Australian Job Market • 2026
Resume Builder for the Australian Job Market
Australia's job market has specific norms that sit between US and UK practices — slightly longer resumes, selection criteria for government roles, Seek.com.au as the dominant portal, and a strong culture of referee checks. Build a resume that meets Australian employer expectations across sectors.
Australian resume norms
Key sectors and cities
Sydney
Finance (Big 4 banks, investment banking), tech startups, professional services, media
Melbourne
Tech (Atlassian, Canva, Seek HQ), health and biomedical, manufacturing, education
Brisbane / Gold Coast
Resources, infrastructure, tourism, defence, and growing tech scene
Perth
Mining (BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue), LNG, oil and gas, engineering
Canberra
Federal government (APS), defence, cybersecurity — selection criteria mandatory
Selection criteria: the Australian government resume
If you're applying for an Australian Public Service (APS), state government, or university role, you will almost always need to address selection criteria separately from your resume. Each criterion is a competency like "demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships" and requires its own STAR-method response.
What selection criteria look like
Usually 4–8 criteria per role. Listed in the Position Description. Examples: 'Proven experience in project management,' 'Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills,' 'Ability to work effectively in a team environment.'
How to answer selection criteria
Use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for each criterion. Write 200–400 words per criterion. Be specific — use real examples from your work history. Vague claims without evidence will not score well.
Common mistakes
Ignoring a criterion (instant disqualification), using generic claims without evidence, writing the same example for multiple criteria, and exceeding word limits. Each criterion needs a distinct, specific story.
Private sector vs government
Most private sector Australian jobs (tech, finance, consulting) don't require selection criteria — just a resume and cover letter. Selection criteria are predominantly a government and higher education requirement.
How Resumly works for Australian job seekers
A strong resume is not just about design. It also needs the right wording, the right structure, and the right keywords for the role you are targeting. Resumly combines all three so job seekers can move from a rough draft to an application-ready resume much faster.
Step 1 — Upload or build your resume
Start from scratch in the builder or upload your current PDF or DOCX. This gives you a fast way to move from an old resume to a structured, editable version.
Step 2 — Run the ATS score checker
Get a realistic ATS score with keyword, skills, and structure feedback. Instead of guessing what recruiters want, you can see how an applicant tracking system reads your resume.
Step 3 — Paste the job description
Add the target job description so the platform knows what role you are aiming for. This improves keyword matching and helps the AI prioritize the skills and experience that matter most.
Step 4 — Let AI optimize for that role
Use AI to rewrite bullets, strengthen summaries, and improve skill coverage for the exact job you want. The goal is to make your resume clearer, more specific, and more relevant.
Step 5 — Download and apply with confidence
Preview the final resume, choose the template that fits you best, and download a polished PDF. You go into applications with a resume that is optimized for both recruiters and ATS systems.
Build an Australia-ready resume
Whether you're applying on Seek, LinkedIn, or directly to an Australian government agency, Resumly helps you create a professional resume that meets Australian norms — from the professional summary to referee formatting and ATS-compatible design.
Trusted by serious job seekers
Resumly helps professionals across Australia — from Sydney finance to Perth mining to Melbourne tech startups — build compelling resumes that meet Australian employer standards and pass ATS filters on Seek, LinkedIn, and company portals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Australians call a resume — resume or CV?
Both terms are used in Australia, but 'resume' is more common in the private sector while 'CV' is more common in academic and government contexts. For most Australian job applications, 'resume' is the preferred term. An academic CV in Australia, like in the UK, is longer and includes publications and research output.
How long should an Australian resume be?
Two to three pages is standard for Australian resumes, which is slightly longer than US norms but less than academic CVs. Recent graduates can keep it to one to two pages. Australian employers generally expect more detail than US employers — including a cover letter, selection criteria responses, and sometimes referee details.
What are selection criteria and how do I respond to them?
Selection criteria are specific competencies that government, public sector, and many large Australian employers require applicants to address. They're listed in the job advertisement and each one must be answered in a separate statement (typically 200–400 words each) using the STAR method. Not addressing selection criteria is an automatic disqualifier for many government roles. Private sector jobs rarely require them.
What job portals are most important in Australia?
Seek.com.au is the dominant job portal in Australia by a significant margin and should be your primary platform. LinkedIn is also heavily used, particularly for professional and corporate roles. Indeed Australia, Jora, and CareerOne are secondary. For government roles, each level of government has its own portal (APS Jobs for federal, and state-specific sites for state government roles).
Should I include referee details on an Australian resume?
Many Australian employers expect referee contact details on the resume or request them as a separate document. Include two professional referees — ideally direct managers — with their name, title, company, phone, and email. If you prefer not to list them, 'References available upon request' is acceptable, but be prepared to provide them quickly. Australian hiring processes often contact referees before making an offer.