When applying to an employer in Australia, there are 10 resumes mistakes you must avoid making.

When it comes to comparing resumes, Australian recruiters take only a few seconds to do so. Most medium to large employers are using Applicant Tracking Systems that will screen out applications before you even have a chance to see them – all the time, small details can be the difference between a job interview and a rejection. Australian job seekers make some of the same mistakes on their resumes in 2026; here’s how to deal with them.

1.Using overly complex formatting. Overly complex formatting.

Some of the current resume templates may have columns, textboxes, tables and graphics that look good in the eyes of the reader but are not good for your resume to be read by the ATS software before a recruiter opens it. Ensure that your CV is created in a single column and that it includes the headings that the common recruiters use: Summary, Experience, Skills and Education.

2. Non-Australian Spelling and Conventions

You could easily tell by the fact that the document was written using American spelling rather than Australian English (organise, analyse, résumé or CV). It’s a minor point but it’s attention (or lack of) to detail.

3. Copying the job ad into your resume

It is evident that when a job description term is pasted verbatim from a job posting into an application, it is a sign of a poor focus on the application.When a job description term is simply copied from a job posting into an application, the recruiter knows right away that it’s a poor focus on the application. This does not provide the employer with much insight into your true performance and may be interpreted as lazy or dishonest.

4. To Write a Resume that is Too Long

Australian employers value directness. A two to three page resume is preferred by most recruiters and four pages are only acceptable for senior leadership positions. Hiring managers are busy people and don’t want to read an essay, so anything longer will lose their attention quickly.

5. Including Unnecessary Personal Information

Discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as age, gender or marital status is not allowed under the Fair Work Act 2009. So details such as date of birth, marital status and gender or a photo can be detrimental to your CV and some employers may refuse to consider it, in order to avoid legal issues. Include your name, information, suburb and state.

6. Not Customizing Your Resume for every Job

The worst thing that job seekers can do is to send a generic resume to all of the job postings. Employers will know you did not customize your CV if you don’t take a specific job into account. Focus on key experience and skills for each job and briefly summarise experience/knowledge that is relevant but not as recent or isn’t relevant to the job.

7. Nonetheless, it is important to be able to back up your listing skills.

The number of skills listed in a skills section alone is not as effective. Recruiters are looking for proof – certifications, courses taken or tangible results that demonstrate the skills you assert. Include numbers, percentages, dollar amounts or time saved where possible in describing achievements rather than calling them duties.

8. Poor or Inconsistent Formatting

Inconsistencies in the font, spacing or bullet styles make a resume seem less professional and harder to read quickly. Generic language and lack of customisation are one of the most common reasons why good candidates fall between the cracks. You assume a professional air if the essay is in a clear and uniform format before any word of content is even read.

9. Uploading of wrong file type.

The majority of Australian employers would want a Word doc (.docx) or a clean pdf generated from a Word or Google doc, which are likely to be correctly read by the ATS. Never scan or create a PDF using the scanning software, it may not be possible for the system to read the text in the image-based PDF, and your application will not be visible. 

10. Exaggerate or Make up Experience.

The most tricky lie that a candidate could make is to embellish upon their title, date, qualifications, or responsibilities on their job. Work experience and certifications are regularly reviewed by employers and discrepancies are noticed at interview time. It’s good for you both in the long run!

Australian Job Seeker’s final tips

• Limit your resume to 2-3 pages (up to 4 pages for executive-level positions).
• Spell and punctuate in Australian style.
• Customize your CV to the job posting by including the same skill words, but without keyword stuffing.
• Save as .docx or as a PDF (don’t save as a scan) and send.
• Support your stated competencies with actual proof – certificates, results or measurable outcomes.
• Don’t include personal information that’s unnecessary in Australia such as pictures, date of birth or marital status.

Your resume is still the best marketing tool in a competitive job market in Australia, so long as it is well structured, genuine and personalized. When you’re passionate about a job you can’t afford to get it wrong, so steer clear of the following pitfalls to ensure your application gets through both the computer and the recruiter and into an interview.