Problem: Many resumes fail because they are too generic, poorly structured, or not tailored to the role.
Solution: A strong resume should be clear, concise, relevant, and easy for both recruiters and hiring managers to assess quickly.
Result: A more focused application that highlights your suitability for the role and improves your chances of securing an interview.
What to know as you write your resume:
Your resume is one of the most important tools you have when applying for a job. It gives employers and recruiters a clear view of your experience, skills, achievements, education, and qualifications.
A strong resume should do more than list your work history. It should show why your background is relevant to the role, how you have added value in previous positions, and what you can bring to a prospective employer.
Whether you are writing your first resume or updating an existing CV, you may be asking questions such as, “How do I write a resume?”, “How long should a CV be?”, and “What information should I include?” You will also need to consider how to tailor your resume, how to structure it, and which format is most appropriate for the role you are applying for.
What is the difference between a CV and a resume?
A resume is a written document of everything that relates to your work history. Your resume can include your experience, skills, achievements, education, and qualifications. As your resume is often the first impression that your potential employer will have of you, it’s also one of the most important documents that you will ever create.
The resume is most often used as a tool to secure the first job interview. Upon applying for a job, you will usually have to submit your resume to a hiring manager, HR manager, or recruiter. Based on their impression of your resume, they will decide whether to call you in for an interview.
Your resume needs to be up to date, meticulously correct, and it’s essential to land a job , you can’t secure a first interview without one.
CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, which is Latin for ‘course of one's life’. Technically, a resume is generally a shorter account of professional and educational history; whereas a CV is longer than a resume and more in depth, covering professional accomplishments, awards and recognitions.
However, in the Australian market, the words ‘resume’ and ‘CV’ are used interchangeably, and you can assume they mean the same thing. As such, you can assume that all of the tips apply to both a resume and CV.
How long should a resume be?
In most cases, your resume should be no longer than two to three pages.
If you are a student, graduate, or early-career professional, one to two pages may be enough. If you have several years of experience, you may need more space, but your resume should still remain focused and relevant.
A strong resume is not about including everything you have ever done. It is about highlighting the experience, skills, and achievements that are most relevant to the role.
What is the best resume font?
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Choose a font that is professional, easy to read, and suitable for both digital and printed formats. Simple fonts such as Arial, Calibri, Aptos, or Times New Roman are commonly used.
Avoid decorative fonts, small text, or overly designed layouts that may make your resume harder to read. Clear formatting will help recruiters and hiring managers quickly identify your key information.
How to write a career objective
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A career summary or objective can help introduce your resume and give employers a quick understanding of your background, strengths, and career direction.
For experienced professionals, a short career summary is usually more effective than a broad objective. Focus on your core expertise, relevant achievements, and the type of value you can bring to an organisation.
For students, graduates, or career changers, a career objective can be useful when it clearly explains your goals and connects them to the role you are applying for.
What to include in a resume
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Your resume should include the information employers need to assess your suitability for the role. This typically includes:
Contact detailsProfessional summary or career objectiveKey skillsWork experienceAchievementsEducation and qualificationsCertifications, licences, or professional memberships, where relevantTechnical skills, systems, or tools, where applicable
The most important information should appear early in the document and be easy to scan.
Putting your resume together
Once your first draft is complete, set it aside and return to it with fresh eyes. A considered review, ideally after a few days, will allow you to assess whether your listed achievements are genuinely relevant to the role and whether your skills are framed in terms of value to the organisation.
Ensure the document reflects your professional voice before having a trusted colleague proofread it. A single spelling or grammatical error can undermine an otherwise strong application.
What to exclude from your resume
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Knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to include. Your resume should be focused, professional, and relevant to the role.
Avoid including personal information that is not required, outdated work experience that does not support your application, overly detailed job descriptions, unrelated hobbies, or generic statements that do not add value.
This is not about leaving out important information. It is about helping employers quickly understand why you are a strong fit for the position.
How to tailor your resume
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Tailoring your resume is one of the most effective ways to improve your application.
Start by reviewing the job description carefully. Identify the key responsibilities, required skills, and preferred experience. Then, adjust your resume so that your most relevant achievements and capabilities are easy to find.
This may include reordering your key skills, refining your professional summary, or adding specific examples that align with the role.
A tailored resume shows that you understand the opportunity and have taken the time to present your experience in a relevant way.
How to create the perfect resume layout
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A strong resume layout should be clear, professional, and easy to navigate.
Use consistent headings, spacing, bullet points, and formatting. Place your most relevant experience and achievements where they can be found quickly. Avoid complex graphics, excessive design elements, or layouts that distract from the content.
Recruiters and hiring managers often review many resumes, so a well-structured document can make a meaningful difference.
Key skills to put on your resume
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The skills you include will depend on the role, industry, and level of seniority. However, your skills section should always be relevant, specific, and supported by your work experience.
Where possible, include a mix of technical skills, role-specific capabilities, and transferable skills. For example, this may include systems knowledge, stakeholder management, leadership, communication, analytical skills, project delivery, or commercial decision-making.
Avoid listing generic skills without context. Your work experience should show how you have applied those skills in practice.
How to choose a professional resume template
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A resume template can help you structure your information clearly and professionally. The best templates are simple, easy to edit, and designed to highlight your experience rather than distract from it.
Choose a resume template that suits your industry, level of experience, and the type of role you are applying for. A clear, text-based layout is often the safest option, particularly when applying through online job portals or recruitment systems.
Visit our resume templates page for resume samples, including finance and accounting resumes and more.
How to make your resume ATS-friendly
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As employers continue to adopt Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) to filter job applications, ATS-friendly resumes are the most likely to advance to the interview stage.
Making your resume ATS-friendly means that employers can easily discern whether your skills and experience match the role. A resume that is overdesigned, too generic, or focused on duties rather than achievements risks being overlooked early in the process.
The most effective resumes use clean formatting, standard section headings, tailored keywords (drawn directly from the job ad), and measurable accomplishments that clearly demonstrate the value you bring, making it easy for both the system and the hiring manager to see why you're the right fit.
How to use AI when writing your resume
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It is common for applicants to use AI to create their resumes but whilst AI resume makers can be a valuable tool for Australian jobseekers looking to turn their experience into a neat, recruiter-friendly CV, they must be used strategically.
While AI can help structure bullet points, match keywords to a job description, and improve overall readability, it cannot replace your own judgment, specific examples, style, or professional honesty.
Ensure every claim is accurate, that the language sounds natural rather than generic, and the content is genuinely relevant to the role you are targeting.
Making sure your online profile supports your resume
Your resume should remain the primary document you tailor for each job application. However, your online professional profile can also support your job search.
Platforms such as LinkedIn can help employers and recruiters understand your experience, career history, and professional interests. Make sure your profile is consistent with your resume, especially when it comes to job titles, employment dates, skills, and achievements.
Your online profile does not need to replace your resume. Instead, it should reinforce your professional story and make it easier for the right opportunities to find you.
A strong resume takes time to refine. By keeping it clear, current, and tailored to the role, you can give employers a more compelling reason to progress your application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I write a simple resume
To write a simple resume, focus on clarity and structure. Start with your contact details and a brief professional summary, followed by a bulleted list of your key skills. List your work history in reverse chronological order, highlighting major achievements rather than just daily tasks, and finish with your education and qualifications. Keep the design clean, use bullet points for readability, and stick to a professional font like Arial or Calibri.
What is the difference between a CV and a resume in Australia?
Technically, a resume is a short, targeted summary of your career (1–3 pages), while a CV is a longer, more detailed record of your entire academic and professional life. However, in the Australian job market, the terms "resume" and "CV" are used interchangeably. If an Australian employer asks for a CV, they are simply looking for a standard 2-to-3-page resume.
Can a resume be 3 pages long?
Yes. While a 1-to-2-page resume is ideal for students, graduates, or early-career professionals, a 3-page resume is perfectly acceptable for experienced professionals with a long history of relevant experience. The golden rule is relevance—never expand your resume to three pages just to fill space; only include information that directly proves your suitability for the role.
What should you not put on a resume?
You should exclude personal information that isn't required for the job (such as your date of birth, marital status, or a photo, unless specifically requested). Additionally, avoid adding outdated or irrelevant work experience from over 10–15 years ago, overly detailed job descriptions, unrelated hobbies, and generic cliches that don't add value to your application.
Why is it important to tailor your resume for every job application?
Tailoring your resume ensures that your skills and achievements directly match the specific requirements of the job description. Recruiters and hiring managers often skim applications quickly; by aligning your language, key skills, and professional summary with their specific needs, you make it immediately obvious that you are a strong fit for the position, significantly improving your chances of securing an interview.
Should my resume and LinkedIn profile match exactly?
Your LinkedIn profile and resume do not need to be identical word-for-word, but they must be completely consistent. Your job titles, companies, and employment dates should match exactly across both platforms to maintain professional credibility. While your resume should be strictly tailored to a specific job description, your LinkedIn profile can be slightly broader to show your overall professional story and interests.
