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The problem: Many Australian jobseekers are unsure what to put on a resume, which can lead to applications that are too broad, missing key details, or not clearly showing their value to employers.
The solution: This guide breaks down exactly what to put on a resume, from contact details and work history, to skills, education, and tailored achievements, so candidates can create a clearer, stronger application.
The result: With the right information in the right structure, jobseekers can present a more focused, professional resume that is easier for employers to scan and more likely to lead to interview opportunities.
What must a resume include:
Your resume is arguably the most valuable tool in your job search. It gives employers a quick snapshot of who you are, what you have done, and the value you could bring to their team. When you know what to put on a resume, you give yourself a much stronger chance of standing out for the right reasons and securing that first interview.
For Australian jobseekers, a strong resume should feel focused, relevant, and easy to read. It is not about listing everything you have ever done. It is about showing an employer why your experience, skills, and achievements make you a strong fit for the role.
Get it right, and your resume can open doors. Get it wrong by including too much, leaving out key details, or focusing on the wrong information, and even a strong candidate can be overlooked.
As Soni Huzefa, Director of Technology at Robert Half, puts it, “a good resume should make it easy for an employer to quickly understand your strengths, your experience, and the value you could bring to the role.”
That’s why it helps to be clear about what to put on a CV and what to leave out. Every section should earn its place and help build a stronger picture of you as a candidate.
Having reviewed thousands of resumes in his eight years in recruitment, Soni also notes, “the most effective resumes are tailored, easy to scan, and focused on the information that matters most to the employer.”
Related: What is the best resume font?
Knowing what to put on a resume can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to make a strong impression quickly. Use the following sections to help craft an effective resume that will help you land first interviews.
Your contact details
Start with the basics. Your contact details should be clear, current, and easy to find at the top of your CV.
Include:
your full name
mobile number
professional email address
location, such as your city and region (no need to include your actual street address)
You do not need to include personal details such as your age, date of birth, marital status, or a photo unless specifically requested (which is highly unusual). In most cases, these details are unnecessary and can distract from what matters most.
Soni puts it simply: “Your contact details sound like a small thing, but they matter. You’d be surprised the number of resumes I see that forget these parts. If an employer cannot reach you easily, or your email address looks unprofessional, it creates the wrong first impression before they have even read your experience.”
Related: Should I put a photo on my resume? Our advice – no!
A professional summary
One of the most important answers to what to put on a resume is a strong professional summary. This is a short introduction at the top of your resume, usually around 50 to 100 words, that tells the employer who you are, what you bring, and where you can add value.
Think of it as your personal pitch, it should briefly cover:
your level of experience
your key strengths or areas of expertise
the value you bring to an employer
the type of role or direction you are looking for
This section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. A generic summary can feel flat, while a targeted one shows focus and intent.
Example:
Results-driven finance professional with experience supporting fast-paced New Zealand workplaces across financial administration, reporting, and stakeholder service. Known for strong attention to detail, accurate data-handling and the ability to build trusted working relationships. Seeking to bring analytical thinking, commercial awareness, and a proactive approach to a finance-focused role.
Key skills
Listing your skills helps employers quickly see whether you match the requirements of the role and can also support keyword searches during digital screening.
Include a short list of relevant skills such as:
financial reporting
budgeting and forecasting
accounts payable and receivable
reconciliations
month-end processing
payroll support
Excel and financial systems
stakeholder communication
compliance and accuracy
team collaboration
Remember to focus on skills that are directly relevant to the role rather than listing every system or trait you can think of.
Related: Top skills to put on your resume in Australia
Your work history
Your work history will often be the most important part of your resume. List each role in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.
For each position, include:
your job title
company name
dates of employment
a short description of your responsibilities
key achievements and outcomes
When deciding what to put on a resume, do not just list tasks. Employers want to understand the impact you made. That means showing how your work improved a process, solved a problem, or increased revenue. Quantifying your achievements and outcomes is highly recommended to depict the impact you had in that role.
Instead of: "Responsible for processing invoices."
Say: "Processed 250+ invoices per month with a high level of accuracy, supporting on-time payments and helping maintain strong supplier relationships."
Instead of: "Supported payroll team."
Say: "Supported fortnightly payroll for 150+ employees, helping ensure accurate, on-time processing and compliance with internal controls."
Bring your strongest and most relevant achievements to the top of each role so they are easy to spot.
Soni says, “one of the most common mistakes I see is candidates describing what they were responsible for, but not what they achieved. Employers want to know the difference you made, not just the duties you carried out.”
Include career gaps honestly
If you have a gap in your work history, do not ignore it. A short, clear explanation is usually enough. Career gaps are common and can happen for many reasons, including study, travel, parenting, caregiving, or redundancy.
Keep the explanation simple and positive. The aim is to reassure the employer, not over-explain.
Your education
Your education should include your university, industry, and vocational qualifications. List these in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent.
Include:
qualification name
institution name
completion year or expected completion date
If you are currently studying, include that too. It shows commitment to growth and gives employers a sense of the skills you are developing.
If you have completed a large amount of training, only include the courses, certificates or professional development most relevant to the role.
Soni says, “for early-career jobseekers, education can be one of the strongest parts of the resume. For experienced professionals, it still supports credibility and shows continued development.”
Certifications, licences, and professional training
When thinking about what to put on a resume, certifications, licences, and professional training can be a valuable addition, especially if they are relevant to the role you are applying for. This section can help strengthen your application by showing employers that you have specific qualifications, current knowledge, or industry-recognised credentials that support your experience.
Depending on your background, this might include first aid certification, a restricted or full drivers’ licence, software certifications, health and safety training, or professional memberships. If you have completed formal training that is directly linked to the role, it is worth including here rather than leaving it buried elsewhere in your resume.
This section is particularly useful in roles where compliance, technical capability, or regulated standards matter. It allows employers to quickly spot qualifications that may be essential or highly desirable, and it can help your resume stand out more clearly in a competitive field.
The key is to keep it relevant. Focus on certifications and training that actually add value to your application, and support your suitability for the position.
Interests and hobbies
Interests and hobbies can be included, but they are optional. If you choose to add them, be selective. This section should support your application rather than fill space.
Good examples might include interests that show:
teamwork
leadership
discipline
creativity
community involvement
For example, volunteering, coaching sport, or participating in industry-related activities can help round out your profile. Less relevant hobbies do not always need to be included.
Soni notes, “interests can add personality to a resume, but they should not take up valuable space unless they genuinely add to the picture of who you are and how you might fit the role or workplace.”
Referees
A referees section is often expected, but you do not need to list full referee details on every CV.
A simple line such as "Referees available on request" is usually enough, unless the employer specifically asks for names and contact details upfront.
Tailoring your resume to the role
A major part of understanding what to put on a resume is knowing that the content should change depending on the role. Your CV should not be identical for every application.
Review the job description and adjust:
your summary
your key skills
the order of your achievements
the examples you highlight
This does not mean rewriting everything from scratch each time. It means making sure the most relevant information is the easiest to see.
Soni says, “the best resumes feel aligned to the role. They make it easy for the employer to connect the candidate’s background with the job in front of them.”
Related: How to tailor your resume
What to leave off a resume
Usually, you can leave off:
outdated or irrelevant experience
personal information that is not needed
long paragraphs
references to salary expectations
negative explanations about past roles
every job you have ever held, if older roles are no longer relevant
Related: What not to include in a resume
Upload your resume here
When it comes to what to put on a resume, the goal is not to include everything. It is to present the most relevant, credible, and compelling version of your experience. A strong resume helps an employer quickly understand who you are, what you have done, and why you are worth meeting.
For Australian jobseekers, the most effective resumes are clear, tailored, and focused on value. Every section should work together to build confidence in your application.
As Soni says, “a good resume makes an employer’s job easier. It gives them clarity, confidence and a reason to keep reading.”
Take a look at our resume tips page for more advice on how to write a resume.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are 5 things a resume must have?
1. Contact details: your name, mobile number, professional email, and location
2. Professional summary: a 50-100 word personal pitch tailored to the role
3. Key skills: a focused list relevant to the position you're applying for
4. Work history: roles in reverse chronological order with achievements, not just duties
5. Education: qualifications listed in reverse chronological order, including any in progress
What is a red flag on a resume?
Common red flags for a resume include an unprofessional email address, unexplained career gaps, listing only responsibilities without any achievements, a generic summary that isn't tailored to the role, and missing or hard-to-find contact details.
What should you leave off an Australian resume?
Leave off outdated or irrelevant experience, unnecessary personal information (age, date of birth, marital status, photo), salary expectations, long paragraphs, negative explanations about past roles, and older jobs that are no longer relevant to your career direction.
How long should a professional summary be on a CV?
Around 50 to 100 words. This should be enough to cover your level of experience, key strengths, the value you bring, and the type of role you're seeking, without padding it out unnecessarily.
