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Applications
Resume
Cover Letter
Interview
Thank-you Letter
Resume
from
the University of Baltimore
Counselor's Corner
by Caprice Lantz
Generally speaking, there are major
differences between U.S. resumes and resume formats from
other countries.
These differences do not apply to
all countries and do not attempt to account for
individual differences or for changes over time.
|
U.S. Resume |
International Resume |
|
Concise, attractive marketing tool - summarizes
jobs, skills, accomplishments, and academic
background relevant to employment objective |
Chronologically details academic and formal work
experience |
|
One to two pages maximum |
Sometimes two or more pages |
| Does not
include age, marital status, race, or religion.
|
Sometimes includes age, marital status, race,
and/or religion |
|
May or may not include completion of military
service depending upon whether it is relevant or
makes the person a stronger candidate |
Sometimes includes completion of military
service |
Resume Tips for International
Students
- Introduce employers to
foreign companies and schools by providing a frame
of reference. For example:
A $10 million marketing firm
One of the top five universities in China
Second largest technology manufacturer in Europe
MIT of Turkey
Nigerian version of McDonalds
- Emphasize strong English skills
on the resume. For example: "Translated written and
spoken English on a daily basis for two years."
- Ensure that writing skills are
up to American standards by courses that include
writing.
- Make sure the resume is free
from grammatical and spelling errors as well as
awkward use of language.
- Have resume reviewed by a
career counselor. Ask for explanations about
necessary changes in order to ensure that the same
mistakes will not happen again.
- Maintain up-to-date copies of
the resume in the format and language of native
countries to serve as back-up for employment in home
countries or to pass on to contacts.
- Create a resume by following
The Quick Resume Checklist (to The Quick Resume
Checklist).
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Cover Letter
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When you
mail your resume to a potential
employer, you must include a cover
letter. A cover letter is an
introduction to you, your skills, and
why you are applying for the job. Here’s
your chance to make a great first
impression!
• Like
résumés, cover letters should be
short and written in direct, simple
language. Your cover letter needs to
convince the employer to read your
résumé and call you for an
interview.
• Cover Letters should be properly
formatted and typed on plain white
paper with no errors in spelling,
punctuation, or grammar. Get someone
to proofread for you!
• Address your cover letter to a
specific person and write a new
cover letter for each job you
apply for. This is also your
opportunity to show the employer
that you have done some research on
the company.
• Highlight skills and
accomplishments that apply directly
to the job. Do not mention
everything that is in your resume,
just key points.
• Include a phone number where you
can be reached, or an employer can
leave a message.
• Keep your cover letter to one
page.
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Interview
from
the University of Baltimore
|
Counselor's
Corner
by Caprice Lantz
Interviewing for International
Students
There are several major differences
found between job interviews in the U.S. and job
interviews in foreign countries.
| U.S. Interview |
International
Interview |
| Be
punctual. Arrive 5 to 15 minutes prior to
appointment. |
Personal
relationships may be more important than time.
Being late may not be a problem. |
|
Eye contact is expected and shows confidence.
|
Eye contact, especially with persons of higher
status, may be disrespectful. |
|
Interviewer styles vary. May begin with direct
questions or minimal small talk. |
Interviewers
commonly start with small talk and look for
information regarding character or personality. |
|
Interviewer may do most of the talking or may
expect the candidate to do most of the talking.
|
Interviewer may talk for the majority of the
interview. |
|
Questions regarding age, race, sex, and marital
status are illegal. |
Age, race, sex, or marital status may be issues
in the interview. Males may be expected to
dominate interactions with females. Younger
people may be expected to show deference to
older people. |
|
Direct questions regarding competency,
experience |
Indirect questions regarding competency,
experience |
| Open discussion
of accomplishments and skills shows confidence. |
Citing
accomplishments and skills might be considered
boastful, self-serving, or too individualistic. |
|
Show clear self knowledge, career goals and
long-term plans NOTE: It may be important to be
flexible, however, to initially obtain
employment. |
Jobs may be assigned by government or family.
Questioning one's role in a company may be seen
as disloyal. Companies sometimes assign work and
expect individuals to accept what is available. |
| Interviewer may
expect immediate competency and look at each new
employee for a 2 to 5 year commitment. |
Interviewer may
not expect immediate competence and instead be
looking for a long-term employee.
|
|
Self-disclosure of strengths, weaknesses,
personality, leadership style, problem-solving
abilities, etc. may be appropriate. |
Personal questions regarding such issues might
be considered an invasion of privacy.
|
|
Researching the organization and demonstrating
that knowledge during the interview is expected.
Shows initiative and interest. |
Researching an
organization in advance may show too much
initiative and independence.
|
|
Acceptable to ask an employer at the close of
the interview where they are in the interview
process and when the candidate can expect to
hear back from them. |
Asking an employer during an interview where
they are in the interview process and when you
can expect to hear back from them may be seen as
too forward.
|
| Inquiring about
the status of an application after the interview
is acceptable and demonstrates interest in the
position.
|
Inquiring about
the status of an application after the interview
may be seen as rude.
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Interviewing Tips for
International Students
- Enhance communication
skills by:
talking and speaking up in class
making presentations
making friends and talking with Americans
taking communication courses for credit
attending workshops at the Career Center
joining and participating in multinational clubs
watching television
reading newspapers and academic publications
- Study commonly asked interview
questions, write answers to those questions, and
practice those responses in front of a mirror as
well as with friends.
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Thank-you Letter
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According to a recent survey, less than 20% of
applicants write a thank you note after an
interview. Of the recruiters surveyed, 94% said that
a thank you letter would increase the applicant's
chances of getting the job, or at least help him/her
stay in the running, provided the applicant is
otherwise qualified. Fifteen minutes of your time
and a first class postage stamp are very inexpensive
investments in your career!
Thank
you letters simply thank the interviewer for his or
her time and reiterate some of the important things
you learned about the company in the interview. Add
some key qualifications that you forgot to mention
in the interview, or emphasize some of the more
important things you discussed. If the interviewer
shared some information that gave you an insight
into the company and its culture, mention how much
you appreciated it.
A thank
you letter should be short -- three paragraphs at
the most. Don't try for the hard sell. You had your
chance in the interview. The thank you letter just
reinforces what you have already said. |
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