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Preparing
an International Resume
Regardless of where you are in the
career search - an incoming freshman or a graduating senior - you
should prepare your resume immediately. Even if you don’t think
you have anything for it, put a resume together. These are organic,
living documents and you will continue to add to and edit the resume
throughout your college career and beyond. The benefits: you will
always have a resume “ready”, and you are less likely to
forget or omit relevant experience and/or positions.
Once you’ve decided to seek an
international position, perhaps even looked around a bit, what’s
next? Well, it’s time to tailor your resume - or, as you’ll
see noted time and again on the following websites, your curriculum
vitae. By common practice outside the US, the term curriculum vitae,
or “cv”, is used instead of resume.
A Good Place to Start...
The AEA is an international
professional organization. Although most of the resumes have been
placed online by individuals seeking employment in the United States,
there are many resumes placed by non-US based individuals and US-based
job seekers looking for positions abroad. Worth browsing to get a
sense of how others put together an international resume/cv.
This page offers a country-by-country
guide for most of Europe with suggestions for how best to present
and tailor your cv for employment in each country. An excellent
resource for those looking for work in Europe.
Very brief overview of general structural
issues to consider.
“Tips on writing
your CV and cover letter in countries around the world.” Includes
detailed dos and don’ts and sample cvs.
A general overview article on what
to include. Geared to the academic and/or professional market, the
article does provide links to some sample curriculum vitaes that
might be of interest.
Resume
and Rirekisho: Cultural Factors to Consider in Writing a Resume
International University of Japan
An excellent illustration of the complexities
and cutural factors that must be considered when pursuing international
employment, this site gives specific suggestions for preparing a cv/resume
for a position in Japan.
Resume
Tutor
University of Minnesota
An online utility that will help
guide you through the process of creating and editing your resume
or cv.
Links to “sample” passages
from country guides sold by GoingGlobal. Accessible samples available
through this page are very abbreviated and of little functional
value. Some of the individual country pages, however, do link to
other, more complete articles and resources. Worth browsing by country
of interest. The various career
centers on campus have purchased a license to access the
GoingGLobal resources. Contact them to set up a personalized account.
Sample
CV & Cover
Letter
L&S/Human Ecology Career Services, UW-Madison
As part of International Opportunities
Month 2003, the Career Services office put together the above sample
cv and cover letter. These pdf files are well worth reviewing.
Tips
for Creating a Global Resume or CV
JobWeb
Good, general guidance, reminders, and
suggestions.
“Job Application Guidelines From
Five Countries” though unlike the Job
Search Advice page linked to above, there are no samples
included.
A Closing Note...
Phil Gardner - Director of Research, Collegiate
Employment Research Institute, Michigan State University - offered the
following observation at the closing meeting of the International Internships
Taskforce (UW-Madison, May 2003):
“Study abroad as just study
abroad on a resume is dead last on rank of importance to employers;
it’s the experiences cultivated and skills developed that matter.”
He went on to explain that it was those
experiences and skills that need to be unpacked and presented to employers
- both on your resume and in the interview. What is it that made you
think differently? Compelled you to rely on your own resources? These
are all stories to tell; find a way to tell them.
This sort of challenge is the bread and
butter of the Campus Career Centers.
Utilize their resources, meet with a career advisor, prepare a resume
for review! You might also want to contact the campus Writing
Center which offers both classes
and individual assistance with resume and cover letter preparation.
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