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Australian Graduate Resume Checklist 2026

Tick every item before hitting submit. Every. Single. Time.

Name: _________________________ Job Applied For: _________________________ Date: _____________

Total items: 40 | Target: 40/40 ✅

📞 Contact & Header

Full legal name — larger font, bold
Mobile number in Australian format (04XX XXX XXX)
Professional email address (firstname.lastname@)
City and state only (not full street address)
LinkedIn URL — customised (no random numbers)linkedin.com/in/yourname
Portfolio / GitHub URL (if relevant to role)
Photo or headshot
Date of birth or age
Marital status / religion / nationality

🎯 Career Objective / Summary

Tailored to this specific role (not copy-pasted)
Mentions your degree and university
Highlights your strongest transferable skill
States what value you bring to the employer
2–3 sentences (50–80 words) — concise and punchy
Generic objective ("seeking a challenging role...")
Mentions salary or working hours expectations

🎓 Education

Full degree name, major & specialisation
University name, city, and state
Graduation year (or "Expected [Month Year]")
GPA / WAM — only if 65+ or distinction average
Academic awards, scholarships, Dean's List
Relevant subjects listed (maximum 5)
High school / HSC results (if university graduate)

💼 Work Experience

Reverse-chronological order (most recent first)
Each role: job title, employer, city, date range
3–5 bullet points per role
Each bullet starts with a strong action verb
At least 2 bullets include quantified achievements
Internships, part-time, and volunteer work included
Lists job duties instead of achievements
Unexplained gaps longer than 6 months

📄 Formatting & Layout

1 page (or 2 max if experience warrants)
Font: Arial, Calibri, or Georgia — 10–12pt body
Consistent heading sizes throughout
Margins: 1.5cm – 2cm all around
Left-aligned body text (not justified)
No tables or multi-column layout (ATS risk)
Saved as PDF (or .docx if employer requires)
File named: FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf
Fancy graphics, icons, or infographic sections
Text inside headers / footers / text boxes

🤖 ATS & Content Quality

Keywords from the job ad appear naturally in resume
Standard section headings used (ATS-safe)
Australian English spelling throughoutorganisation, behaviour, programme, colour
Zero spelling or grammar errors (use spell-check)
All claims are truthful and verifiable
Consistent tense: past tense for old roles, present for current
"References available upon request" at end
Keyword stuffing (unnatural repetition)
Skills listed that you can't demonstrate in interview

🏛 For Government / APS Applications (Additional Checks)

Australian citizenship stated prominently
Security clearance eligibility noted
Resume length 2–3 pages (APS standard)
Selection criteria addressed (STAR format)
APS Values referenced (integrity, impartiality)
ILS capability language used in descriptions
Referee names and contact details provided upfront
Cover letter addresses role-specific criteria

📊 My Resume Score Tracker

📞 Contact & Header (9 items)___ / 9

🎯 Objective / Summary (7 items)___ / 7

🎓 Education (7 items)___ / 7

💼 Work Experience (8 items)___ / 8

📄 Formatting & Layout (10 items)___ / 10

🤖 ATS & Content (9 items)___ / 9

⭐ TOTAL SCORE

___ / 40

If your score is below 35/40: Your resume likely needs improvement before applying. Focus first on any "✗" items (things you included that you shouldn't have), then on any empty checkboxes in the ATS and Content section. A score of 38–40 puts you in the top tier of applicants.

Still unsure? Submit your resume for a free expert review at eliteresumes.co/resume-review-form

✅ Printable Resume Checklist — Australian Graduates 2026

Australian Graduate Resume Checklist 2026

Tick every item before hitting submit. Every. Single. Time.

📊 My Resume Score Tracker