CV/Resume Preparation
There any many different formats which may be used for presenting your CV. For an example of the one most widely accepted by our clients, please
click here
We have also added the following list of helpful Do's and Don'ts to assist you preparing your CV.
Do's
- List your personal details including contact phone numbers and email address.
- Please list your summary of education and qualifications in reverse chronological order including computer software and training courses.
- Follow with your employment history including dates commenced and finished, again in reverse chronological order.
- If your career spans more than 20 years, for positions from that point list only company, period of employment and job title.
- CV's are generally sent electronically, so ensure typeface is legible and in a Microsoft Word format - we suggest Ariel 11.
- Ensure your CV is as brief as possible, preferably 6 pages or less.
Don'ts
- Do not use dark paper or shading if you are scanning an existing CV.
- Do not list a 'career objective' as a potential employer may feel they are unable to meet your demands.
- Do not use abbreviations and acronyms unless they are in common use in your specific industry sector.
- Do not underline words.
- Do not use complex tables as your CV may not be easily readable when transmitting electronically to companies with different software.
- Do not trust computer spell checking, proof read your own CV carefully.
Telephone Interview Techniques
After confirmation that an Employer wishes to proceed further with your application, the next step is generally a telephone interview. Telephone Interviews can be difficult due to poor quality reception, interviewers not speaking English as their first language, and calls being arranged at unsocial hours due to the time differences. It is important that you present yourself in the best way possible, and we therefore suggest the following:
- Ensure you are prepared for your interview and are ready to take notes.
- Ensure you are in a totally quiet, private space for the interview (i.e) no background noise.
- Research the company prior to interview so you understand as much as possible and can ask pertinent questions.
- Do the same with the job description.
- Prepare questions for any aspects of the role, reporting structure that you wish to clarify.
- Write down the names of the interviewers and do not be embarrassed to ask them to spell their names.
- Many interviewers are inexperienced - be prepared to assist them by volunteering information that is relevant or valuable and display your interest by asking questions.
In-country Interviews
Many employers will fly their preferred candidate to the destination country for face-to- face interviews and familiarisation. In this case, Expat Careers International Ltd will assist you with travel arrangements and detailed briefing on employer expectations and how best to prepare yourself for this journey. This will include:
- Detailed travel schedule.
- Dress code and etiquette.
- Background information on the company and interviewers.
- Things you should and should not do during the visit.
Career Planning
It is important to continually manage your career to ensure that your skills are being maintained to meet market requirements and to ensure that you can step easily into your next role after the completion of this contract. If you renew your contract with your current employer, it is equally important to maintain your 'marketability' to be eligible for promotion if the opportunity arises.
To achieve this, it is important to maintain your professional memberships and through these, identify and complete relevant seminars, training courses and post graduate studies where applicable.
