What to Include on a CV in Australia (And What to Leave Out)

Writing a CV used to mean listing everything you’ve ever done. Today, that approach usually works against you. In the Australian job market, employers expect CVs to be clear, relevant, and easy to understand quickly. The strongest CVs are selective about what they include and intentional about what they leave out.

This guide explains what Australian employers expect to see on a modern CV, what information is outdated or unnecessary, and how to present your experience in a way that feels relevant and professional.

What should be included on a CV in Australia

1. Contact details

Keep your contact information simple and professional. Include full name, mobile number, professional email address, suburb or city, LinkedIn profile (optional but recommended if current). You do not need to include your full home address. For most Australian employers, suburb and state are enough.

2. A professional summary

At the top of your CV, include a short summary explaining your experience level, industry, background, core strengths, and the type of roles you specialise in. This section should quickly help employers understand whether your background aligns with the role.

Avoid generic career objectives such as “Seeking a challenging role to grow my career.” Instead, focus on your actual experience and value. For example, “Customer service professional with experience across retail and contact centre environments, skilled in stakeholder communication, complaint resolution, and high-volume customer support.”

3. Relevant skills

Your skills section should focus on capabilities relevant to the role. Examples include “payroll processing”, “stakeholder engagement”, “MYOB or Xero”, “project coordination”, “recruitment administration”, “Excel reporting”, or “inventory management”. Avoid listing broad personality traits like “hardworking”, “team player”, or “good communicator”. These are more effective when demonstrated through experience.

4. Work experience

This is the section employers spend the most time reviewing. For each role, include job title, company name, location, and dates of employment. Then use bullet points to explain what you did, how you did it, and the impact or outcome. Strong examples focus on achievements and contributions, not just responsibilities. For example, “Managed high-volume scheduling across multiple project teams, improving coordination and reducing administrative delays.”

5. Education and qualifications

Include degrees, diplomas, certificates and relevant training. If you are early in your career, education can appear higher on your CV. If you are experienced, it usually sits below work experience.

6. Licences and certifications

This is especially important in industries such as healthcare, construction, logistics, finance, and government. Examples may include White Card, First Aid Certificate, Working with Children Check, forklift licence, or industry compliance certifications. Only include certifications relevant to the roles you are targeting.

7. Visa or work rights information (when relevant)

If you are applying for roles where work rights may be relevant, it can help to briefly clarify your status. For example, Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or full working rights. This is particularly common for international candidates or temporary visa holders.

What you should NOT include on a CV in Australia

1. Personal details employers do not need

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