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RESUME STRATEGIES FOR GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT
by Wendy S. Enelow, CPRW, JCTC, CCM
President – Career Masters Institute
If you’re considering looking for employment outside the United States, then you MUST know the following:
- The words "resume" and "CV" (curriculum vitae) GENERALLY refer to the same thing - a
document that highlights your professional and educational experience. The terms are often
used interchangeably. When there is a difference, a CV is typically longer with more detail
about publications, speaking engagements, affiliations, continuing education, and the like.
- Work permits and visa regulations vary greatly from country to country, and may take
months to acquire. Be thorough in investigating requirements for specific countries by
contacting each country's embassy in the U.S. for detailed information. This process will be
expedited if (1) the country has a shortage of professionals with your particular skill set
or (2) you are transferred to that country by your current employer.
- If you are submitting your resume in English, be sure to find out if the country in
which you're applying uses "American" English or "British" English. There is a significant
difference in the spelling of many words. Note that U.S. companies use "American" English in
all of their offices worldwide.
- If your resume is written in a language other than English, be sure to have a native
speaker of that language carefully review your resume. This will avoid the potential for
major errors and ensure that your document is culturally correct.
- Know that different countries use different size paper. For example, the paper
standard in the U.S. is 8 ˝ x 11 inches; the paper standard in Europe is 210 x 297 mm (known
as "A-4"). Use the "page set up" function in your word processing software to select the
correct size paper and automatically reformat your document.
- Research each country to identify its standards for how to present your employment
experience - in chronological order (from past to present) or reverse-chronological (most
recent to past). The latter is most-often used in the U.S.; the former in many other
countries worldwide. If no specific guidelines are recommended for a particular country,
use reverse-chronology.
- Detail your specific educational credentials, licenses, certifications, and background
if there is any potential that these items will not be clearly understood in another
country. This means including course/program name, university, location, numbers of
course hours and specific course highlights.
- Include all of your foreign language skills as well as foreign experiences (e.g.,
traveling, working and/or living abroad). If you prepare your resume in a foreign
language, be sure to also prepare one in English as many companies will expect you to be
able to conduct business in both their native language and in English.
- Computer and technology skills are always important, no matter the job,
company, or country. Be sure to include yours in detail.
- Be sure to use industry-specific and job-specific terminology that will
be known the world over.
Working abroad offers you a tremendous opportunity to strengthen and
expand your professional skills and qualifications, while offering you and
your family an outstanding cultural exchange experience. If you decide to
pursue an international career, know that flexibility, patience, and the
willing acceptance of differing cultural and business norms, will be vital
to your success.
About the Author: Wendy S. Enelow
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