Treasurer Jim Chalmers told parliament that "we have seen the fastest jobs growth of any new government on record … and the strongest wages growth in more than a decade".

"These have been defining features of a government dedicated to secure jobs and better pay for our people."

The next month, Mr Albanese told ABC Radio that Labor had "created more jobs on our watch than any new government in history".

In August 2023, the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, claimed : "Our government has delivered half a million jobs, better jobs growth than any government on record over our first year."

And on March 19 of this year, Mr Albanese posted to X : "We've created more new jobs than any first term government on record."

Most recently, in an April 3 opinion piece published by the Hobart Mercury, Mr Albanese wrote that "more than 790,000 new jobs [had been] created since we came to office".

Source of the claim

Fact Check asked the prime minister's office to provide a source for Mr Albanese's "record" claim and received a response from a spokesman for Mr Chalmers.

"The comment is based on monthly labour force statistics from 1978 onwards and quarterly historical labour force statistics prior to 1978," the spokesman said.

These statistics reflect the results of the Labour Force Survey (LFS), conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

As Fact Check has noted in previous fact checks , the LFS provides data specifically relating to the number of people in employment, meaning it cannot account for people who hold more than one job.

The ABS has stated that although its employment estimates "are often misrepresented as the number of jobs", they in fact "provide a measure of … the number of people who have a job".

Bill Mitchell , the director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity at the University of Newcastle, also noted the labour force data provided a net measure of employment rather than a count of new jobs created.

"[M]any jobs are created and destroyed each month, and the net outcome is the difference between those flows," he told Fact Check.

Regardless, five experts contacted by Fact Check said the labour force dataset was the most useful for assessing Mr Albanese's claim.

According to Mark Wooden , an emeritus professor at the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research at the University of Melbourne, it "is widely recognised as the best source of information on employment levels and trends in Australia".

Where does the 'record' begin?

As noted by Mr Chalmers's spokesman, the LFS has been conducted since 1960, originally on a quarterly basis , and then on a monthly basis since 1978.

Professor Mitchell cautioned against comparing quarterly and monthly figures.

"The problem is that the old quarterly data is not comparable to the monthly data, so trying to go back prior to February 1978 is fraught with problems and is unadvisable," he told Fact Check.

In an email, an ABS spokesman similarly said the quarterly and monthly figures "aren't strictly comparable".

But there was "also no major time series break" in 1978, he said, so the bureau was "okay [with] presenting graphs covering 1966 and onwards".

In a 2012 article , the ABS said comparing data published prior to 1966 with later releases was problematic, "mainly because, prior to 1964, the LFS was run only in six state capital cities and data detail between 1960 and 1965 is fairly limited".

Jeff Borland , a professor of economics at the University of Melbourne, told Fact Check that looking at the data starting from 1966 was "as far [back] as is sensible".

Comparing first-term governments

Gough Whitlam speaks on the Parliament House steps

Mr Albanese compared Labor's record to other "first term governments".

There have been seven of these since 1966, elected under prime ministers :

Gough Whitlam (December 1972)

Malcolm Fraser (December 1975)

Bob Hawke (March 1983)

John Howard (March 1996)

Kevin Rudd (December 2007)

Tony Abbott (September 2013)

Anthony Albanese (May 2022)

At the time of Mr Albanese's claim, the most recent labour force data was for February of this year: 21 months after he was sworn in as prime minister.

Fact Check has analysed the same time frame for each of the previous first-term governments.

Only quarterly data is available for the Whitlam and Fraser governments. In these cases, Fact Check has examined the period starting from the reference month closest to when each prime minister was first sworn into office.

What the raw numbers show

Seasonally adjusted labour force data shows that there were 14,269,600 employed people in Australia in February 2024.

This represents an increase of 789,700 people compared to when the Albanese government came to power in May 2022, in line with the prime minister's claim.

The data also shows this was indeed the biggest nominal increase to occur over the first 21 months of any first-term government since 1966.

The next-largest increases were recorded under the governments of Hawke (298,000 people), Abbott (252,800) and Rudd (227,900).

In percentage terms, the increase under Mr Albanese remains the largest since 1966, at 5.9 per cent, followed by that recorded under Mr Hawke, at 4.8 per cent.

What about population growth?

Notably, the above data does not take into account population growth, which Professor Borland said provided "an advantage to later governments" when it came to absolute increases in employment.

Professor Wooden noted that the labour force was "rapidly growing due to immigration" which made "looking at the absolute number of jobs … a little misguided".

Immigration is "a lever that the federal government can pull that will cause employment to quickly grow … since more people means more demand for goods and services", he said.

"But more people also means more people seeking work."

Professor Mitchell echoed this point, telling Fact Check that emphasising the change in raw numbers was "very misleading" because the population had grown "quite quickly in the recent period".

To "really assess the relative performance" of the labour market, he said, "one has to adjust for underlying population growth".

All three professors suggested looking at the employment-to-population ratio, published by the ABS as part of the labour force dataset.

According to the February data, that ratio rose by half a percentage point — from 63.7 per cent to 64.2 per cent — over the first 21 months of the Albanese government.

This was a better result than that recorded under five of the six previous first-term governments.

However, it was outpaced by growth during the first 21 months of the Hawke government, under which the employment-to-population ratio increased by 0.9 of a percentage point.

Comparing other 21-month periods

Ultimately, the above numbers reflect the narrow time period selected, which Professor Wooden said was one reason why "these sorts of comparisons are not very helpful".

"If I had chosen the last 21 months of the Morrison government, for example, we would find the employment-to-population ratio rising from 60.3 to 63.7; so by a massive 3.4 percentage points, and far more than the rise under Albanese," he said.

"So if the Albanese deserves credit for the improvement in employment under their period in office," Professor Wooden queried, "surely the previous Coalition [government] should be given big wraps for overseeing a remarkable recovery in employment?"

To illustrate the point, the charts below show changes in the employment-to-population ratio and total number of people in employment over rolling 21-month periods.

Beyond the headline data

While Mr Albanese's claim centred on total jobs, Alan Duncan, the director of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre at Curtin University, and Professor Mitchell said it was also worth considering other measures when assessing the relative performance of the jobs market.

According to labour force data on full-time and part-time status, for example, the rise in total employment over the Albanese government's first 21 months was driven primarily by full-time workers, who made up 56 per cent of the increase in people employed.

That was lower than the full-time share added under the first-term Hawke government (83.3 per cent), but higher than that of more recent governments.

(Equivalent data was not available for the Whitlam and Fraser governments.)

Professor Mitchell also pointed to the underemployment rate , which measures, as a share of the labour force, the number of employed people seeking "more hours of work than they currently have".

The underemployment rate rose by 0.6 of a percentage point during the first 21 months of the Albanese government — again, beating out all but the Hawke government, which oversaw a drop of 0.8 percentage points.

Additionally, the ABS data shows that under the Albanese government the total number of hours worked each month increased by 4.8 per cent, the second greatest such increase after a 5.8 per cent boost under the Hawke government.

Do governments create jobs?

As for who gets credit for having "created" a record number of jobs, experts said there was more to it than governments often claim.

"No government (or PM) can take sole credit (or blame) for changes in aggregate employment levels", Professor Wooden said in an email.

"Government policies clearly do affect employment levels, but it is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to separate their effect from the multitude of other forces (both domestic and international) that influence the demand for and availability of workers."

According to Professor Duncan: "As a general rule, there tends to be much credit claimed by governments of all persuasions — and blame by opposition parties — for outcomes not entirely within the government's control."

He said that while the government was "free to claim they helped with Australia's employment growth", businesses "grow their employment base on the basis of many factors — some related to government policy, but some related to local and global demands, business development, investment decisions and the like."

Professor Mitchell agreed:

"The government does not create all the jobs that emerge in the economy," he said.

"Politicians are quick to claim success when employment is growing and are mute when it is not, but the reality is that most jobs are created in the private sector."

He added, however, that "the policy environment is crucial to how well the private sector is performing, and that is down to the government."

Principal researcher: Ellen McCutchan

Anthony Albanese, X, March 19, 2024
Anthony Albanese, X, March 27, 2024
Anthony Albanese, Boosting workers' pay will help Australians not just to get by, but to get ahead, opinion article, Hobart Mercury, 3 April, 2024
Anthony Albanese, ABC Radio Melbourne, 29 June, 2023
Andrew Leigh, House of Representatives, 2 August, 2023
Jim Chalmers, House of Representatives, 22 May, 2023
RMIT ABC Fact Check, Fact check: Have 100,000 new jobs been created this year?, September 19, 2014
RMIT ABC Fact Check, Bill Shorten cherrypicking manufacturing job loss figures, February 19, 2014
RMIT ABC Fact Check, Fact check: Were 301,000 jobs created in 2015?, February 18, 2016
ABS, Labour Force Survey, February 2024, March 21, 2024
ABS, Estimating Jobs in the Australian Labour Market, March 21, 2013
ABS, Labour Force, Australia Methodology, March 21, 2024
ABS, Fifty Years of the Labour Force: Now and Then, Year Book Australia, 2012, May 24, 2012
ABS, Labour Force Historical Timeseries, Australia, 1966 to 1984, April 2, 2007
X (formerly Twitter)

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Top 10 tips for writing your first resumé

1. Tailor your resumé to the job

2. Structure your resumé with signposts

3. Use full sentences

4. Be conscious of your design elements

5. Don’t neglect your experience (even if it’s not work experience)

Resumé-writing tips for students with no work experience

Resumé-writing tips for students with some work experience

6. Ask a friend or family member to review it

7. Ask a mentor or teacher to review it

8. List your education and experience in reverse chronological order

9. Pay attention to spelling and formatting

10. Don’t let your resumé stand alone

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How to Write Your First Job Resume [For 2024]

How to Write Your First Job Resume

#1. Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template

#2. Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly)

#3. Include a Resume Objective

#4. List Your Education (In Detail)

#5. Instead of Work Experience, Focus On This

#6. Highlight Your Skills

Tailor Skills to the Job Ad

#7. Mention Optional Sections

#8. Stick to the One-Page Limit

#9. Get Inspired by This First-Job Resume

First Job Resume FAQ

Key Takeaways

How To Write an Australian Resume

In This Guide:

Career Profile

Do You Print A Resume Double Sided

Resume template: VCE + work experience

Download this sample resume

Features of this resume

How long should your resume be?

More information

Aaron Zlatkovic

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

STUDENT WORK PLACEMENTS

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL REFEREES

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How to Write Your Teen’s First Resume

What makes a teen’s resume different?

Contact details at the top

Professional profile

Skills and expertise

Achievements

Work history

That’s it! But before you hit send…

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Writing a resume in Australia (CV) – Guide and templates

Tailoring your Resume for different Job types

Do you need a resume for a farm job?

CV for a long-term job

CV for a casual job

Certificates and trainings required to work in Australia

Download your free Australian resume templates

👨‍🍳 CV template for working in hospitality in Australia

Understanding Australian Resume Standards

Resume in Australia: Photo or no photo?

Key Sections of an Australian Resume

1 – Personal Details

2 – Introduction: Quick presentation of yourself and what you are looking for

3 – Work Experience: “Employment history”

4 – Training and education: “Education and training”

5 – “Skills and strengths”

6 – Hobbies: “Hobbies and interests”

7 – References: “Referees”

Tips & tricks for a great Australian Resume

Add a title to your Resume

Tailor your resume to the job