Key takeaways
- AU CV, 2–3 pages, named referees.
- Canberra hiring leans public-service (APS).
- Honours year and thesis named under Education.
- Language proficiency in verified levels (CEFR/DLPT).
- No photo.
Format rules at a glance
- Length
- 2–3 pages
- Canberra emphasis
- APS/foreign service/research
- Honours year
- Named under Bachelor's
- Referees
- Named at the end
- Photo
- Never
Introduction
ANU Careers teaches an Australian-format CV tuned for the Canberra hiring market, which leans heavily toward Australian Public Service (APS) graduate programs, foreign service, defence, and research. APS applications often follow their own format — selection criteria documents — but the underlying CV still follows AU conventions: 2–3 pages, named referees, Personal Statement, no photo.
ANU resume format
- Length: 2–3 pages.
- Font: Arial or Calibri at 10–12 pt.
- Margins: ~2 cm.
- Dates: right-aligned, Month Year.
- Photo: never.
Personal summary
Open with a 3–4 line Personal Statement. For APS applicants, this is where you signal alignment with public-service work and any prior policy or research exposure.
Experience section
- For APS applicants, frame bullets around responsibility, analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
- Treat substantial volunteer and student-society leadership as Experience entries.
- Cap each bullet at two lines.
Education and certifications
- The Australian National University, then degree (e.g. Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours), Bachelor of International Security Studies), graduation date.
- Include WAM if competitive (ANU uses a percentage WAM out of 100).
- Honours class noted on the degree line.
- ANU's Honours year and thesis sit under the degree.
Skills guidance
Skills sits before the Referees block. For APS and foreign-service applicants, list language proficiency in CEFR or DLPT levels, any security-clearance status, and analytical tools.
Mistakes to avoid
- Submitting a CV without responding to selection criteria for APS roles.
- Omitting Honours year — at ANU it's a defining qualification.
- Photos.
- Inflating language proficiency for foreign-service applications.
Frequently asked questions about the ANU resume format
For APS graduate programs, applicants respond to numbered selection criteria in a separate document, often with STAR-format examples. The CV is the supporting document. ANU Careers covers this in detail.
If you hold or have held one, listing the level (Baseline, NV1, NV2, PV) is helpful for APS and defence applications. Don't list a clearance you don't have.
It's a sub-entry under your Bachelor's degree on most CVs, with the thesis title named. For PhD applicants, treat it as a distinct entry.
Career coaching and hiring-side experience, written into practical resume and job-search advice.
Based on public career-center best practices. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Australian National University.
Source · careers.anu.edu.au