Heading to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa? Here’s How to Write a Resume That Gets You Hired Fast
If you’re a backpacker starting your working holiday in Australia, one of the first things you’ll need is a resume (CV) tailored to Australian employers. Many working holiday makers arrive with resumes that don’t match local expectations; and miss out on job opportunities as a result.
Whether you’re applying for farm work, hospitality jobs, FIFO work, or something else entirely, this guide will show you how to write a resume Australian employers want to see. Plus, I’ve included two free Aussie-style resume examples you can copy and use today!
What Makes an Australian Resume (CV) Different?
If you’re from the UK, Europe, the US, or Asia, your resume format might be totally different. Here’s what sets an Australian resume apart:
Resume Length: While some countries prefer longer and more detailed resumes, Australian employers tend to prefer to cut to the chase. For short term backpacking jobs especially, it is unlikely your potential employer will read beyond the first page. Make a one page resume. Make sure to keep it brief and make prudent information easy to find.
No Photos or Personal Details: Do not include your age, marital status, passport number, or a photo. It’s not standard in Australia and can even put employers off.
Local Phone Number and Location: Even if you’re new to town, get an Aussie SIM card and list your current location (e.g., “Currently in Melbourne CBD”). Employers want to know you’re local and ready to start.
Highlight Practical Skills & Visas: Don’t try to hide the fact you are on a working holiday visa. Sometimes it can feel like employers don’t want to hire working holiday makers; and that is true. Some employers are looking for longer term commitments. Don’t waste your time not being upfront. Remember for every employer that doesn’t use working holiday labor there is another employer whose business model depends on seasonal employees. Make sure relevant qualifications are easy to find. For example if you are going into construction listing a white card qualification lets employers know you are qualified and ready to start right away.
Resume Structure for Backpackers in Australia
Use this structure to create your resume:
- Contact Information – Aussie mobile, email, and current town. Put this at the top so employers who are ready to offer you a trial shift can contact you as soon as possible.
- Professional Summary – 2–5 lines about your work ethic and experience. This is also a good place to disclose your visa status and how long you aim to work. You can also list here how many hours you are looking for. Remember being honest and upfront can help land you a job that matches your experience and expectations.
- Work Experience – Pick your most relevant experiences and list them at the top. For example: your most recent job was in an office, but you worked as a bartender a few years ago, and you want to apply for a hospitality job, list the bartending experience first. If you have had multiple hospitality jobs, put the most recent one first. Work down in reverse chronological order. Remember employers don’t want to invest much time training for short term positions so highlight experience in similar roles. This lets them know you will be able to work for them without needing much training.
- Education & Certificates- Many roles in Australia require a basic certification or even a training course. For example to serve alcohol you need an RSA. To work in construction you need a white card. It is best to look up what certifications you will need for your desired role. Obtain qualifications before applying to jobs. Many certifications can be obtained online or via a short in person course. Make sure to list these on your resume. Certifications are one of the key things employers will look for before offering you a trial shift.
- Skills – Include a skills section where you highlight the key skills you bring to a role. To find skills employers care about, look at relevant roles on Seek or Jora . Use job descriptions to see what employers want. For example a server might list: strong three plate carry, excellent customer service, and ability to work in a fast paced environment.
- References – Optional (“Available on request” is fine). Note: some employers really do follow up on references so make sure you have people that can vouch for you. Australian references are also very valuable. Try to leave jobs on good terms so you can ask for a reference down the line.
Example Resumes:
Example 1: Australian Farm Work Resume
In this example: Jane Doe includes easy to find contact information. She has an about me section that states her visa status and intent to work on a farm for her 88 days. Jane includes three relevant work examples, including a relevant volunteer experience to supplement her work experience. A quick easy to read skills section highlights her ability to perform tasks essential for a farm work role.
Example 2: Australian Hospitality Resume
In this Example: Lucas Meyer Includes contact information at the top of his resume. His about me section asserts his experience as a hospitality professional looking for 6 months of work in Melbourne. He includes two relevant experiences. He includes several relevant certifications and his skills section shows desirable abilities such as cocktail making and barista experience.
Tips for Farm Work Roles
While farmwork is one of the biggest employers for backpackers, it is not something everyone has experience in. If you have farm work experience be sure to highlight it on your resume. If you have no experience try to highlight any physically demanding roles you have had. For example if you worked in a restaurant make sure you note: you were on your feet for long shifts, worked at a fast pace and lifted heavy objects.
You could also include non job related activities that highlight your physical abilities in your professional summary, mention a sport you play or that you competed in a triathlon. Farm employers want to know you will be able to keep up with the physical demands of the job and work at a decent pace. You can also supplement your employment with volunteer activities for example if you volunteered on a farmstay, or built a house with habitat for humanity.
Types of Hospitality Roles for Backpackers
Servers: Take orders and bring food to tables. Make recommendations and deliver an excellent dining experience. Requires strong English and at least 2 years experience for most roles.
Food Runners: Delivering food from kitchen to tables. Intermediate English is ok and can be entry level.
Bartenders: Talk to customers, ring in orders and make drinks. Strong English is required and at least 2 years of experience for most roles.
Baristas: Talk to customers and make coffee orders. Strong English is required and at least 2 years of experience for most roles.
Receptionist: Manage bookings at a hotel or business. Must be comfortable speaking on the phone and friendly to customers. Usually at least one year experience is required.
Housekeeping: Make beds and clean rooms at a hotel. Intermediate English is ok and is usually entry level.
Kitchen Hand: Assist chef at restaurants with tasks such as dishwashing, cleaning, and food preparation. Different levels of experience are required some jobs are entry level.
Australian Hospitality Job Tips
Restaurant and bar employers often require an RSA certification which you can obtain online. Many venues also offer gambling such as pokies or keno, this is quite widespread in Australia so you can set yourself up for success by also getting an RSG certification. These jobs are often best applied in person. You can improve your odds by asking when the manager will be at their restaurant so you can ask them for a job directly. If a restaurant is not hiring be sure to ask if they know someplace that might be hiring, local knowledge can be very helpful.
Final Tips for Resume Success in Australia
- Use Australian English (e.g., licence not license, organise not organize)
- Keep your resume updated as you travel
- Print a few copies and visit places in person — face-to-face still works!
- Be upfront about visa status, and mention if you’re working toward your 88 days
- Use Backpacker Job Board, Seek, Jora, Gumtree, and Facebook Groups to find more jobs.
- Appearance matters; use a resume template. You can find free templates on google docs, canva or microsoft programs.
Helpful Certifications
White Card (for construction work)
Forklift license
Manual Drivers Licence
RSA (Responsible service of alcohol)
RSG(Responsible service of gambling)
Food Safety Certification