Key takeaways
- 2–3 pages, named referees at the end.
- Personal Statement at the top.
- WAM cited on UNSW's 0–100 scale.
- STEM Skills block high on the page.
- Industrial Training named explicitly.
- No photo.
Format rules at a glance
- Length
- 2–3 pages
- WAM scale
- Out of 100, annotated
- Skills position
- High, for STEM
- Referees
- Named at the end
- Photo
- Never
Introduction
UNSW Careers & Employment teaches an Australian-format CV with a STEM emphasis — UNSW's strongest hiring pulls are engineering, computer science, medicine, and quantitative finance. The format follows Australian conventions (2–3 pages, named referees at the end, Personal Statement at the top, no photo) and adds a Skills block positioned high on the page for engineering and CS applicants.
UNSW 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 naming your discipline, technical specialism, and target role.
Experience section
- For engineering/CS roles, every bullet should name a tool, language, or method.
- Industrial Training (IT) placements and thesis work are treated as full Experience entries.
- Cap each bullet at two lines.
Education and certifications
- UNSW Sydney, then degree (e.g. Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Bachelor of Science), graduation date.
- Include WAM if competitive (UNSW uses a percentage WAM out of 100).
- Honours class noted on the degree line.
- Industrial Training and thesis work appear under Experience or as a sub-entry.
Skills guidance
For STEM applicants, Skills sits high on the page — directly under Education. Group Programming Languages, Engineering Tools, Languages, Certifications. UNSW Careers recommends a one-line work-rights statement for international graduates.
Mistakes to avoid
- Reporting WAM on the wrong scale. UNSW WAM is out of 100 — write "WAM: 82/100".
- Hiding Industrial Training in a generic Internships block.
- Forcing a one-page résumé.
- Photos.
Frequently asked questions about the UNSW resume format
Write 'WAM: 82/100' so the scale is unambiguous. UNSW WAM is out of 100, which can confuse recruiters anchored to a 4.0 GPA system.
UNSW's compulsory industry placement for engineering students. Treat each placement as a full Experience entry, named — recruiters recognize 'IT' as UNSW-specific shorthand.
Yes — UNSW Business School and UNSW Engineering are distinct hiring markets, and named explicitly on the degree line.
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 UNSW Sydney.
Source · student.unsw.edu.au