How Migrants Can Build the Best Resume
for the Australian Job Market

Getting a respectable job as a migrant in Australia can be a real challenge. From competing with established local professionals to navigating the bureaucratic hurdles relating to your citizenship, things are visibly stacked against migrants seeking employment at the start.

Does that mean, as a migrant, you should pack your bags and head back home, shrugging and saying, “I tried”? Needless to say, of course not.

A migrant’s resilience in moving to a foreign country should not go to waste, and there are many ways migrants can prove their capabilities and score a legitimate professional career in the Australian job market.

Everyone starts somewhere, and one way migrants can get their foot in the door to an Australian company is by optimising their resume.

While they may have an effective resume back home, that won’t automatically translate to good callback rates in Australia. It’s crucial to personalise one’s resume to match the needs of the company and culture of a specific region. This philosophy is no different when it comes to applying for jobs in Australia.

If you’re a migrant who’s looking for a job in the Australian job market and want to adjust it to play to your strengths, you’re in the right place. We’ll give you some tips on how to stand out in the competitive Australian job market.

Let’s jump right into it.

1. Briefly Mention Your Migration Status

   Being a migrant, you’re bound to experience a different hiring process compared to applicants who are full-fledged Australian citizens, for better or for worse.

   In any case, it’s important to tell employers upfront about your citizenship status. This ensures that there won’t be any confusion or misunderstandings in the hiring process. Misdeclaring or withholding this information can lead to delays in the application process or outright rejection, so it’s important to add it in to ensure no one’s time is wasted.

   You can briefly mention your visa type and working rights in your two to three-sentence professional summary. For instance, you can say that you’re on a Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa with full work rights. You can also say that you’re a permanent resident with no work restrictions, and in such cases, you need not reveal your visa type.

   By being transparent, you can help employers understand you and prepare any additional requirements on their end to onboard you.

   Not everyone will accept migrants with a limited visa, but if you’ve proven your worth through your skillset and proactiveness in becoming a dutiful citizen (such as opening a Westpac bank account for migrants to accept payments quicker), then you can thrive in your new workplace with few issues.

2. Start With the Basics

   Before diving into crafting a resume that resonates with Australian employers, it’s important to ensure that your current resume follows the fundamental structure that all employers, regardless of their customs or cultural background, want to see.

   First, you need to have all the information present in the resume. This includes your name, email address, contact details, and home location. For migrants, putting up your visa status is also useful to ensure that neither you nor your employer will waste their time with factors outside both of your control.

   Following that, it’s a good idea to put a brief summary of what you’re looking for and what you can offer—a professional summary, in other words. You should also include key skills that list both hard and transferable skills that may be relevant to your desired job function. Finally, include your education and professional background as you see fit.

   Once you have the skeletal structure of the resume, it becomes easier to sell your resume to potential employers. You don’t have to inject personal flair into the resume just yet—make sure that all the important details are there and that they’re all readable and organised.

   A resume that’s easy to read is less likely to be overlooked than a flashy one with bold design elements, perhaps with the only exception being if you’re applying in the creative field.

3. Mind the Resume Formatting

   Once you’ve got your details set in stone (for now), the next thing you should consider is the formatting of your resume.

   You should pick a format that’s familiar, organised, and easily read. Don’t attempt to stand out with overly creative layouts, as that’s a surefire way to get your resume in the rubbish bin before hiring managers even get to see it.

   Furthermore, keep the resume within one to two pages, with one being the vastly preferred option. Skimmability is something every good resume should possess, as the hiring manager will have to sift through dozens of resumes a day and may only have a few quick moments to read yours.

   The standard resume format that puts your most recent work experience at the top of the page works best. You should also pick a clean font like Arial or Times New Roman. Avoid cursive, blocky, and eccentric font styles. Keep font sizes at the standard book level of about 10-12 pts.

   Furthermore, divide your resume into distinct categories. This can differ depending on what you feel is valuable to mention, but the standard angle is to use headers depicting your professional experience, education, and certifications.

   As a final word on formatting, ensure that the resume is written with bullet points instead of paragraphs. Don’t fluff the resume with unnecessary paragraphs. You want the recruiter to read through your resume, so make sure that it’s scannable and easy to digest by keeping it focused and results-oriented.

4. Know What Australian Employers Want

   Some resume habits that may have worked when applying for jobs in your home country don’t always bode well when applying for Australian-based jobs. Australian employers tend to hold different habits and preferences when looking for potential candidates, and it’s best to tailor your resume to fit these preferences.

   For instance, it’s not the norm in Australia to post your birthday, race, and photo in your resume, as this is irrelevant to one’s skillset and can be the cause for discrimination. Overly formal language in the resume is also a big no-no, as Australians prefer speaking in a casual tone more often than not.

   Australian employers want candidates who are team players and happy to contribute. Of course, having the metrics to show your prowess and skill in your chosen field also always works wonders in increasing your chances of scoring a good job. In any case, adapting your resume to fit the national standards can help you stay level with the rest of the Aussie workforce.

5. Translate Your Overseas Experience Clearly

   You could have an exemplary performance in your home country on a certain function, but if that achievement is not something that the average Australian recruiter would understand, then your application could be overlooked for something more relatable and easy to comprehend.

   To avoid this, it’s essential that you reframe your experience using globally recognisable language and provide context on the role and the significance of your contribution. Putting quantifiable metrics is a good way to articulate that you’ve contributed something worthwhile to your organisation, for instance.

   Moreover, you can also add context on companies or schools that you’ve worked or studied in in the past. For education, in particular, you can translate your GPA or scoring system to that of Australia’s to give employers a clearer perspective.

   Of course, building a resume to appeal to potential employers also means highlighting skills that are worth having in an organisation. Many soft and hard skills transcend borders, such as leadership, tech tool proficiencies, and people skills. Hone in on those and use easy-to-understand yet commanding language to get your application noticed.

   By having your resume fit the job function you’re trying to apply for, you’ll have a better shot at succeeding in your job applications.

6. Tailor Your Resume to Each Role

   Sending an identical resume to every employer is a good way to reap zero results in the Australian job market.

   Recruiters expect applicants to be ready for a specific job function, and in this cutthroat job market, other applicants do customise their resumes alongside their cover letters to tailor their resume to different industries and match the requirements of the specific role and company they’re applying for.

   To stay ahead, you should also do the same. Mirror phrasing and keywords used by the job description, and highlight relevant work experience and key skills that can be translated to the job function. Try to use your limited bullet points to highlight what your skills can bring to the table.

   While tailoring your resume to each job can be a time-consuming process, you’ll have a much higher success rate of getting called back for an interview. And once your foot is on the door, you can become one step closer to gaining employment in Australia and living a good life in the country.

Conclusion

Polishing your resume is a crucial first step to succeeding in the Australian job market. By being transparent about your migration status, adhering to local formatting standards, and clearly translating your overseas experience, you can create a resume that stands out. Tailoring your application to each specific role will significantly increase your chances of getting noticed and proving your value to a potential employer.