Tips for writing competitive Aussie CV's

[Guest cherli]

Hi Freckleface

My husband has been rejected 4 times over the last two days from prospective employers with no reason given. Could it be due to the fact that he is not in Australia yet? He is applying for banking compliance role, the same as what he has been doing for the past 6 years. Is there any other qualifications that is unique to Australia but not in Asia?

[Freckleface]

Hi Freckleface

My husband has been rejected 4 times over the last two days from prospective employers with no reason given. Could it be due to the fact that he is not in Australia yet? He is applying for banking compliance role, the same as what he has been doing for the past 6 years. Is there any other qualifications that is unique to Australia but not in Asia?

 

 

Hi - it is possible they aren't interested because he is off shore but it might also be that his application wasn't as competitive as others they received. When you say he hasn't received any feedback - has he asked for any? If not I would make contact with the employers and ask for some. They might not give any but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by compliance roles as I can think of a couple of quite varied roles that might fit this term. If he asks for feedback he could ask them about additional quals required as well.

Edited September 4, 2012 by Freckleface

[Guest sidestep]

....Perspective employers....

 

....Use spell check. Realise spell check will not pick up the misuse of some words (such as there / their). If you are not a good speller – have someone else read over your work.

 

Sorry - couldn't resist

:wink:

[Guest guest76088]

Simply add a line item "Postgraduate Masters Study Period". To leave the employment period without a gap would be misleading, and to include the gap without some explanation would be a bad idea. First thing I check when I receive a CV is do the dates show a complete picture.

 

BigD

 

 

Hi Freckleface,

 

Could I please clarify something you had mentioned above about what to include and not in the CV?

 

My husband was studying full time for a Masters degree in between his first job and his second job which took about two years to complete. Would he need to specifically mention this period as full time study on the CV so as to explain the break in employment? His CV is structured in a way where employment and education are two different sections so all the relevant info is already in there, but we were wondering if it was worthwhile to explain the break in the employment section itself?

 

Hope that made sense...and thanks in advance for your help!

 

Indy.

[Blackhorse]

Hi - some really good advice here thanks.

 

Freckleface - the CV template you uploaded is in a chronological format, do you have views/advice on using a hybrid format for the Oz employment market?

 

I'm off shore looking for visa sponsorship. I'm in the telecommunications/radiocommunications field, I have a strong technical/engineering background but with more recent project management/project engineering skills and experience. The chronological format works really well if I'm looking at project roles but a hybrid format ("lumping" relevant strengthes/skills into sections) seems to work better if I'm looking at roles that would utilise my core technical experience. Basically, I trying to keep my options open and maximise opportunities!

 

Many thanks

[dig23]

We are at the stage where we need to start sorting out our CVs so thank you for setting this all out - I need to read through it all and get our shiny new competative CVs together!

[Freckleface]

Hi - some really good advice here thanks.

 

Freckleface - the CV template you uploaded is in a chronological format, do you have views/advice on using a hybrid format for the Oz employment market?

 

I'm off shore looking for visa sponsorship. I'm in the telecommunications/radiocommunications field, I have a strong technical/engineering background but with more recent project management/project engineering skills and experience. The chronological format works really well if I'm looking at project roles but a hybrid format ("lumping" relevant strengthes/skills into sections) seems to work better if I'm looking at roles that would utilise my core technical experience. Basically, I trying to keep my options open and maximise opportunities!

 

Many thanks

 

While the chronological format is best MOST of the time don't be a slave to it if you would be better served by grouping experience.

 

To make it easier for employers (if you go down that road) consider adding another section that lists your employers with the dates you worked for them under the section where you have grouped your experience.

 

If/when you are applying for any project management roles make sure you highlight coming in on time/early with projects, budget savings (or no blowouts etc).

 

Good luck

[Blackhorse]

Many thanks - think I'll spend some time today working on two different versions :-)

[Danny&Em]

Hello.

 

Would you recommend adding a link to a website I built to help showcase my portfolio (Archutectural Technician) also a link to LinkedIn were it has recommendations / references etc.?

[Freckleface]

Hello.

 

Would you recommend adding a link to a website I built to help showcase my portfolio (Archutectural Technician) also a link to LinkedIn were it has recommendations / references etc.?

 

 

While I would normally not recommend including links to websites etc in this case I would say - yes, include a link to your website if it is polished and easy to navigate. You can include a link to LinkedIn but it would be better if your website included a link instead. Your CV could alert employers to the fact that the website which showcases your work includes a link to LinkedIn.

 

However - don't rely on the website to sell your capabilities. You still need to submit a competitive CV. It would be a monumental mistake not to.

 

Good luck.

[Guest guest76088]

Something that has just occurred to me for new migrants looking for work: if you have registered for a Australian certifications or quals (NPER Eng Australia or whatever) or joined any organisations AIM etc. put them prominently on your CV.

 

Ignore naysayers that they don't mean anything. Membership and registrations not only involve a lot of effort, they cost hundreds of dollars and give credibility. No one is going to do it if they were not committed to the migration and to practice the profession once there.

 

You may have already had to undergo a skills assessment by the organisation in any case so it is worth getting membership...

 

Also good for future networking on arrival.

 

BigD

[Guest flickofdaswitch]

Reall good info here...should be of great help thanks

[shrividhya]

Wonderful Tip. Thank you Quoll.

[shrividhya]

Thanks for the resume template and the useful tips on Resume writing. Really helps with valuable information. Thank you ...

[aliogilvie]

Hello all

 

I have just stumbled upon this thread (thank you so much to Freckleface for creating and everybody else who has contributed such valuable advice) I am now in the process of applying for jobs within Higer Education as we are due to emigrate in March and so the time seems right to start the search proper. I work in Project Management within a UK university and manage a team of support staff and am looking for something similar in Adelaide - there are a number of posts which are currently of interest.

 

Anyway, my query is this, most of the applications are online with a large section of 'selection criteria' to address. I am approaching each section with an essay type formal - i.e. summary of experience which is relevant then specific examples, relating points back to the actual person/job description. But is it ok to put in more personal information (of the type which this thread suggests is inappropriate for CVs) within these sections? I was thinking of referring to my passion for life long learning within one of the answers - but none of the questions particularly mention this.

 

Any thoughts? I have created an Australian CV based on the template at the start of this thread - it is quite different to my UK CV but at least I feel I have made it more Ausralia-friendly!

[Freckleface]

Hello all

 

I have just stumbled upon this thread (thank you so much to Freckleface for creating and everybody else who has contributed such valuable advice) I am now in the process of applying for jobs within Higer Education as we are due to emigrate in March and so the time seems right to start the search proper. I work in Project Management within a UK university and manage a team of support staff and am looking for something similar in Adelaide - there are a number of posts which are currently of interest.

 

Anyway, my query is this, most of the applications are online with a large section of 'selection criteria' to address. I am approaching each section with an essay type formal - i.e. summary of experience which is relevant then specific examples, relating points back to the actual person/job description. But is it ok to put in more personal information (of the type which this thread suggests is inappropriate for CVs) within these sections? I was thinking of referring to my passion for life long learning within one of the answers - but none of the questions particularly mention this.

 

Any thoughts? I have created an Australian CV based on the template at the start of this thread - it is quite different to my UK CV but at least I feel I have made it more Ausralia-friendly!

 

hi - you could talk about your passion for life long learning but you will need to be able to back that up with evidence of your own ongoing learning and how you have applied what you have learned in your work.

[Bromney]

Hi,

 

I recently emigrated from the UK and am seeing opportunities within the IT sector. I was told the Aussie market prefers more detail in the CV's as opposed to the UK and thus I've expanded my CV from 3 pages to 8 pages! Some of this is spacing and making it easier to read but I've also elaborated on my responsibilities and achievements.

 

Question is, is 8 pages simply too long for a CV? What's the maximum number of pages I should be targeting?

 

Thanks.

[Freckleface]

Hi,

 

I recently emigrated from the UK and am seeing opportunities within the IT sector. I was told the Aussie market prefers more detail in the CV's as opposed to the UK and thus I've expanded my CV from 3 pages to 8 pages! Some of this is spacing and making it easier to read but I've also elaborated on my responsibilities and achievements.

 

Question is, is 8 pages simply too long for a CV? What's the maximum number of pages I should be targeting?

 

Thanks.

 

 

You really should try to cut it in half. Have a hard look at your writing style as people often use twice as many words as they need to.

 

Also, remember your CV doesn't need to tell your life story - if you have been in the workforce for a long time consider removing anything more than 10 years old. If you have worked in lots of different jobs (contracts and things) consider using a 'functional' format instead of a 'chronological' one.

 

Concentrate on your most significant achievements as they relate to the role your are applying for. And remember that a 'one size fits all' CV is unlikely to be competitive.

 

Good luck

[brum1973]

I have my CV Laid out in UK Format, yet for the position of employment I'd be seeking in Oz, I haven't worked in that area for 4 years. Therefore, would I need to put current & any previous occupations down to complete the gaps, even though they would be irrelevant to the job role?

[Freckleface]

I have my CV Laid out in UK Format, yet for the position of employment I'd be seeking in Oz, I haven't worked in that area for 4 years. Therefore, would I need to put current & any previous occupations down to complete the gaps, even though they would be irrelevant to the job role?

 

 

You would need to include them to avoid creating an employment gap. A 'functional' rather than a 'chronological' format might be best.

[ozymandias]

Freckleface,

 

Demented question I realise, but now that your cv advice has got him and interview OH is eager to impress.

OH is traveling in feb to interview for finance position (WA), he will really suffer with the heat as it is literally a flying visit and has not a hope of acclimatising. Is a linen suit a complete no no for interviewing in the finance area? There is nothing lightweight available in the obligatory black here now (wrong season), should he purchase black lightweight there rather than turn up in light colour linen?

[Bromney]

You really should try to cut it in half. Have a hard look at your writing style as people often use twice as many words as they need to.

 

Also, remember your CV doesn't need to tell your life story - if you have been in the workforce for a long time consider removing anything more than 10 years old. If you have worked in lots of different jobs (contracts and things) consider using a 'functional' format instead of a 'chronological' one.

 

Concentrate on your most significant achievements as they relate to the role your are applying for. And remember that a 'one size fits all' CV is unlikely to be competitive.

 

Good luck

 

Thanks for the tip, much appreciated. :smile:

[Francisco]

Thanks a lot! I am in a similar position as you were, I graduated from Law School, but after college I wanted to develop in the business field so I worked in the commercial department of 3 good companies for about 4 years. Now, I am moving to Sydney to study an MBA at MGSM and it has been great watching someone climbed the corporate ladder that studied something else not business related!

 

Again, thanks a lot, hope my future is as good as yours!

 

 

In order to help you access the validity of the guidance offered below I thought I would share a little of my background. Early in my career I was as Organisational Psychologist (as it’s called these days) but then completed a master’s degree in business administration and began climbing the corporate ladder. I am currently the CEO of a large Australian company with a Division that specialises in executive management recruitment.

 

While some specialist roles require specialised CV’s the following generic information is provided in the hope it will assist some people who are unsure of how to prepare a CV that is competitive in the Australian market. The guidance is not meant to be all encompassing and will not suit all circumstances or roles. It is inappropriate for senior executives.

You might agree with some of it, all of it or none of it. I hope it is useful to some of you.

 

General

You should tailor your CV for each application you submit as every role is unique and requires a different mix of your capabilities, qualifications and experience. When responding to advertisements pay close attention to the role description and ensure you focus on the capabilities required by the employer. Acknowledge the breadth of your experience but highlight the capabilities which align most closely with the stated requirements. Be careful to match the pitch of your application to the level of the role unless you want to be assessed as under or over qualified. Also be mindful of the tone of your application. Aggressively selling yourself will suit sales roles but is unlikely to be useful if you are applying for a role that requires a softer touch. Ensure you follow any instructions regarding formatting, word limits and submission requirements.

 

If there is a contact officer listed in an advertisement, call them. They will invariably provide additional information and insight into the person the company is hoping to employ. The information they give you will assist in further refining the information you provide in your CV.

 

As a general rule your CV should not exceed 4 pages. Prospective employers and recruiters will spend approximately 1 to 2 minutes reading your CV to determine if you will be culled or if the CV will be read in greater detail. For this reason you need to ensure your writing style is concise but informative.

 

Keep the layout of your CV simple and do not use colour. It needs to look good in black and white as it will probably be photocopied and distributed to more than one reviewer.

Avoid the use of cover pages – we discard them. However you can and should include your full name in either the header or footer of each page in case a page becomes orphaned during photocopying.

 

Do not include your gender, age, marital status, ethnicity or religion unless specifically asked to do so. Do not include information about your children and pets (yes some people actually do that).

 

Use spell check. Realise spell check will not pick up the misuse of some words (such as there / their). If you are not a good speller – have someone else read over your work.

Unless specifically asked to provide a career objective I would avoid doing so. If your objective is at odds with the strategic direction of the company or does not quite align with where the company hopes you will wish to develop you could be ruled out of contention based on your stated objectives.

 

Education/Qualifications (include this either just before or just after Professional Experience)

Focus on those qualifications that are relevant to the position applied for. Include Bachelor Degrees and above in unrelated fields but be careful about looking over qualified. Do not include every qualification or course you have ever undertaken unless they are all relevant to the role. Do not include school leaving qualifications if you have a Bachelor Degree as the information is redundant.

 

Professional Experience

This area of your CV is critical. You need to make the link between your experience and what the employer is looking for. Don’t rely on them making the link between your experience and the role on offer. While duties/responsibilities lists are suitable for lower level positions they become significantly less effective as you begin to climb the corporate ladder. Instead of lists consider providing Role Overviews backed up by examples of your achievements. This gives the reader a much better understanding of your capabilities. I have prepared a CV template so you can see what it looks like when you do it this way. I’ll try to load it after I do this post (am not great at loading attachments though).

 

Role Overviews do not need to be long winded when written in a narrative style. For example the role overview for a lower level Business Manager might read something like this:

 

Drive the development and delivery of initiatives to address deficiencies in XYZ’s approach to Resource Management. Facilitate and support the successful delivery of related projects including the company’s new Website. Oversee a $5.4M budget and 40-member team.

A selected achievement might read something like:

 

• Developed and leveraged relationships with key stakeholders to re-align the scope of the Website project to achieve increased cohesiveness with other key projects such as the Information Management System. Influenced the correction of flawed assumptions regarding the architecture of the website and reduced the overall risk to the project. Saved 32% in development costs and shaved five months off the project schedule.
  

 

If you have managed a difficult team it is worth talking about. It might read something like:

 

• Achieved positive behavioural change in a team identified as ‘challenging’ by fostering an environment where team members understood the value of their work and its links to wider Company objectives. Empowered team members to apply their experience and intelligence to roles within a team structure aligned to leverage their strengths achieving superior levels of engagement, innovation and productivity in a previously disenfranchised team.
  

 

As a general rule of thumb restrict each role to around half of one A4 size page. Any more is probably too much which is just as bad as not enough.

You are not obliged to include every role you have ever held. If you have been in the workforce for a long time consider only including roles over the last 10 years unless your best experience pre-dates that time frame.

 

If possible demonstrate career development in your CV. If you have ‘downsized’ your career or moved sideways, you might consider a brief reference to the circumstances that motived your move. For example – By accepting a less senior role, I was able to accommodate part-time graduate study.

Australia operates in the Asia/Pacific region so do not harp on about your European experience to the exclusion of everything else in the belief employers will be dazzled by your worldly experience. Research the company you are applying to – if they do a lot of business in the European market then by all means draw attention to your experience there. If the business operates more in the Asia/Pacific you need to explain how your European experience can still benefit a company working predominantly in the Asia/Pacific market. Identify how your experience will translate well to a new market.

 

References and referees

Do not include written references. It is unlikely they will be read and is considered very old fashioned. You are not obliged to provide referees or their contact details in your CV unless specifically asked to do so. It is acceptable to indicate – Referees will be provided on request.

Optional Extras

If one of the following will strengthen your application include them – but otherwise don’t as they will likely weaken your position. Providing redundant or irrelevant information will raise questions about your ability to exercise sound judgement.

 

• Professional affiliations and memberships
  
• Licences and accreditations
  
• Awards
  
• Publications (where you have authored the article)
  
• Foreign Languages spoken or written
  

 

Cheers,

[boganbear]

I've just done what I've done in the UK with my CV and had no problems getting a job

[Freckleface]

Freckleface,

 

Demented question I realise, but now that your cv advice has got him and interview OH is eager to impress.

OH is traveling in feb to interview for finance position (WA), he will really suffer with the heat as it is literally a flying visit and has not a hope of acclimatising. Is a linen suit a complete no no for interviewing in the finance area? There is nothing lightweight available in the obligatory black here now (wrong season), should he purchase black lightweight there rather than turn up in light colour linen?

 

 

Hi - sorry I missed your question when you posted it.

 

I would avoid wearing a light coloured linen suit to any interview but especially one in the finance sector. The buildings are air conditioned so perhaps he could carry his jacket until he gets in the front door and then put it on. Failing that perhaps buying a suit when he gets here might be a worthwhile investment. I think Myer and David Jones department stores sell reasonably priced off the rack suits.

 

Also, play it safe a wear a white shirt and understated tie.