The international student’s guide to writing a great resume

An international student sitting at a table in an interview

Your resume (also known as a CV which is short for Curriculum Vitae) is your first impression to potential employers, so it’s a very important document.

Whether you’re looking for part-time work while you study or a full-time job after graduation, this guide will help you write an impressive resume that helps you get noticed.

Use a template

Downloading an online template for the layout of your resume will help it look professional and show that you are good with technology. For starters, try these free options:

Kickresume.com
Canva
Microsoft Word.

These templates also help as a guide to what information you should be adding.

What to include

1. A compelling personal statement

Start your resume with a short overview of your goals and skills. Try to keep it to 2 - 3 sentences or use 3 - 4 bullet points.

Include your soft skills such as being good with people, working well in a team, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and any personality traits that make you someone who is easy to work with.

2. Relevant work experience

If you have worked in jobs before, list them by adding the following information:

company name
location
the dates that you worked there
your key tasks or responsibilities
achievements in that role.

If you haven't worked in paid jobs before, include:

work experience, internships or volunteer work
examples from your academic projects or group assignments
extracurricular involvement in any clubs or student unions at your place of study.

Tip: Make sure you list your work experience in chronological order (from most recent to oldest).

3. Your education and relevant studies

Your academic qualifications are an important part of your resume. Include details of your studies including:

course name
majors (if any)
place of study
how long you’ve been studying for or when you finished your studies.

If you have taken short courses, you should include them too, especially if they are relevant to the job.

4. Your visa status and work availability

It's important to include your visa status on your resume. Write what type of visa you have, the expiry and your work restrictions (if any). This reassures the employer that you’re legally able to work in Australia.

If you are looking for a part-time job, it can help to include your available days and hours.

5. Your technical skills

If the job you're applying for will require computer work, then add a list of your tech skills such as:

the Microsoft Suite
CRM software that you have used in previous jobs (e.g. Salesforce)
Adobe or Canva
website builders.

6. Your Interests

Adding a list of your interests is important as it shows a little bit of who you are as a person. Let them know if you enjoy sports or exercise, reading or any other hobbies.

Use your cover letter to stand out

If you lack formal work experience, a well-written cover letter can help by providing additional context to your background. It also gives you the opportunity to sell yourself as the perfect person for the role.

Make sure you research the company’s mission, values and culture to understand what they’re looking for in a potential employee.

Tailor your cover letter to reflect how your goals and experience align with their objectives and why you're passionate about working with them. This shows your genuine interest in the role and will set you apart from others.

Things to include:

why you’re motivated to join their company
what your soft skills are, including practical examples of how you’ve used them
your personality and values
a clear description of your professional goals
explain your willingness to learn and contribute to their business.

Write clearly

Remember that the company will be receiving a lot of resumes, so make it easy to read.

avoid being repetitive and going into too much detail
ensure your sentences are easy to understand – shorter is often better
keep your paragraphs short and relevant.

Proofread

Before submitting your resume, it’s important to make sure there are no mistakes, and that the font is consistent. This shows your attention to detail. You could ask a friend, family member or teacher to review your resume and cover letter and provide feedback.

Tip: Use a grammar checker such as Grammarly.

Get support

There is free, local support available in the major cities. You can contact them for job advice, counselling, events and more.

Visit your local support services page via the links below:

For more information on finding jobs, you can also visit our Work in Australia page.