Australian Resume Template

Built for Pakistani candidates applying to employers in Australia and New Zealand. Two things decide whether these applications get read: your work rights and your referees. This template puts a work rights line directly under your contact details and gives Professional Referees a section of its own.

The section names follow Australian usage rather than American: Career Profile, Key Skills, Employment History, Education, Professional Development, Languages and Professional Referees. Plain Arial in black with a dark green accent, single column, no photograph and no date of birth, which is the convention in both countries.

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Who this template is for

This template is for applications that will be read in Australia or New Zealand. Pick this template if you are:

• Applying for jobs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland or Wellington
• A skilled professional in nursing, engineering, IT, accounting, construction or the trades, where both countries recruit internationally
• A Pakistani student already in Australia or New Zealand on a student visa with work rights, applying for part time or graduate work
• A graduate on a post study work visa looking for your first professional role
• Already holding permanent residency or citizenship and applying from Pakistan or from within the country
• Applying through SEEK, Jora or an Australian recruitment agency
• Being asked for referees at the application stage rather than after the interview

Why this template works for Australian applications

Work rights are stated before anything else

Directly under your contact details sits a line reading "Work Rights: Eligible to work in Australia/New Zealand, visa details available upon request". Employers in both countries filter heavily on this, because the cost and timeline of sponsorship decides whether they can hire you at all. A resume that leaves it unanswered is often set aside unread.

Professional Referees is a real section

Australian and New Zealand employers commonly ask for two referees, and they do contact them. The template carries a Professional Referees section that either lists the referees you supply or states that they are available on request. Either is acceptable; having no referee section at all is what looks unfamiliar.

Section names match local usage

Career Profile rather than Objective. Employment History rather than Work Experience. Professional Development rather than Certifications. These are small differences and a local reader notices all of them. Using the right vocabulary signals you understand the market.

No photograph, by design

There is no photo slot on this template. Australian and New Zealand employers do not expect one, and many organisations prefer not to receive one at all. Leaving it out is correct here, even though the opposite is true for Gulf and most European applications.

Built to clear automated screening

Single column, Arial, ordinary text headings, no tables or graphics. The large job boards and most mid sized employers in both countries process applications through recruitment systems, and this layout extracts cleanly.

What is included in this template

• Single column layout in Arial, black text with a dark green accent, built for automated screening
• Header with your name, your job title, and email, phone and location separated by pipe characters
• Work Rights line directly under the contact details
• Career Profile section
• Key Skills section
• Employment History section
• Education section
• Professional Development section
• Languages section
• Professional Referees section, listing the referees you supply or stating that they are available upon request
• No photograph, no date of birth, no marital status, in line with local convention
• Watermark on the Free plan. Full template access on Basic at PKR 1,499 one time, or Pro at PKR 4,999 per month

How to write a strong Australian resume

Australian hiring is direct. Employers want to know what you can do, whether you can legally start, and who will confirm your record. Here is how to answer all three.

Make the work rights line specific if you can

The default wording is safe, but a precise statement is stronger when your position is good.

Do not overstate your position. Work rights are verified before an offer is finalised.

Name your referees properly, or say they are available

If you list referees, give the name, job title, organisation, and how to reach them, and ask their permission first. Two is the expected number, ideally a direct manager.

Explain your Pakistani employers in one line

An Australian reader will not know the size or sector of your previous employer. A short line of context turns an unknown name into a measurable job.

Address qualification recognition if it applies to you

Several occupations in both countries require a skills assessment or registration by an assessing authority before you can practise. If you have already started or completed that process, say so in Professional Development. Requirements differ by occupation and change over time, so check the current position for your own field.

Write in Australian English

Use organisation rather than organization, specialise rather than specialize, and metres rather than meters. It is a small thing that a local reader registers immediately, and Pakistani applicants often default to American spellings.

Two to three pages is normal

Unlike the American one page convention, Australian resumes run longer and include fuller employment history. Two pages for a mid career professional and three for a senior one are both unremarkable.

Frequently asked questions

Should I include a photograph?

No. Australian and New Zealand employers do not expect one and many organisations prefer not to receive one. This template has no photo slot for that reason.

Do I put my date of birth, marital status or religion?

No. None of them belong on a resume in these markets, and including them can count against you. If you are also applying to the Gulf or to continental Europe, keep a separate version using the template built for that market.

Do I need to list referees on the resume itself?

Either approach is accepted. Listing two named referees is strong when you have their permission; stating that referees are available on request is perfectly normal. Having no referee section at all is what looks out of place.

Can my referees be based in Pakistan?

Yes, and for most Pakistani applicants they will be. Give a full international phone number and an email address, and mention the time difference if you think it will help. What matters is that they can be reached and can confirm your record.

How long should an Australian resume be?

Two to three pages. These markets expect a fuller employment history than the one page American convention, and compressing a ten year career onto a single page tends to read as incomplete.

Does this template work for New Zealand as well?

Yes. The conventions are close enough that one template serves both, and the work rights line names both countries. Adjust the wording to the specific country you are applying to.

What if I am applying from Pakistan and need sponsorship?

Say so plainly in the work rights line. Some employers sponsor and many do not, and being clear saves you from progressing through interviews that were never going to result in an offer. Concealing it costs you more time than stating it.

Related templates

If the Australian template is not quite the right fit, consider these alternatives from our 17 template library:

• Canadian Resume Template for Canada, which follows similar conventions with a work status line
• Europass CV Template for the European Union, where the conventions are the opposite
• ATS Friendly Resume Template for the UK and for general online portal applications
• Nurse Healthcare Resume Template for nursing applications, where registration details lead
• Engineer PEC Resume Template for engineers listing project experience