Australia · Resume for newcomers
Australian Resume for Migrants: How to Present Overseas Experience
Write a reverse-chronological resume of about two pages, with no photo or personal details, Australian spelling and your overseas jobs explained in plain terms. Add a line about your work rights, list at least one referee in Australia if you can, and never invent local experience. There is no single mandatory Australian format, so always follow the instructions in the job advertisement first.
You arrived with years of experience, maybe a degree and a good track record. And yet your resume gets no replies. Frustrating, right? Often the problem isn't you. It's that an Australian recruiter can't quickly work out what your overseas employer was, what level you worked at, or whether your qualification matches a local one.
That's fixable, and mostly with wording rather than new experience. A caveat first: nobody can promise a particular result, and employers differ. What follows is what Australian universities, government sites and recruiters advise, with the disagreements marked.
- What changes when you move to an Australian resume
- How to present your overseas experience
- Example: one overseas job, rewritten (fictional)
- Your overseas qualifications
- Work rights: one short line
- Referees when you're new to the country
- Format checklist
- Frequently asked questions
- Your next step
- Your next steps
What changes when you move to an Australian resume
| Common overseas habit | Australian resume | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo, date of birth, marital status, nationality | Leave them off | Sydney, UNSW, UQ, Griffith |
| Passport or ID numbers | Don't include them | Pacific Engagement Visa guide, People2People |
| Long, detailed CV | About two pages; sources range from one to four depending on seniority | Sydney, UNSW, UQ, Live in Melbourne |
| American or other spelling | British-style Australian spelling (organisation, licence) | Live in Melbourne, People2People |
| Job titles that mean little locally | Add a short line explaining the employer and your role | People2People, Live in Melbourne |
| "References on request" only, or none | Two referees, with one local if possible | UNSW, UQ, Live in Melbourne |
For the full list of details to remove, see our guide on the photo and personal details on an Australian resume.
How to present your overseas experience
Your reader may have never heard of your last employer. So help them. People2People suggests that if your experience is all overseas, you should explain the company and industry and include a website so employers understand your background. Live in Melbourne adds that you should show how your overseas experience relates to Australia.
- Add a context line under each overseas employer: what the company does, its size if you know it, and the city and country.
- Use titles an Australian would recognise. Keep your real title, but add a plain-language description if it's unusual.
- Describe real scope and results. Settle AU recommends stating the true scope, tools and outcomes of your work, and including measured results only if you can back them up.
- Don't claim Australian experience you don't have. The same guide is clear about this, and an employer who checks will notice.
- Put the most recent job first and keep older roles short.
Be ready to be flexible too. People2People notes that your first Australian role may not match your overseas level, which is a common and often temporary situation, not a verdict on your skills.
Example: one overseas job, rewritten (fictional)
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Coordinator, Logística Norte S.A., 2019–2024 Responsible for deliveries and staff. | Operations Coordinator | Logística Norte S.A. (freight and distribution company), Bogotá, Colombia | 2019–2024 • Scheduled daily deliveries for a team of drivers and handled customer complaints • Tracked shipments in the company's inventory system and prepared weekly reports for management • Trained new staff on safety and loading procedures |
Your overseas qualifications
List each qualification with the provider's name, the years attended and the most relevant first, as People2People suggests. If you've had it assessed as comparable to an Australian qualification, say so. Live in Melbourne gives the example of noting that your qualifications were assessed as equivalent to an Australian degree.
Do you need a formal assessment? It depends on your job, and this is where people sometimes waste money, so check first.
- Regulated occupations (health, trades, teaching and others): you may need registration, licensing or professional membership from the relevant authority before you can work. The Department of Education says it doesn't assess for these.
- General jobs: the employer usually decides. State or territory Overseas Qualifications Units have helped citizens and permanent residents, but availability varies. Live in Melbourne announced that Victoria's unit was closed to new applications while a review took place, so check the current status.
- Assessment is not registration. Settle AU gives the example of nurses, where an assessment by ANMAC does not replace registration through Ahpra. It also warns against paying for a course or assessment on the promise of jobs or migration points.
Not sure which body applies to you? Start with the Department of Education's qualifications recognition page.
Work rights: one short line
Sydney says international students and permanent residents may list their visa status and work rights, and Griffith says visa status is acceptable where it's relevant. People2People suggests mentioning it briefly in your summary, and adds that permanent residents don't need to name a visa type. A simple line such as "Permanent resident, full work rights" is enough. If you're on a temporary visa, check your exact conditions with the Department of Home Affairs before writing anything.
Referees when you're new to the country
Employers usually expect at least one referee based in Australia, according to UQ, UNSW and Live in Melbourne. If you don't have one yet, People2People suggests contacts from networking, unpaid work or volunteering. Overseas referees are still fine alongside a local one. Our guide to references on an Australian resume has a copyable referee section and tips on asking.
Format checklist
- Layout: clear headings, consistent bullet points, no more than two fonts, 10 to 12 point text (Sydney).
- Footer: your name and page number from page two onwards (Sydney).
- ATS-friendly: plain text and simple formatting work best for online systems, while a more visual version may suit direct email applications (Sydney).
- Cover letter: include the job title, where you saw it advertised, why you want the job, how your experience fits and your availability for an interview (Live in Melbourne).
- Selection criteria: if the employer asks for them, answer each one with a specific example (Live in Melbourne).
Looking for a ready-made layout? Our Australian resume template has one you can download.
Frequently asked questions
What is the right resume format for Australia?
There is no single mandatory format. Most guidance points to a reverse-chronological resume of about two pages with clear headings. Always follow the instructions in the job advertisement first.
How long should a migrant's Australian resume be?
About two pages is typical (UNSW). Sources vary from one to four depending on seniority, so check the advertisement and keep older roles short.
How do I show overseas experience to Australian employers?
Add a short line explaining each employer and industry, use recognisable job descriptions, and describe real scope and results. Don't claim Australian experience you don't have.
Do I need to have my overseas qualifications assessed?
It depends on your occupation. Regulated jobs need registration or licensing from the relevant authority, while for general jobs the employer decides. Check which applies before paying for an assessment.
Should I put my visa status on my resume?
If it's relevant, yes. Sydney says international students and permanent residents may list visa status and work rights. Permanent residents don't need to name a visa type.
Do I need Australian referees?
It helps. UQ, UNSW and Live in Melbourne say employers usually expect at least one referee based in Australia, though overseas referees are acceptable alongside.
Should I use Australian or American spelling?
Use British-style Australian spelling, such as organisation and licence, as Live in Melbourne and People2People advise.
Your next step
Take your most recent overseas job and rewrite it with a context line, a plain-language title and three real achievements. Then remove the photo and personal details, and add a work rights line. One job done well shows you how to do the rest.
Keep going
Your next steps
Sources
- University of Sydney Careers: How to write a resume
- UNSW Employability: Resume / C.V. guide with examples
- University of Queensland Employability: Referees
- Live in Melbourne (Victorian Government): How to apply for a job in Melbourne
- Live in Melbourne: Overseas qualification assessments in 2025–26
- Australian Government Department of Education: Qualifications recognition
- Pacific Engagement Visa: Creating your resume for the Australian job market
- People2People: Dos and don'ts for your first Australian resume
- Settle AU: How to find a job in Australia as a new migrant
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