You can use our sample resumes and cover letters as a starting point for your own job application.
These samples cover all kinds of situations, including:
- high school students
- early school leavers
- uni or TAFE students/graduates
- people who have had paid jobs before
- people who don't have any (or not much) work experience.
Just pick the one that suits your situation best, download it and get started.
Sample resumes
These samples show what information to put on your resume and how to present it. Don't forget to switch out the information in these samples with information about yourself!
Choose the sample resume that best matches:
- your level of work experience
- your current or highest level of study.
No work experience + Year 10 or earlier
Sample resume: No work experience + Year 10 or earlier - Word (610 KB)
Sample resume: No work experience + Year 10 or earlier - .pdf (136 KB)
Work experience + Year 10 or earlier
Sample resume: Work experience + Year 10 or earlier - Word (657 KB)
Sample resume: Work experience + Year 10 or earlier - .pdf (137 KB)
No work experience + Year 12
Sample resume: No work experience + Year 12 - Word (647 KB)
Sample resume: No work experience + Year 12 - .pdf (138 KB)
Work experience + Year 12
Sample resume: Work experience + Year 12 - Word (650 KB)
Sample resume: Work experience + Year 12 - .pdf (160 KB)
No work experience + Uni/TAFE
Sample resume: No work experience + Uni/TAFE - Word (602 KB)
Sample resume: No work experience + Uni/TAFE - .pdf (167 KB)
Work experience + Uni/TAFE
Sample resume: Work experience + Uni/TAFE - Word (650 KB)
Sample Resume: Work Experience + Uni/TAFE - .pdf (166 KB)
Sample cover letters
These samples show what information to include in your cover letter and how you might write it. Don't forget to switch out the information in these samples with information about yourself!
Choose a sample cover letter that best suits:
- your level of work experience
- whether the job has been advertised
- the way you're applying (e.g., by email or without a resume).
No work experience + applying for an advertised job
Sample cover letter: No work experience + advertised job - Word (597 KB)
Sample cover letter: No work experience + advertised job - .pdf (87 KB)
Work experience + applying for an advertised job
Sample cover letter: Work experience + advertised job - Word (599 KB)
Sample cover letter: Work experience + advertised job- pdf (90 KB)
No resume needed + applying for an advertised job
If you don't have any paid work experience, use this sample:
Sample cover letter: Cover letter only + no work experience - Word (593 KB)
Sample cover letter: cover letter only + no work experience - .pdf (88 KB)
If you have some paid work experience, use this sample:
Sample cover letter: Cover letter only + work experience - Word (593 KB)
Sample cover letter: Cover letter only + work experience - .pdf (87 KB)
Email cover letter + applying for an advertised job
If you don't have any paid work experience, use this sample:
Sample cover letter: Email + no work experience - Word (598 KB)
Sample cover letter: Email + no work experience - pdf (88 KB)
If you have some paid work experience, use this sample:
Sample cover letter: Email + work experience - Word (597 KB)
Sample cover letter: Email + work experience - .pdf (89 KB)
Applying if there are no jobs advertised (cold calling)
Use these sample cover letters if you're contacting a business to ask about jobs that might be available. Also have a read of our Cold calling - What is it? page.
Sample cover letter: Cold calling - No work experience - Word (591 KB)
Sample cover letter: Cold calling - Paid work experience - Word (591 KB)
More information
For more about resumes and cover letters, visit: