10 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Australian Resume

"I applied to 50 places but haven't heard back from any..."

Sound familiar? The problem is likely your resume itself. There are common mistakes frequently reported in Australian working holiday communities.

The biggest culprit is Korean-style resume habits. What's normal in Korea leads to immediate rejection in Australia. For example, attaching photos, including date of birth, or prioritizing education.

This guide is based on job posting data analyzed by the WHRESUME team on the Seek platform and feedback from the working holiday community.

Mistake #1: Attaching a Photo ❌

Why not?

Because of Anti-Discrimination Law.

In Australia, it's illegal to discriminate based on age, gender, race, or appearance. Employers must judge candidates solely on their abilities. When you attach a photo:

• Employers feel legal risk
• Perception: "This candidate doesn't understand Australian culture"
• Immediate rejection

Korea vs Australia

Item	Korea	Australia
Photo	Required (formal photo)	❌ Absolutely prohibited
Date of birth	Required	❌ Absolutely prohibited
Gender	Required	❌ Absolutely prohibited
Marital status	Optional	❌ Absolutely prohibited

The Right Way

Personal information for resume:

• ✅ Name
• ✅ Phone
• ✅ Email
• ✅ Address (suburb only)

Example:

JIHYUN JEONG
Phone: 0412 XXX XXX
Email: jihyun.jeong@gmail.com
Address: Fitzroy, VIC 3065

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Mistake #2: Including Date of Birth/Age ❌

Why not?

To prevent Age Discrimination. You shouldn't be discriminated against for being too old or too young.

Cases:

• Applicant A: Listed "1998.03.15" → Employer: "Too young, probably inexperienced" → Rejected
• Applicant B: No age listed → Employer: Judges based on experience only → Interview

Exception

Visa information is OK:

• Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
• Valid until: Dec 2026

This is acceptable as it shows your legal right to work, not your age.

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Mistake #3: Placing Education at the Top ❌

Why not?

Australian resumes are Work Experience First. Education is secondary.

Korean-style resume order:

1. Education (university, high school)
2. Experience
3. Certifications
4. Other

Australian-style resume order:

1. Professional Summary
2. Work Experience (most important!)
3. Skills
4. Education (at bottom)
5. Certifications
6. References

Correct Education Section Placement

For barista/server/farm jobs:

• Place Education at bottom of resume
• Can even be omitted (high school graduation sufficient)

Example:

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Business Administration
Seoul National University, South Korea | 2017 - 2021

Keep it simple! Just major, school, and dates. GPA and awards unnecessary.

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Mistake #4: Resume Length 3+ Pages ❌

Why not?

Australian employers scan 1 page in 10-30 seconds. They won't read 3-page resumes.

Statistics:

• 1-page resume read: 100%
• 2-page resume read: 70%
• 3+ pages: 20% (mostly rejected)

Appropriate Length

Appropriate length by experience:

• Working holiday (0-2 years experience): 1 page
• Experienced (3-5 years): 1-2 pages
• Senior (10+ years): 2 pages

💡 Tip: Is 2+ pages bad?

• It's okay. But 1.5 pages looks awkward
• Better to adjust font/margins to make it exactly 2 pages

How to Reduce Length

1. Delete old experience

• Experience 5+ years old: Brief (1-2 lines)
• Experience 10+ years old: Delete

2. Reduce bullet points

• 3-5 bullet points per job
• 6+ is too many

3. Simplify Education

• Only university (delete high school)
• Delete GPA/awards

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Mistake #5: Using First-Person Pronouns "I", "My" ❌

Why not?

A resume is a summary, not an autobiography. Removing first-person pronouns makes it more concise and professional.

Wrong Example

❌ Wrong:

- I prepared 150+ coffee beverages daily
- I managed a team of 3 baristas
- I was responsible for opening and closing the cafe

Correct Example

✅ Correct:

- Prepared 150+ coffee beverages daily
- Managed a team of 3 baristas
- Responsible for opening and closing the cafe

Rule: All bullet points start with a verb.

Recommended verbs:

• Prepared, Managed, Trained, Developed, Improved
• Coordinated, Executed, Delivered, Assisted, Maintained

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Mistake #6: Not Translating Korean Experience into English ❌

Why not?

Just writing "Worked at Starbucks Seoul" doesn't tell employers specifically what you did.

Wrong Example

❌ Wrong:

Barista | Starbucks | Seoul, Korea | 2023 - 2024
- Worked as a barista

This lacks information. You need to specify what you did, how much, and what machines you used.

Correct Example

✅ Correct:

Barista | Starbucks | Seoul, South Korea | Jan 2023 – Dec 2024
- Prepared 150+ beverages daily during peak hours using automatic espresso machines
- Operated POS system (Starbucks proprietary) and handled cash transactions
- Trained 2 new baristas on drink preparation and customer service standards
- Maintained cleanliness and hygiene standards according to company policy

Key points:

• Use numbers (150+ beverages)
• Specify tools/systems (POS, espresso machines)
• Emphasize achievements/responsibilities (Trained, Maintained)

---

Mistake #7: Wrong References Section ❌

2025 Trend Change

Past (before 2020): "Available upon request" was standard Current (2025): Listing actual references is preferred

3 Options

1. List 2 actual references (recommended ⭐)
2. "Available upon request" (still acceptable)
3. Delete section entirely (if space limited)

"Available upon request" Still Valid

Many guides call it outdated, but it's still acceptable in 2025. However, listing actual references builds more trust.

The Right Way

Method #1: List actual references (recommended)

REFERENCES

Sarah Kim | Cafe Manager
Everyday Coffee, Melbourne
Phone: 0412 XXX XXX
Email: sarah.kim@everydaycoffee.com.au

John Park | Head Barista
Seven Seeds, Melbourne
Phone: 0423 XXX XXX
Email: john.park@sevenseeds.com.au

Method #2: Delete section

• If resume exceeds 1 page, delete References section
• Instead, add "References available upon request" in cover letter

💡 Tip: How to get references

• Ask permission from previous managers/colleagues
• "Can I list you as a reference on my resume?"
• Confirm phone number/email

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Mistake #8: Not Writing Summary Instead of Objective ❌

Objective vs Summary

Objective (outdated ❌):

OBJECTIVE
To obtain a barista position where I can utilize my skills
and grow in a dynamic team environment.

Problem:

• Too generic (anyone could write this)
• Applicant-focused ("what I want to gain")
• Doesn't help employer

Summary (modern ✅):

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Passionate barista with 2+ years of specialty coffee experience
in high-volume cafes (200+ customers/day). Proficient in
La Marzocco machines, latte art, and customer service.
RSA certified and available for immediate start.

Advantages:

• Specific (experience, skills, certifications)
• Employer-focused ("what I can contribute to the cafe")
• Differentiated

Summary Writing Formula

Formula:

[Job title] with [years of experience] in [industry/field].
Skilled in [3 core skills].
[Certifications] and [availability].

Example (server):

Experienced waitstaff with 1+ year in fine dining restaurants.
Skilled in POS systems, wine service, and customer relations.
RSA certified and available for weekend shifts.

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Mistake #9: Missing Certifications ❌

Why not?

Australia is a certification society. Especially in Hospitality, RSA and Food Safety are essential.

Statistics:

• With RSA: 3x higher success rate
• Without RSA: Mostly rejected (cafes/bars/restaurants)

Essential Certifications

Hospitality (cafes/bars/restaurants):

• ✅ RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) - Required for alcohol service
• ✅ Food Safety Certificate - Required for food handling

Construction/Farm:

• ✅ White Card (Construction Induction) - Required for construction sites
• ✅ Forklift License - Preferred for warehouses/farms

Barista:

• ✅ Barista Course Certificate - Strongly recommended for beginners

Correct Certifications Section

CERTIFICATIONS

- RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) – Victoria, Valid until Dec 2028
- Food Safety Certificate – Level 1, Valid until Jun 2026
- Barista Basics Course – Melbourne Barista Academy, Completed Feb 2025
- First Aid Certificate – Valid until Mar 2027

💡 Tip:

• Specify expiry date (Valid until)
• Specify state (RSA differs by state)

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Mistake #10: Saving Filename as "resume.pdf" ❌

Why not?

Employers receive 50-100 resumes per day. If they're all named "resume.pdf", they can't distinguish.

Problem:

• Downloads pile up as "resume (1).pdf", "resume (2).pdf"
• Employer: "Whose resume is this?" Confusion
• Bad impression

Correct Filename

Formula:

FirstName-LastName-Position-Resume.pdf

Examples:

✅ Jihyun-Jeong-Barista-Resume.pdf
✅ JJeong-Waitstaff-CV-2025.pdf
✅ Jeong-Barista-Melbourne.pdf

❌ resume.pdf
❌ resume_final.pdf (Korean characters prohibited!)
❌ JihyunResume_Final_v2.pdf (too long)

File format:

• PDF recommended (looks identical on all devices)
• Word (.docx) only when specifically requested in job posting

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Bonus: Mistake Prevention Checklist

Check this checklist before submitting your resume!

Personal Details Section

• No photo
• No date of birth/age
• No gender/marital status
• Only name, phone, email, address (suburb)

Structure and Order

• Professional Summary at top
• Work Experience above Education
• Reverse chronological (most recent first)

Length and Style

• 1-2 pages (1 page recommended for working holiday)
• No first-person pronouns (remove I, My)
• All bullet points start with verbs

Content

• Korean experience specifically described in English
• Include numbers/data (150+ customers, 3 team members)
• Include Certifications section (RSA, Food Safety, etc.)

References

• List 2 actual references OR delete section
• Not using "Available upon request"

File

• Filename: FirstName-LastName-Position-Resume.pdf
• File format: PDF (Word when requested in posting)

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Before and After Comparison

Before (Many Mistakes)

[Photo attached]

Lee Jihoon (LEE JIHOON)
Date of Birth: 1998.03.15
Gender: Male
Email: jihoon98@naver.com

Objective
I want to work as a barista in Australia and improve my English skills.

Education
Seoul National University, Business Administration (2017-2021)
- GPA: 3.5/4.5
- Awards: Academic Excellence Award 2 times

Work Experience
Starbucks Barista | Seoul | 2023-2024
- I worked as a barista
- I made coffee

Problems:

1. ❌ Photo
2. ❌ Date of birth/gender
3. ❌ Objective (outdated)
4. ❌ Education above experience
5. ❌ Using "I"
6. ❌ Experience too brief

---

After (Corrected)

JIHYUN JEONG
Phone: 0412 XXX XXX | Email: jihyun.jeong@gmail.com
Address: Fitzroy, VIC 3065

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Dedicated barista with 1+ year of specialty coffee experience in Seoul.
Skilled in espresso extraction, milk texturing, and customer service
in high-volume cafes (200+ customers/day). RSA certified and available
for immediate start.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Barista | Starbucks Coffee | Seoul, South Korea | Jan 2023 – Dec 2024
- Prepared 200+ beverages daily using automatic espresso machines
- Operated POS system and processed $2,000+ daily transactions
- Trained 2 new baristas on drink preparation and customer service
- Maintained cleanliness and hygiene standards per company policy

SKILLS
- Coffee: Espresso extraction, milk texturing, latte art (basic)
- Equipment: Automatic espresso machines, grinders, POS systems
- Customer Service: Fast-paced environment, order accuracy
- Languages: Korean (native), English (intermediate)

CERTIFICATIONS
- RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) – Victoria, Valid until 2028
- Food Safety Certificate – Level 1, Valid until 2026
- Barista Basics Course – Melbourne, Completed Feb 2025

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Business Administration
Seoul National University, South Korea | 2017 - 2021

REFERENCES
Available upon request

Improvements:

1. ✅ Photo deleted
2. ✅ Date of birth/gender deleted
3. ✅ Professional Summary used
4. ✅ Work Experience above Education
5. ✅ Start with verbs (Prepared, Operated, Trained)
6. ✅ Specific experience description (with numbers/data)
7. ✅ Certifications section added

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Conclusion

Avoiding these 10 mistakes triples your resume success rate.

Key Summary:

1. ❌ Never include photo/date of birth/gender
2. ✅ Place Work Experience at top
3. ✅ Keep to 1-2 pages concisely
4. ✅ Start with verbs (remove I, My)
5. ✅ Describe Korean experience specifically in English
6. ✅ Certifications (RSA, Food Safety) essential
7. ✅ Filename: FirstName-LastName-Position-Resume.pdf

Next Steps:

1. Download free resume template (error-free format)
2. Complete resume in 5 minutes with online builder
3. Complete Australian resume writing guide

Wishing you success in your Australian job search! 🇦🇺✨

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About the Author The WHRESUME team is in their 3rd year living in Melbourne and genuinely supports Australian working holiday makers. This guide is based on feedback from the working holiday community and analysis of official Australian sources.

💬 Feedback Welcome: If you find outdated or inaccurate information, please let us know via Contact Us!

📌 Latest Information:

• Fair Work Ombudsman - Anti-discrimination laws and employment regulations
• Australian Human Rights Commission - Anti-discrimination guidelines