A CV, short for curriculum vitae, is a document describing your relevant experience, skills and qualifications. In Australian job advertisements, “CV” and “resume” are often used interchangeably. The employer's instructions tell you what to submit; the word CV alone does not mean you need a lengthy academic history.
The University of Western Australia's explanation makes the same distinction between Australian usage and the more detailed CV that particular roles or countries may expect.
What does an Australian employer mean by CV?
For an ordinary job application, prepare a relevant account of your work, education and skills. If the advertisement asks for a two-page CV, a separate selection-criteria response or a specific file format, follow those instructions. Do not add a publication list simply because the employer used the word CV.
For an academic or research role, the requested CV may include research, publications, teaching, grants and professional service. Some medical, specialist or international applications also have their own requirements. Read the application pack before choosing a format.
A practical CV outline for Australian jobs
- Name and contact details: phone, professional email and city/state, with a relevant profile or portfolio link if useful.
- Short profile: the work you do, relevant experience and strengths supported by evidence.
- Relevant skills: capabilities that match the vacancy and appear in your examples.
- Work or relevant experience: actual titles, organisations, dates and concise evidence bullets, usually most recent first.
- Education and training: qualification names, providers and accurate completion status.
- Additional relevant information: licences, professional memberships, volunteering or projects where they help the application.
For a first job, education and projects may sit above employment. For an experienced applicant, recent relevant work usually deserves more space. See our resume examples for different career stages for complete text structures.
Example: describing experience clearly
Fictional wording to adapt: “Coordinated weekly service bookings for [team], checked information before confirming appointments and followed up changes with customers.”
This tells the reader what the applicant did and in what setting. Strengthen your version with a supported outcome if available. A claim such as “excellent communication skills” needs an example showing how you used those skills.
How long should a CV be?
Use the employer's limit first. Where none is stated, include enough relevant evidence for the role without repeating it. A new entrant needs less career history than an experienced specialist. Academic applications may need a fuller record. Avoid making every document the same length by shrinking the font or adding irrelevant detail.
For deciding which earlier roles deserve space, use our guide to how far back a resume should go.
Details to check before submitting
- Use a working phone number and email address. Check that links open and point to your current profile.
- Keep dates, role titles and qualification status consistent with the application form.
- Use clear headings and readable text. Submit the file type requested and check the exported file.
- Leave out unrelated personal details and get permission before sharing a referee's contact information.
- Replace every template placeholder and use Australian spelling consistently.
Does a CV replace a cover letter?
No. The CV records your relevant background; a cover letter connects selected evidence to that particular opportunity. Supply each document the employer requests. If a letter is required, our cover letter inclusion checklist helps you decide what belongs in it.
Get help with your CV
Use these examples to prepare your own application. If you want feedback on the resume that accompanies it, request a free resume review. For writing support, compare our resume packages and check which documents are included before choosing.