Resume Tips — 5 Mistakes You Must Avoid to Land Interviews

If you’ve been applying for jobs for weeks or even months without a single interview, your resume is probably letting you down.

In Australia’s competitive job market, especially for international students and skilled migrants, quality beats quantity. Sending out the same weak resume to dozens of companies will only get you ignored faster.

In this guide, I’ll share five common resume mistakes that cost job seekers interviews — and exactly how you can fix them so you start getting noticed.

Mistake #1: Using the Wrong Design and Structure

One of the most common issues I see is job seekers reusing a resume format from their home country.
Australian hiring managers expect a clear, professional structure — if your resume doesn’t meet that standard, it may be rejected in seconds.

Key tips for Australian resume structure:

No photo — unless explicitly requested. Photos can introduce unconscious bias and rarely add value.
Remove irrelevant sections — hobbies, personal details, and unrelated interests don’t help you win interviews.
Use logical headings — Professional Summary, Skills, Work Experience, Education.

If you’re unsure what the correct structure looks like, download my Skilled Job Starter Kit — it includes a free Australian resume template that has helped hundreds of job seekers land interviews.

Mistake #2: Including an Objective Statement

Objective statements are outdated and employer-focused: “I want to gain experience in…” Employers care more about what you can contribute, not what you hope to gain.

What to do instead:
Replace the objective with a Profile Summary. This should be 3–4 sentences highlighting:

Your key strengths and professional skills
Relevant experience and industry knowledge
Achievements that prove you can deliver results

This sets the tone for the rest of your resume and shows hiring managers you understand their needs.

Mistake #3: Listing Skills That Are Too Generic

Many resumes feature a laundry list of skills like “communication,” “teamwork,” and “Microsoft Office.” The problem? Everyone claims these skills, so they don’t make you stand out.

How to make your skills section stronger:

Be specific: Instead of “communication skills,” write “led weekly client presentations for 20+ stakeholders.”
Tailor to the role: Only list the skills most relevant to the job description.
Prove your skills: Where possible, connect each skill to measurable outcomes.

Hiring managers scan for skills that directly match the role’s requirements — make yours impossible to overlook.

Mistake #4: Not Addressing Employment Gaps

Gaps on a resume aren’t automatically bad, but leaving them unexplained invites suspicion. Employers may wonder:

Were you unemployed because you couldn’t get hired?
Were there performance issues?
Did you lose motivation?

How to address employment gaps:

Be transparent and concise — briefly explain the reason (e.g., study, travel, family commitments).
Highlight relevant activities during the gap — volunteering, training, freelance work.
Emphasise transferable skills gained during this period.

Handled well, a gap can even strengthen your application by showing adaptability and initiative.

Mistake #5: Misplacing Education Details

If you graduated over 10 years ago, your professional experience is more relevant than your education. In this case, move your education section to the end of your resume.

Other education mistakes to avoid:

No graduation year — for recent graduates, this can raise red flags.
Irrelevant courses — only list qualifications that add value to your application.

Remember: your resume is prime real estate — every line should help you get the interview.

Final Thoughts

A resume isn’t just a list of jobs — it’s a marketing document that must sell you as the best candidate. Avoiding these five mistakes will immediately make your resume stronger and more competitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should my resume be in Australia?
Two to three pages is standard for professionals, while recent graduates can keep it to one page.
Should I customise my resume for each job?
Yes — tailoring your resume to match each job description significantly improves your chances of getting shortlisted.
What format should I use for ATS systems?
Use a simple Word or PDF format with standard headings and avoid complex designs that ATS software can’t read.

Do you want a resume that gets noticed?

Start with the Skilled Job Starter Kit.

It includes my Australian resume template, proven strategies, and insider tips that have helped hundreds of international students and skilled migrants land skilled jobs.

Download the Skilled Job Starter Kit here: https://www.theaho.co/free