Resume writing
How to write a resume for part-time and casual jobs while studying
What to include on a one-page resume for casual retail, hospitality and customer service work, including availability, work rights and relevant credentials.
You are studying, rent is due and the café down the road has a sign in the window asking for casual staff. The manager will glance at your resume between orders. They want to know three things quickly: can you do the work, when can you work, and are you allowed to?
A resume for casual or part-time retail, hospitality or customer service work is shorter and more practical than a graduate resume. This guide covers availability, credentials and how to turn ordinary shifts into evidence.
What the manager needs to see
Study Australia's resume guide for international students covers part-time work while you study as well as graduate roles.
| Section | What to include | Why it matters for casual work |
|---|---|---|
| Contact details and work rights | Name, phone, email, suburb; visa type, expiry and any work restrictions | Study Australia says this reassures the employer you can legally work in Australia |
| Availability | Days and hours you can work | Study Australia says it can help to include your available days and hours for a part-time job |
| Short personal statement | Two or three sentences on your goals and skills | Lets the manager see quickly what kind of shifts you are after |
| Experience | Jobs, volunteering, group projects, clubs | Shows you can turn up, follow instructions and deal with people |
| Credentials | Certificates relevant to the job, such as alcohol service or food safety training | Some roles need them before your first shift |
| Referees | Two or three people who know your work | See our referees guide |
Our complete guide to writing an Australian resume explains each section in more detail.
Write your availability so a manager can roster you
A vague line like "flexible availability" forces the manager to call you to find out what it means. A specific line lets them picture you on the roster.
| Weak | Better |
|---|---|
| Flexible hours | Available Monday and Wednesday after 3 pm, all day Saturday |
| Available most of the time | Semester: Thursday evenings and weekends. University breaks: any day |
| Can work whenever needed | Available for opening shifts from 6 am on Tuesdays and Fridays |
Only list hours you can actually keep, and make sure they fit your visa conditions. If you hold a Student visa, read our guide to student visa work hours before you commit to a weekly pattern, because the limit applies across every job you hold.
Credentials: list what you hold and where it applies
Some hospitality and retail roles have training requirements that apply before you start. List only certificates you have actually completed, with the state or issuing body where that matters.
| Credential | What the official source says | How to list it |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), NSW | The NSW Government says RSA training is mandatory for anyone selling, serving or supplying alcohol in NSW, through an Approved Training Provider. An interim certificate is valid for 90 days and allows you to work immediately while you apply for a competency card | "RSA (NSW), competency card" or "RSA (NSW), interim certificate" with the date |
| Food safety training | Food Standards Australia New Zealand says food service, catering and retail businesses covered by Standard 3.2.2A must ensure all food handlers have completed a food safety training course, or have appropriate skills and knowledge, before they start handling high-risk foods | Name the course and provider, and the month you completed it |
Rules for alcohol service differ between states. The NSW page notes that people trained interstate may need a bridging course, so do not assume a certificate from one state covers another. Check the requirement for the state where the job is, and ask the employer which course they accept if the ad does not say.
Turn ordinary shifts into evidence
Casual work is real work experience. Say what you did, how often and for whom.
| Generic | Specific |
|---|---|
| Served customers | Served walk-in and phone customers at a busy takeaway counter, Friday and Saturday nights |
| Handled cash | Balanced the till at close and reported any variance to the shift supervisor |
| Stocked shelves | Restocked chilled and frozen sections against the overnight delivery list |
| Dealt with complaints | Handled customer returns and refunds, referring disputed cases to the duty manager |
If you have not had a paid job yet, Study Australia suggests including work experience, internships, volunteer work, examples from academic projects or group assignments, and involvement in clubs or student unions. Our volunteering guide shows how to label unpaid roles accurately.
A worked example
This is a fictional example. Arjun is a first-year engineering student in Sydney on a Student visa. He is applying for a casual role at Saltwater Kitchen, a fictional café that also serves alcohol. He has worked at a fictional fruit shop since March and volunteers at a weekly community food pantry.
Arjun Mehta
Parramatta, NSW · [Phone] · [Email]
Student visa (subclass 500), expires March 2029, work limits apply during semester
Summary
First-year engineering student seeking casual café and front-of-house work. Experienced in fast-paced customer service, cash handling and food display preparation.
Availability
Semester: Friday from 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday all day. University breaks: any day.
Experience
Casual Retail Assistant, Greenway Fruit Market, Parramatta · March 2026 to present
- Served customers at the counter and on the floor during weekend trading
- Prepared cut fruit platters for the chilled display following the store's hygiene checklist
- Balanced the till at close and reported variances to the supervisor
Volunteer, Westside Community Pantry · June 2026 to present
- Sorted donated stock and packed weekly food parcels
Certificates
- RSA (NSW), competency card, completed August 2026
- Food safety training course, [Provider], completed July 2026
Referees
Available on request
The whole resume fits on one page, and every line is something Arjun can talk about in a two-minute chat with the manager. He updates the availability line each semester. When he later applies for professional roles, our graduate resume guide explains how to present this part-time work as evidence.
Questions about part-time and casual job resumes
Should I include my availability on my resume?
Yes. Study Australia says that if you are looking for a part-time job, it can help to include your available days and hours. Make the times specific and only list hours you can keep.
Do I need an RSA to apply for bar or restaurant work?
In NSW, the NSW Government says RSA training is mandatory for anyone selling, serving or supplying alcohol. Other states set their own requirements, so check the rules for the state where the job is.
What if I have never had a paid job?
Study Australia suggests listing work experience, internships, volunteer work, academic projects or group assignments, and clubs or student unions you have been involved in.
Do I need food safety training to work in a café?
Under Standard 3.2.2A, Food Standards Australia New Zealand says covered businesses must ensure food handlers have completed a food safety training course, or have appropriate skills and knowledge, before handling high-risk foods. If you have completed a course, list it; if not, ask the employer which training they use.