Resume writing
How long should a resume be in Australia?
A length guide by career stage, with a worked example of cutting a four-page resume to two.
There is no single page limit for Australian resumes, but there is a clear normal range.
Both the University of Sydney's resume guide and the Queensland Government's resume guide give one to three pages as the normal range for most industries. The University of Sydney notes that academic and research resumes are longer.
A length guide by situation
| Your situation | Typical length | What usually takes the space |
|---|---|---|
| Student or recent graduate | 1–2 pages | Education, placements, part-time work, projects, volunteering |
| 2–8 years' experience | 2 pages | Recent roles in detail, earlier roles summarised |
| 8+ years or senior roles | 2–3 pages | Achievements in the last 10 years; earlier career condensed |
| Academic or research role | Longer, as needed | Publications, grants, teaching, conferences |
| Government application | Resume plus a separate pitch or criteria responses | Follow the information pack's word or page limits |
The Australian Public Service Commission's application guide asks applicants to stick to any word or page limit, such as a one- or two-page pitch. Those limits apply to the pitch or criteria responses, which sit alongside your resume. Our selection criteria guide covers that document.
Decide what earns its space
Length follows relevance. The University of Sydney advises putting your most relevant and recent information early, because a recruiter may scan a resume in seconds. Use these questions on each section:
- Does this show a skill or result the job ad asks for?
- Is it recent enough to matter, usually the last ten years?
- Would the reader notice if it were gone?
Anything that fails all three can be cut or condensed.
A worked example: four pages to two
Daniel Okafor is a fictional project coordinator with nine years' experience. His first draft ran to four pages. Here is what changed.
| Section | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | 9 lines of adjectives | 3 sentences tied to project delivery |
| Recent role (4 years) | 14 bullets listing duties | 6 bullets with outcomes |
| Earlier roles (2014–2019) | Full entries with 8 bullets each | One line each: title, employer, dates |
| Skills | 30 tools | 8 tools named in the job ad, with proficiency |
| Training | Every short course since 2012 | Two current certifications |
| Referees | Full details for four people | "Available on request" |
Nothing relevant was removed. The reader can now see Daniel's strongest evidence on page one.
Do not shrink the font to fit
Cutting content is better than cramming it. The University of Sydney suggests body text between 10 and 12 point, with consistent headings and spacing. Narrow margins and 9-point text make a resume harder to read, not shorter.
Questions about resume length
Is a one-page resume better?
Not by default in Australia. One page suits many students and recent graduates. An experienced applicant who forces two pages of relevant work onto one often loses the detail that makes them competitive. Our Australian vs US resume guide explains where the one-page habit comes from.
Does the cover letter count towards the length?
No. A cover letter is a separate document, usually one page. See the Australian cover letter format.
How do I shorten a resume with many short contracts?
Group related contracts under one heading with a combined date range, then list the most relevant projects. Our guide to contract work on a resume shows the layout.
Should I remove old jobs completely?
You can summarise them in a single line or an "Earlier experience" section. Keep dates visible so the reader can follow your history.
OfferUnderway
Keep only what this job needs
OfferUnderway selects the most relevant experience from your saved history for each job.
See how tailoring works