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Dreaming about a job abroad? When applying to employers abroad, you'll need a curriculum vitae (CV).
There's no one way to write a CV. Still, there are some common elements and themes. Here are five things you'll need to know when writing a CV for international employers.
1. Get personal.
Your background and personal characteristics are important to many employers in European and US markets. At the top of your document under your name, list your birthday (including year), place of birth, marital status, number of children, and health status. A passport-size photo goes on the top right corner. List your educational history, starting with kindergarten.
Include any foreign languages you know and classes you are taking, along with travel experience (vacations count). Put these at the top or in greater detail under a separate heading. You'll be showing that you are a part of the global community
2. No 'default' option.
CVs vary from country to country and company to company. In some countries, employers want only job-history basics; in others, certificates of work and letters of recommendation. Find out if the employer has preferences about what it wants to see on your document. Sometimes a company's Web site will list its CV requirements.
3. MacJobs in the limelight.
When job hunting abroad, you'll need to list your professional experience in chronological order, starting with your earliest jobs and ending with your most recent position. In the increasingly global economy, some international employers may prefer this approach, so if it's a good idea to check if there is a preference.
4. There's no 'I' in 'team.'
In many countries everything is a team effort. Present your achievements in the context of your role within your group, be it as a low-level member or a leader. If you were not solely responsible an accomplishment, use nouns rather than verbs to describe it. For example, write "Maintenance of profitable management," rather than "Maintained profitable management." When describing individual successes attributable to only you, use verbs.
5. Keep it simple.
Skip the fancy fonts, and use boldface for only section titles. Take the same plain-Jane approach in your word choice. Overly sophisticated language is likely to put off hiring managers. Use words that fit your experience level.
There's no one way to write a CV. Still, there are some common elements and themes. Here are five things you'll need to know when writing a CV for international employers.
1. Get personal.
Your background and personal characteristics are important to many employers in European and US markets. At the top of your document under your name, list your birthday (including year), place of birth, marital status, number of children, and health status. A passport-size photo goes on the top right corner. List your educational history, starting with kindergarten.
Include any foreign languages you know and classes you are taking, along with travel experience (vacations count). Put these at the top or in greater detail under a separate heading. You'll be showing that you are a part of the global community
2. No 'default' option.
CVs vary from country to country and company to company. In some countries, employers want only job-history basics; in others, certificates of work and letters of recommendation. Find out if the employer has preferences about what it wants to see on your document. Sometimes a company's Web site will list its CV requirements.
3. MacJobs in the limelight.
When job hunting abroad, you'll need to list your professional experience in chronological order, starting with your earliest jobs and ending with your most recent position. In the increasingly global economy, some international employers may prefer this approach, so if it's a good idea to check if there is a preference.
4. There's no 'I' in 'team.'
In many countries everything is a team effort. Present your achievements in the context of your role within your group, be it as a low-level member or a leader. If you were not solely responsible an accomplishment, use nouns rather than verbs to describe it. For example, write "Maintenance of profitable management," rather than "Maintained profitable management." When describing individual successes attributable to only you, use verbs.
5. Keep it simple.
Skip the fancy fonts, and use boldface for only section titles. Take the same plain-Jane approach in your word choice. Overly sophisticated language is likely to put off hiring managers. Use words that fit your experience level.
