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Global Expertise on Your Resume

In a previous blog this month, I talked about the importance of adding foreign travel and languages to your resume. The next step up is global expertise; for example, working with vendors, clients, and staff located in foreign countries or marketing and selling a product internationally.

When you are describing your global expertise, you should be aware of commonly used acronyms, such as APAC for Asia-Pacific; EMEA for Europe, Middle East, and Africa; IMEA for India, Middle East, and Africa; and LATCAR for Latin America and the Caribbean. Make sure you use them correctly and that they are well-defined to your audience. Be as specific as you can, mentioning exact countries where possible.

As always, you want to put your global expertise in context. While it is an achievement to work with peers in another country, it is even more impressive if your work together accomplished something positive for the company. Similarly, the international reach of the company you work for is important, but it is even more impressive if you contributed to that reach.

If all your experience is in foreign countries—if you have not attended school or worked in the United States previously—address as soon as possible any concern about your having the proper credentials to work inside the United States. If all your experience is inside the United States, make it clear if you are open to international assignments. Finally, state upfront if you no longer want to work internationally at all. You do not want to waste your time or the company’s time on offers that you cannot or will not accept.

Study abroad, international internships or volunteering, positions taken mainly to advance a desire to travel—all are valid experiences. Do not downplay them. Stress what you learned from the experience and, above all, what you contributed.

Robin’s Resumes® will relate your global expertise so as to enhance your resume and your value to employers. Contact us today.

Resumes for Jobs in Foreign Countries

If you want to live and work at a foreign location—whether outside the United States for a U.S. citizen or within the United States for a citizen of another country—your resume has to meet certain special criteria.

You will want the hiring manager or recruiter to know that you are familiar with the language of the country where you want to work. It is also important to mention if you have citizenship or dual citizenship in that country, if you have lived (or visited) there previously and if you have educational degrees that are equivalent to those in the foreign country.

If you use a professional resume writer, the writer should be a native speaker in the country where you want to work. Even small mistakes in spelling (for example, between American and British English), grammar or cultural references may undermine your resume.

Different countries have different standards for resumes; may prefer CVs, which are more detailed. Some require your social security or passport number; some (like the U.S.) do not want it. Some expect a photo; some do not. Make sure you understand the expected format and content.

Make it easy for foreign companies to contact you. A LinkedIn account and a Skype account are very helpful additions to email and phone.

Different countries have different ideas about appropriate behavior. Religious views about foods or beverages, comfort with direct eye contact or with touching between men and women, the type of clothing considered professional and many other social norms vary greatly. Make sure your photos and comments on social media do not violate the sensibilities of your target country.

You will face different visa, driving permit and work permit requirements in foreign countries. Familiarize yourself with those requirements before you start your job search to make sure you can meet them in a timely fashion if you are offered an interview or job.

Robin’s Resumes® has helped many foreign job seekers find work in the United States. Contact us today.

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