CV writing for UK professionals moving to Australia
Australia is one of the most searched destinations for UK job seekers. The resume format is close to a British CV, but Australian recruiters screen for different things first: whether you can work there, when you arrive and what you delivered. We rebuild your CV so those answers are on page one.
Cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth
Get my free CV diagnosis | Services and prices | Recruiter-made CV rebuild: £80, one-time
UK CV vs Australian resume
| UK CV | Australian resume | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is called | CV | Resume, though CV is understood |
| Length | Two pages | Two to three pages for experienced professionals, longer accepted at senior level |
| Photo, age, marital status | Left off | Left off |
| Right to work | Rarely stated | Stated near the top: your visa, permanent residency or citizenship |
| Referees | Available on request | Usually named or offered; reference checks are standard before an offer |
| Location | Your UK town | Your target city and arrival date if you are not there yet |
4 rules for your Australian resume
- Lead with your work rights. Australian recruiters screen on whether you can legally start. Put your visa status, or the visa you are applying for, in the first few lines.
- Give your arrival date and city. If you are applying from the UK, say which city you are moving to and when you land. A UK address with no date often goes unanswered.
- Translate UK-only terms. Recruiters in Australia will not know every UK qualification, regulator or employer. Add one line of context: what the company does, its size, and the closest Australian equivalent of your qualification.
- Have evidence ready for selection criteria. Many public sector roles ask you to address key selection criteria in a separate statement. Your resume should hold the numbers you will need to do it.
Sectors hiring in Australia
Healthcare, teaching, construction, engineering, mining and resources, and technology have been long-running areas of demand for UK professionals. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth carry most of the volume.
- Healthcare
- Teaching
- Construction
- Engineering
- Mining and resources
- Technology
Check your route before you apply
Brits move to Australia on routes ranging from the Working Holiday visa to employer-sponsored and skilled migration visas. The rules change, so check your options with the Department of Home Affairs before you apply, and state your status clearly on your resume.
Australian Department of Home Affairs: Immigration and citizenship
We write CVs, not visa advice. Rules change, so always confirm with the official source.
Who rebuilds your CV
Your CV is rebuilt by UK recruiters with 25+ years of experience across the UK and the Middle East. We are not a recruitment agency in Australia and we do not place candidates there. What we do is rebuild your British CV the way employers in Australia expect to read it, and tell you plainly what has to change.
CVs for Australia: common questions
Do I need a different CV for Australia?
Usually, yes. The structure is close to a UK CV, but Australian recruiters expect your work rights, arrival date and target city up front, accept a slightly longer document, and often want referees named. A UK CV sent as it is tends to be filtered before anyone reads your experience.
CV or resume in Australia?
Both words are used and mean the same thing for most jobs, and resume is more common in job ads. What matters is the content and the order, not the label.
Should I put a photo on my Australian resume?
No. Australian employers do not expect one, and leaving off your photo, date of birth and marital status is standard practice.