Timing varies by employer and industry; treat this as a typical pattern, not a guarantee.
Applications open
Often early in the year for larger graduate programs.
Online assessments
Aptitude tests, video interviews or short tasks.
Interviews
Assessment centres or panel interviews with the team.
Offers
Many offers go out mid to late year for the next intake.
Common questions
Do I need a cover letter?
If the ad asks for one, yes. Even when it's optional, a short tailored letter can help you stand out.
What if I have no work experience?
Lead with uni projects, placements, volunteering and casual work. Show what you did and the result.
Is a CV the same as a resume in Australia?
Mostly, yes. Australian employers use the terms interchangeably. Aim for 1 to 2 pages for graduates, 2 to 3 pages with more experience.
How do I know if my CV is ATS-friendly?
Run it through the free Seven Resume CV check. It shows what an applicant tracking system can read and what to fix.
About this guide
Puskar Ghimire
Master of Data Science, Macquarie University
I came to Australia as an international student and learned the hard way how different the job market is here, from the resume format to knowing who to contact. I built Seven Resume so graduates like you can skip the guesswork and focus on what really matters: landing the interview that starts your career.
Last updated
Australian graduate job checklist
Seven Resume · sevenresume.com/graduate-job-tips
Six tips before you apply
□ Keep it to 1–2 pages
Save your CV as a text-based PDF so applicant tracking systems can read every word. Skip tables, text boxes and photos.
□ Use the job ad's words, honestly
Mirror the skills and tools named in the ad where you genuinely have them. Never add skills you can't talk about in an interview.
□ Start with a verb, add a number
"Supported 12 site inspections" beats "Responsible for inspections". Numbers show scale, even rough ones.
□ Everything counts as experience
Part-time work, volunteering, placements, internships and uni projects all show real skills. List them like jobs.
□ Apply early
Many graduate programs open early in the year and close within weeks. Set reminders and don't wait for the last day.
□ Tailor, then follow up
A short cover letter written for the role stands out. If you hear nothing after a week or two, a polite follow-up is fine.
Do include
□ State your work rights accurately, such as ‘Full working rights’ or your visa’s work conditions
□ An Australian mobile number
□ Your suburb and state
□ A LinkedIn link
□ References available on request
Don’t include
□ A photo
□ Date of birth or age
□ Marital status
□ Religion
□ Your full home address
□ References listed in full
Use your own real numbers. Rough is fine, made up is not.
