Much has been said about resume writing and the most effective way of formatting that any righteous applicant already knows. However, there are few write-ups on how a resume is drafted if you intend to use it for international job application. Here are some things to remember when writing international resumes:
18 things to Remember When Writing International Resumes
– Resume and curriculum vitae (CV) are meant the same thing internationally. If there’s any difference at all, it may be that CV is lengthier and contains a number of attachments.
– Resume and CV submitted to other countries typically has two pages—regardless of position or geographical location. Now, the restriction to two pages doesn’t give applicants the license to shrink their font sizes or even print on the back pages of their resumes. Just select the relevant details that can boost your chances of obtaining an interview invitation.
– Different countries use different formats. Usually, the reverse chronological-format is being used by other countries. However, it is best to check what particular format your target country is using for you to be able to tailor your document appropriately.
– Education varies from one country to another. Some countries require a certain individual to have specific degrees or course works. Whatever the educational requirement of your target country, merely listing the degree obtained is insufficient. Thus, including the name of the college and/ or university is a must.
– Training and certifications also count in other countries. So if you have some, it’s best to incorporate them in your resume. Make sure that the language and term used is understandable and agreeable with other professionals in your field.
– It is important for you to be aware on the different terms used to describe certain parts of your application. Take as an example your cover letter. Here in the U.S., we call the supplementary letter accompanying our resumes, cover letter. In other countries, the same letter is called “motivation letter” and “letter of interest.”
– Every country has varying advancements when it comes to computer technology and Internet access. Thus, it doesn’t follow that when you e-mail your resume, your prospective company will actually receive it. In that case, it is always a good point to make a follow-up.
– Still on technology issue, when you prefer to e-mail your resumes, make sure it is in an acceptable format. Commonly, resumes are e-mailed in Word format. However, since this format can be easily infected with virus, you can send your documents in PDF file, which is safer.
– Other applicants, in order to ensure that their resumes or CVs are received by their prospective companies, they send their documents via snail mail. That way, there is a greater chance that their application will be received by their prospective company.
– Whatever country you are applying, it is always a good thing to include your computer skills. Try to be specific on your proficiency and indicate whether you have the expertise or basic knowledge about the program.
– Conduct a research on the language being used in that particular country. If they are using English, check if they’re using British English or American English. The variations between the two languages can make your prospective employers think that your document contains grammatical and typographical errors. Now, when the country is using a different language aside from English, try to identify if you need to submit your resume in their language (e.g Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, etc.). It is a good thing if you can have your resumes in English and in another language.
– Double check your document. Don’t just rely on the spellchecker of your PC. There are certain words that the spellchecker option cannot read. For example, if a word is supposed to be “the” instead of “he,” the spellchecker can’t read that since “he” is, literally, correct in its own spelling.
– Make sure to double-check the correct name and title of the recipient when writing international resumes. This is important especially if the gender of your prospective employer is hard to determine by just looking at their names.
– If you can get someone who’s a native speaker of the language or someone who used to live in your target country, ask him or her to review your document. This is because there are certain terms and phrases that are widely used in other countries that are barely or never used here in the U.S. For example, college and university degrees here are stated as “undergraduate degree” while in other countries, it is referred as “tertiary or college education.”
– Hiring managers from that foreign country will expect that you can speak both the language of their country and English. So you need to prepare to showcase your verbal and written communication skills.
– In case you are not that proficient yet in the language of your prospective employer, it is important to address that in your cover letter. This will prevent hiring managers from thinking that you are trying to deceive them.
– Make sure that you have the necessary permits and work visa needed. Remember that obtaining visa is a time-consuming process so you need to be prepared for that.
– You also need to ensure that you apply at a certain country where there is a shortage of people with your skills. This can help hasten and increase your chance of being employed.
In writing international resumes, you can always trust the expertise of best resume writing companies online.
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