Great, you have made your decision; you are 100% certain you want to start sending out your CV/Resume to job positions abroad. You have done your homework; you have researched the types of roles you can apply to with your skills and professional profile, and also the countries where your experience is a real asset or is in demand.
So, now you have to write a breathtaking CV, you have been told you can use the Europass, so that is easy, you think, the same format to cover all Europe….are you sure this is the best way forward? Mmm, why not? Just in case you start asking friends and googling and you realize that might be you should get in touch with someone who knows how it works in that country…For example you have heard no photo and age should go in your resume if you are sending it to UK, although in Spain is expected.
In reality there is no ideal CV that works out for everybody. What can work out for one company might not work out for another. But there are certain tips that are almost globally agreed. Let´s do a review of some of them:
>Be real: try to present your achievements in the form of number and percentages if you can. Don´t leave it as an ordinary statement as “My marketing strategy in 2011 lead to higher sales” better if you state “it boosted sales by 6%”.
>Cover letter: some recruiters think that adding a cover letter is a waste of time but I share the opinion that adding a covering letter can make a difference. You need to tailor it for each employer. Think about what you can sell to them they can be interested in, present your strengths clearly.
>Keywords are valuable: don´t include a lot of jargon in your resume, use standard keywords that helps recruiters to match you easily with the job requirements. Companies also use an applicant tracking system that works through these keywords, just the way you do when you are searching for jobs.
>Social Media: review your LinkedIN profile, this is a great way of presenting yourself to employers and recruiters. Work out what is important to have and also if you need to use others, for example if you are targeting Germany you should have your profile in Xing.
http://jobstips.us/8-globally-recognized-resume-tips.html#
It is also mentioned the importance of QR codes, having a visual resume or video resume. As with everything bear in mind the culture, industry and what is of common use in your country destination. More and more job seekers are finding new ways of doing their resumes more appealing to recruiters, for example if you decide to do a video resume focus on the job and the skills you have for the role. Search for advice and expertise to deliver a quality product.
Rebecca Clake adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development believes the importance of research should never be underestimated: “You need to understand what a company is looking for,” she explains. “Investigate what current challenges it is facing, or use it as an opportunity to call HR or someone else in the business and get additional information. The more intelligence you’ve got about the role you’re applying for, the better.”
And lastly but not for it less important remember to cover the basics:
>Spelling and grammar mistakes, if you can have a second pair of eyes to check a CV before is sent.
>More businesses requires now to fill out online application forms, candidates are also advised to write their submissions using a word processor with spelling and grammar checking facilities, before copying and pasting into the form, rather than filling it in directly.>
>Recommended length continues to be two A4-sized pages. Recruiters estimate that an average of 60 seconds is often given to each initial application received. The CV must be succinct and relevant. Less than two pages leave recruiters struggling to form a fair view of the candidate.
>A CV is a marketing tool, and while skills are important, a person’s personality should also be allowed to shine through.
>Increased competition for jobs and frustration with the job hunt can mean candidates become tempted to “embellish” their CVs. Recruiter are not blind to this, and emphasise that the CV remains a passport to interview – at which point a candidate must be ready to answer questions, under pressure, on whatever is included in their CV.
For further information on this theme go to http://www.exec-appointments.com/Services/PreparingYourCV.aspx
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