How to write a resume that gets read

A practical, step-by-step guide for Australian job applications—from the opening summary to the final proofread.

Start with the job, not the template

Read the advertisement and highlight the skills, responsibilities and results the employer repeats. Your resume should use the same plain-language terminology where it accurately describes your experience. This helps recruiters and applicant tracking systems understand your fit without keyword stuffing.

The essential resume sections

Contact details

Use your name, mobile number, professional email and city or region. A full street address, date of birth, marital status and photo are usually unnecessary in Australia.

Professional summary

Write three or four lines covering your experience, strongest capabilities and the value you offer in the role you are targeting.

Employment history

List recent roles first. Include title, employer, dates and achievement-focused bullet points—not a copy of your position description.

Education and skills

Prioritise qualifications, licences, systems and role-specific capabilities that matter to this application.

Turn duties into evidence

A strong bullet combines an action, the work completed and an outcome. Instead of “Responsible for customer service,” try “Resolved 30–40 customer enquiries each day while maintaining a 95% satisfaction rating.” Use numbers only when they are accurate.

Keep the layout easy to scan

Use consistent headings, dates and spacing.
Choose an ATS-friendly structure with real text rather than text embedded in images.
Keep important information in the main page body.
Use a readable font and avoid decorative charts for core skills.
Usually aim for one to two pages, adding detail only when it strengthens your application.

Final checklist

The target role is obvious within the first few seconds.
Recent achievements are specific and relevant.
Spelling, tense and punctuation are consistent.
Contact details are current.
The PDF filename includes your name and the word Resume.

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