What Do Australian Employers Look for in An Overseas Skilled Worker Resume?
By admin
Australian resumes can be quite different to resumes in other countries. If you are seeking work in Australia as a skilled worker, it is important to write your resume correctly, in a way that Australian employers expect.
Nicole Wren, resume writer at Resumes to Impress, explains that when recruiting for skilled workers from overseas, there are key things employers look for in each section of your resume, before calling you in for an interview.
Contact Details
For skilled migrants seeking work in Australia, it is important that you include local contact details in your contact details section of your resume. Include your full name, phone number and email address. Include your Australian home address as well. You may also include your nationality, and your current rights to work in Australia, as well as details of your LinkedIn profile here. There is no need to include a photo of yourself. Avoid reference to your marital or family status and your date of birth.
Example:
John Sample
M: 0400 000 000 | E: johnsample@example.com
A: 11 Sample Street, Brisbane, Queensland
Nationality: Sample
Visa Status: X
LinkedIn URL
Key Skills
Nicole explains that Australian employers are eager to know how your skills are relevant to the role they want to recruit for. Keep this in mind when writing your resume, and focus on skills relevant to your industry. You may wish to browse job search websites like seek.com.au to determine relevant ‘buzzwords’ for the roles you are targeting. Include reference to what languages you speak (with English at the top).
Australian employers like to see that you are an active, engaged contributor within your profession. Including any memberships related to your profession can be a good way to do this.
Example:
Member of Australian Institute for Engineering and Technology
Design Council Australia Member
Education/ Qualifications
Australian employers need to see you have the qualifications required to work in the field they are hiring for. You should include details of your qualifications, including what educational facility you completed them and the year. You should also include details of your completed Migration Skills Assessment with the relevant professional authority, to confirm you meet the standards needed for employment in Australia. Do not include details of your primary school – this is not expected in Australia.
Example:
Bachelor of Engineering B.Eng. (Hons) | Hilton University, 2001
Employment History/ Achievements
Use the chronological resume format, which means your most recent employment experience goes first. Include the dates you worked in each role (i.e., month/year – month/ year). Rather than just listing your position duties, try to include details of accomplishments in each role. According to Nicole, skilled workers should consider using the XYZ method to do this, which goes like this:
X – What did you achieve?
Y – How was it measured?
Z – How did you do it?
For example:
June 2012 – July 2020
Chief Engineer | Smith and Sons Pty Ltd.
Key Achievements:
Achieved a 20% reduction in purchasing costs in annual budget review by negotiating with supplier X”.
Referees
In general, Australian employers like to see at least two professional referees on your resume. It is also, however, acceptable to write “available on request.” If you are listing referee details, include their full name, job title, organisation and contact details.
For example:
Sally Smith
Manager of Operations
Smith and Sons Pty Ltd.
Ph: +447975770000
As a final tip, Nicole recommends running your resume through an Australian spell checker before submitting. “It is common for international applicants to use incorrect grammar in their resumes, which can really put Australian employers off. In particular, watch your use of ‘z’ when an ‘s’ should be used (for example, in Australia, it’s organise not organize).”
In summary, Australian employers want to see evidence that you have the skills, qualifications and knowledge needed to perform the role they are recruiting for. By including the right information in your resume, you will be on your way to securing work in Australia as a skilled worker.
