Every year, Australia draws French people on a PVT (the French name for the Working Holiday Visa) or settling there for longer. A French CV sent as is makes a poor impression: Australians call it a *CV*, it is more detailed, and it leaves out information the French include out of habit. Here is what changes.
The essentials at a glance
- Language: English, with British spelling (*labour*, *centre*, *analyse*).
- Photo: not recommended, unless the employer asks for one.
- Personal information: no date of birth, age, marital status or nationality.
- Visa: state it, with its duration (for example "WHV, 8 months").
- Length: more detailed than in France, so often longer than one page. Highly skilled roles can run longer still.
- References: a *Referees* section, or the line "available upon request."
What structure should you use?
1. Headline: the target job title, taken from the posting (*Bartender*, *Fruit picker*, *Construction labourer*).
2. Details: name, phone (+33 instead of the leading 0 for a French mobile, or an Australian number), email, address in Australia if you have one, visa type and duration.
3. Profile / Summary: three or four lines on your experience, strengths and availability.
4. Work history: most recent first, with concrete results.
5. Education and Certificates.
6. Key skills and Languages.
7. Referees.
Visa, white card, RSA: show that everything is ready
An employer wants to know whether you can start quickly. In the summary or header, state your Working Holiday Visa and its duration, then the certificates that open up certain industries:
- White card: mention it to work in construction.
- RSA (*Responsible Service of Alcohol*): required to serve alcohol.
- Blue card: mention it to work with children.
The more visible these points are at the top of the first page, the fewer questions the recruiter has to ask.
Write results, not a list of duties
A line that works: "Served over 100 customers per day in a busy winery, suggested wine pairings with the seasonal menu." A line that works less well: "Responsible for customers." Then tailor your experience to the target role: no need to detail a babysitting job when applying for a fruit picking position.
Translating your degrees
Keep the French title and add the English equivalent so the level is understood right away:
| French degree | Usual equivalent |
|---|---|
| Baccalauréat général | High School Degree |
| Baccalauréat professionnel | Vocational High School Diploma |
| CAP | Vocational training |
| BTS / DUT | Advanced Diploma |
| Licence / BUT | Bachelor's Degree |
| Master 2 | Master's Degree |
| Doctorat | PhD |
Many Australian employers look at experience first: education can go lower in the document.
The most common mistakes
- A photo and full personal details, carried over from the French CV.
- A CV written in French or translated word for word.
- No visa type or duration, which forces the recruiter to guess.
- The same CV sent to every posting, without reusing the posting's wording.
- A layout with columns and icons, which screening software reads poorly.
Check your CV before sending it
CVpass compares your CV to the target posting, spots missing keywords and flags formatting issues that trip up screening software. For the rules shared across English-speaking countries, read our guide to the English CV for applying abroad.
FAQ
Should I put a photo on my CV for Australia?
Generally, no. Photos are discouraged in Australia unless the employer asks for one. You free up space for your results.
How long should an Australian CV be?
An Australian CV is generally more detailed than a French CV and often runs longer than one page. For a seasonal or backpacker job, one to two pages is enough. For a skilled position, it can be longer.
What should a CV for a Working Holiday Visa in Australia include?
A job title, your contact details with your visa type and duration, a summary in English, your experience with results, useful certificates (white card, RSA, blue card depending on the industry), your languages and referees.
Should I list my nationality on an Australian CV?
No: nationality, date of birth, age and marital status have no place on an Australian CV. Your visa type and its duration are enough to show whether you can work.
Can I apply for jobs in Australia from France?
Yes, with an English CV that states your visa status and availability date. A local address or phone number helps, but you will only get one once you are there.
Further reading
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