When should Australian university students start preparing a graduate program resume?

Start in your second-last year. Many large Australian employers recruit graduates well before they finish their degree, often in the year before the program starts, so your resume needs to be ready early. Check each employer's careers page for dates rather than assuming.

A graduate program resume usually includes:

• Degree, university, expected completion and your grade average if it is strong.
• Internships, vacation programs or industry placements.
• Casual work showing reliability and teamwork.
• Leadership in clubs, societies or volunteering.
• Skills relevant to the stream, such as data tools for analytics.

Keep it to one or two pages and tailor it to each program's values and streams. Your university careers service may also offer resume reviews before the main recruitment period.