Resume format Australia for international students is simpler than you might think, but there are a few local conventions that can make all the difference when you apply for part-time, internship, or graduate roles.
This guide breaks down the exact layout, the order of sections, what to include (and avoid), and how to tailor your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) used by Australian employers. You will also find mini-templates for common student jobs, so you can adapt the structure in minutes.
Why Australian Resume Conventions Matter
Australia follows a clean, skills-forward style. Hiring managers skim quickly, so clarity and relevance beat fancy design. Most student resumes should be one page; two pages only if you have substantial experience (such as several internships, research, or relevant projects).
Key principles:
Keep it concise: one page for most international students.
Prioritize relevance: tailor skills and examples to each job.
Use Australian English spelling: organise, specialise, enrol, behaviour.
Save and send as PDF unless the employer requests a Word file.
The Ideal Structure At A Glance
Here’s the recommended order for a strong student resume in Australia:
Contact Header
Professional Summary (3–4 lines)
Key Skills (6–10 bullet points)
Education (current course first)
Experience (paid, internship, volunteer)
Projects or Coursework Highlights
Certifications or Training
Extracurricular & Achievements
Referees (or “Available On Request”)
You can combine or rename sections, but keep the flow logical and scannable.
Contact Header: Make It Professional
Include:
Full Name
Suburb/City + State (e.g., Melbourne VIC)
Phone and Professional Email
LinkedIn URL (customised) and/or Portfolio/GitHub if relevant
Work Rights (optional but helpful): “Student Visa (Subclass 500), Work-limited as per visa conditions”
Tips:
Use a simple, readable font (e.g., Calibri, Arial, Inter, Roboto).
Make your name the largest text on the page.
Avoid photos or date of birth—these are not expected in Australia.
Professional Summary: Your 20-Second Pitch
Keep it short and specific. In 3–4 lines, state:
Your degree and key focus (e.g., Data Analytics, Marketing, Nursing).
2–3 strengths matched to the role.
A concise achievement or result.
Availability for part-time or internship work if relevant.
Example:
“Business Analytics student at UNSW with strong SQL, Excel, and dashboarding skills. Experience cleaning large datasets and automating weekly reporting. Known for clear communication and fast learning in busy team settings. Available 20 hours per week during semester.”
Key Skills: Tailor For Every Application
Group your skills into mini categories to pass ATS scans and help humans skim:
Technical: Python, SQL, Excel, Power BI, Figma, Canva, POS, Barista, CPR/First Aid
Customer & Communication: Cash Handling, Upselling, Complaint Resolution, Teamwork
Operations: Stock Replenishment, Food Safety, Time Management, Rostering
Professional: Problem-Solving, Initiative, Attention To Detail
Aim for 6–10 bullet points. Match the employer’s wording where accurate.
Education: Put Current Studies First
List:
Degree Name, Institution, City, State
Start and expected completion date (e.g., Feb 2025 – Dec 2027)
Relevant coursework (3–6 items aligned to the job)
GPA (only if strong or required)
Scholarships, Dean’s List, or academic awards
Experience: Paid, Internship, And Volunteer
Australian employers value real-world outcomes. For each entry (most recent first):
Job Title | Organisation — City, State | Dates
2–4 bullet points using strong verbs and tangible results
Good bullet pattern:
Action + Tool/Skill + Outcome/Impact
Examples:
“Handled 80+ customer transactions per shift, balanced till to zero variance.”
“Prepped espresso and milk beverages with consistent 1:2 espresso ratio, maintaining 4.8★ average feedback.”
“Co-designed a Figma prototype that reduced user task time by 35% in usability tests.”
“Processed 50+ stock items daily, improving shelf availability to 98%.”
Projects & Coursework Highlights
Essential when you have limited work experience. Include:
Project Title, Course or Context, Date
2–3 bullets showing skills, tools, and measurable outcomes
Examples:
“Retail Sales Dashboard — Built Power BI dashboards for 6 months of sales; automated ETL with Power Query; flagged low-margin SKUs, improving category mix.”
“UX Research Sprint — Led 5 interviews, synthesised insights, re-designed onboarding flow, improved completion in testing from 62% to 90%.”
Certifications & Training
Add relevant items such as:
Responsible Service Of Alcohol (RSA)
Barista/Latte Art Certificates
Food Safety Level 1/2
First Aid/CPR
Google Analytics, Meta Digital Marketing, Microsoft Excel Associate
NSW Working With Children Check (or other states)
Include issuer and date.
Extracurricular & Achievements
Show leadership, teamwork, and initiative:
Student society roles
Hackathons or case competitions
Volunteering (e.g., charity shops, events)
Language skills (specify level: Native, Advanced, Intermediate)
Referees
Two options:
List 1–2 referees with name, role, organisation, and email/phone (with permission), or
“Referees Available On Request” to save space
Formatting Essentials That Recruiters Expect
Length: one page for most students; two pages if you truly need it.
Font Size: 10.5–12 for body; 14–18 for your name.
Margins: 1.5–2.0 cm for clean whitespace.
File Name: Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf
Consistency: align bullets, dates, and headings; keep tense consistent.
ATS-Friendly Writing
Most large employers use ATS. Optimise by:
Mirroring keywords from the job description (skills, tools, certifications).
Using standard section headings (Education, Experience, Skills).
Avoiding heavy graphics, tables that may break, or text embedded in images.
Saving as text-based PDF or Word when requested.
What To Avoid In Australia
Photos, date of birth, marital status, religion.
Vague claims without evidence (e.g., “hard-working” with no results).
Long paragraphs; use clean bullets.
Unrelated hobbies unless they reveal skills relevant to the job (e.g., team sports for teamwork).
Resume format Australia for international students: Key Differences From Home Country
Many international students come from resume cultures that expect photos, personal details, or long summaries. In Australia:
Privacy and equal opportunity standards discourage photos and sensitive details.
Results-focused bullets are valued over responsibilities lists.
Clear work rights information can be helpful but is not mandatory.
Simple, modern formatting beats colourful designs for ATS compatibility.
This is why following Resume format Australia for international students principles can lift your response rate significantly.
Section-By-Section Mini Template
Use this as a starting point and tailor to each role:
Header
Name | City, State | Phone | Email | LinkedIn/Portfolio
Work Rights: Student Visa (Subclass 500)
Summary (3–4 lines)
Who you are + study focus + top strengths + one achievement + availability.
Key Skills (6–10 bullets)
Match to job description; group technical and soft skills.
Education
Degree, Institution — City, State | Start–Expected Finish
Relevant Coursework: A, B, C, D
Awards/Scholarships (optional)
Experience (2–4 bullets each)
Role | Company — City, State | Dates
Action + Tool/Skill + Outcome
Action + Tool/Skill + Outcome
Action + Tool/Skill + Outcome
Projects (2–3 bullets each)
Title — Course/Context | Date
Problem, approach, tools, result
Quantify impact when possible
Certifications
RSA, Food Safety L2, First Aid/CPR, GA4, Excel Associate, etc.
Extracurricular & Achievements
Student club role, volunteering, languages
Referees
Available On Request
Resume format Australia for international students: Role-Specific Examples
Below are quick-apply patterns you can reuse.
Hospitality & Café
Summary:
“Hospitality student with strong customer service, cash handling, and latte art skills. Experience in high-volume service and closing procedures. Available evenings and weekends.”
Key Skills:
POS Operation, Cash Balancing, Latte Art, Food Safety L2, Stock Rotation, Cleaning Procedures, Teamwork
Experience bullets:
“Prepared espresso-based beverages at 50+ cups per shift, maintaining 4.8★ customer feedback average.”
“Reduced milk wastage by 18% by standardising pitcher sizes and purging routine.”
“Trained two new team members on opening and closing checklists.”
Retail & Supermarket
Summary:
“Business student with POS, inventory, and merchandising skills. Known for accuracy and helpful customer interactions.”
Key Skills:
POS, Cash Handling, Stock Replenishment, Planograms, Customer Service, Loss Prevention Awareness
Experience bullets:
“Replenished 100+ SKUs per shift; improved on-shelf availability to 98%.”
“Achieved #1 in weekly store upselling challenge, 23% add-on rate.”
IT, Data, And Engineering
Summary:
“Computer Science student with Python, SQL, and Git. Coursework in algorithms and databases; built analytics dashboards for student society.”
Key Skills:
Python, SQL, Git, Power BI/Tableau, Agile Basics, Testing
Experience bullets:
“Automated weekly data pipeline in Python, cutting manual work by 3 hours.”
“Built a Power BI dashboard for event attendance; guided decisions on scheduling.”
Health & Aged Care (Where Permitted)
Summary:
“Nursing student with First Aid/CPR and clinical placement experience. Passionate about patient care and accurate documentation.”
Key Skills:
Patient Support, Vital Signs, Documentation, Infection Control, Team Collaboration
Experience bullets:
“Supported 8–12 residents per shift, escalating care concerns to RN promptly.”
“Maintained accurate progress notes as per facility standards.”
Creative, Marketing, And UX
Summary:
“Marketing student skilled in content creation and social media analytics. Produced posts with 40% higher engagement in club campaigns.”
Key Skills:
Copywriting, Canva, Figma, Social Scheduling, Basic Video Editing, Analytics
Experience bullets:
“Planned a 4-week Instagram calendar; increased follower growth by 12%.”
“Co-designed a landing page wireframe that improved sign-ups by 30% in tests.”
Quantifying Achievements (Even If You’re New)
You might think you don’t have numbers—but you do. Consider:
Customers served per shift, order accuracy, average rating
Time saved by a new checklist or template
Attendance growth, engagement rates, click-throughs
Items restocked per hour, shrinkage reduction
Assignment grades for relevant projects, competition outcomes
Australian English, Punctuation, And Tone
Use Australian spellings: organise, prioritise, behaviour, enrol, programme (context-dependent).
Keep tone factual and friendly.
Start bullets with strong verbs: Delivered, Resolved, Built, Analysed, Improved, Coordinated, Designed.
Visa Status And Work Rights
It’s acceptable to add a brief line in the header or summary:
“Student Visa (Subclass 500); work-limited during study periods”
If you hold other rights (e.g., Graduate Work), state it clearly.
Do not add passport number, date of birth, or other sensitive details.
File Type, Naming, And Delivery
Name your file like “Meera-Patel-Resume.pdf” for easy retrieval.
If the job ad requests Word (.docx), follow it; otherwise, PDF is standard.
Email subject lines should be clear: “Application — Casual Retail Assistant — Your Name”.
Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes
Overstuffed Skills: Choose quality over quantity—10 focused skills beat 25 generic ones.
Walls Of Text: Break into 1–2 line bullets.
No Results: Add outcomes: faster, cheaper, better, happier customers.
Inconsistent Dates: Use a single format (e.g., Feb 2025 – Nov 2026).
Design Overload: Keep colour minimal; ensure ATS can read everything.
Resume format Australia for international students: Section-By-Section Example
Here’s a concise example showing placement and tone:
Aisha Rahman | Melbourne VIC | 04XX XXX XXX | aisha@email | LinkedIn.com/in/aisharahman
Student Visa (Subclass 500)
Professional Summary
Information Systems student skilled in SQL, Excel, and dashboarding. Built analytics for student club events and volunteered as a tech mentor. Strong communicator; available 20 hours/week.
Key Skills
SQL, Excel, Power BI, Python (basic), Customer Service, Communication, Time Management
Education
Bachelor Of Information Systems — RMIT University, Melbourne VIC
Feb 2025 – Dec 2027
Relevant Coursework: Data Modelling, Database Systems, Business Analytics
Experience
Casual Team Member | City Café — Melbourne VIC | May 2025 – Present
Prepared 60+ beverages per shift; kept 4.8★ average customer feedback.
Balanced POS till with zero variance for 3 consecutive months.
Introduced closing checklist that reduced clean-down time by 15 minutes.
Projects
Sales Dashboard — Student Club (2025)
Consolidated 6 months of data; built Power BI dashboards with DAX; identified underperforming SKUs.
Certifications
RSA (VIC), Food Safety Level 1, First Aid/CPR (HLTAID011)
Extracurricular
Tech Mentor — Code Club; Volunteer — Local Charity Shop
Referees
Available On Request
Use this skeleton and swap details for your field.
Polish: Layout, Typography, And Readability
Headings: Slightly larger, bold, and consistent.
Bullets: Keep them one to two lines.
Whitespace: It’s not empty—it guides the eye.
Icons and graphics: Use sparingly; never replace text with images.
Quick Tailoring Checklist For Every Application
Have you mirrored key skills from the job ad?
Are your top 6–10 skills aligned to the role?
Do your bullets show results, not just duties?
Is the file name clean and professional?
Does your summary state your degree, top strengths, and availability?
Useful Settling-In Resources (Context For Students Moving Cities)
Interviews often lead to quick relocations. These reputable front-page resources help you compare rentals and share housing:
Realestate: compare rentals across cities — visit Realestate.com.au
Domain: check listings and market trends — visit Domain.com.au
Flatmates: find share houses and roommates — visit Flatmates.com.au
Consumer Affairs Victoria (tenancy authority): renting rules and bonds — visit Consumer.vic.gov.au
These links are for your general orientation while job-seeking and moving; keep them handy outside your resume.
Maintaining A Master Resume And Targeted Versions
Keep a master document with every experience, project, and achievement.
Create targeted versions by copying your master and trimming to one page with the most relevant items for each application.
Refresh quarterly: update skills, certifications, and new results.
Cover Letters In Australia (Short And Focused)
When a cover letter is requested:
3–4 short paragraphs on one page.
Open with the role title and where you saw it.
Prove fit with 2–3 achievements.
Close by reaffirming your interest and availability (no clichés).
Proofreading And Quality Control
Read aloud to catch awkward phrasing.
Run a final spell-check set to English (Australia).
Ask a peer to skim for clarity and impact.
Ensure contact details are correct and live.
Resume format Australia for international students: Final Pointers
Applying the Resume format Australia for international students will help you present your strengths clearly, pass ATS screens, and prove value fast. Keep it one page, results-driven, and tailored every time. With consistent formatting, quantifiable bullets, and role-specific examples, you will be competitive for part-time, internship, and graduate roles across Australia.
FAQ: Resume Format For International Students In Australia
1) Do I need a photo on my Australian resume?
No. Photos and personal details like date of birth are not expected and can distract from your skills and achievements.
2) Is one page enough if I have several projects?
Yes, for most students. Prioritise the most relevant projects and outcomes. Use two pages only if the job requires extensive detail and you have substantial experience.
3) Should I mention my visa status?
A short note such as “Student Visa (Subclass 500)” in the header or summary is fine. Do not include sensitive personal data.
4) How do I tailor my resume for ATS?
Mirror keywords from the job ad (skills, tools, certifications), use standard headings, avoid heavy graphics, and submit a text-based PDF unless instructed otherwise.
5) What if I have no paid experience yet?
Highlight coursework projects, club roles, volunteering, and short achievements with results. Quantify impact wherever possible, such as time saved, accuracy improved, or engagement increased.
