Do you dream about working abroad? Do your short or long-term career goals include an international assignment? Maybe you want to practice your ability to speak multiple languages. Perhaps you completed coursework or a degree in international business. Or maybe you just want to broaden your corporate qualifications with a more global perspective and multicultural experience.

With an increasingly diverse workforce and global economy, international business experience — whether that involves frequent international business trips, short-term overseas assignments, or longer-term relocation to foreign locations — can certainly be valuable as a building block for your entire career.

With more and more multinational firms transferring employees between global locations, your chances of winning a coveted overseas assignment have never been better. But, how do you market yourself for these positions?

As with most job searches, one of your first steps will be to develop your portfolio of personal marketing documents. In other words, you must prepare your resume/CV and job search letters. Do the terms resume and CV (curriculum vitae) confuse you?

The first thing to understand is that different countries use different terms to describe what is essentially the same type of document. In fact, in international circles, the terms “resume” and “CV” are often used interchangeably. But, to complicate the issue, depending on the country you are applying to, the requirements of what to include in your resume/CV and in what format to include it may be very different.

For example, in the U.S. you should never include a photograph of yourself in your resume (unless you are a model or an actor/actress). Likewise, you should not include any information about your birthday, marital status, family status, or other similar personal details. In fact, if you do include photos or personal data, most U.S. employers will simply discard your resume rather than risk a potential discrimination lawsuit. On the other hand, personal photographs and data are expected and often required on CVs meant for European or Asian employers.

In U.S., Canadian, and some other job markets your work experience should be included in reverse chronological order (most recent to oldest). In many other job markets around the world, your experience should be listed in straight chronological order (oldest to most recent).

Clearly, it is crucial that you be aware of the requirements and expectations of the job market you are applying in. You must take the time to research and learn these differences before preparing or adapting your resume for international employers.

In some cases, when you are applying to the overseas location of a multinational company, the decision-makers for the position will be of a nationality other than the location in which you are applying. For example, you may be targeting a position in Hong Kong, and know that the person making the decisions for that position is an American expatriate. In this case, you may want to submit a resume written in the U.S. style which will be more familiar to the decision-maker.

Our expertise is in creating resumes in the U.S. style. However, our client base is worldwide and our resumes have been used successfully by people all over the globe seeking international assignments based in the U.S. or targeting positions worldwide when they have determined that the U.S.-style is most appropriate. The lesson: do your research and know your audience, then tailor your approach to the expectations of the audience.

Regardless of the job you are targeting, and what country that job is in, if your goal is to go global you definitely want to emphasize and highlight your international travel and multicultural experiences, your foreign language abilities, and any coursework you have completed that is relevant to international business. You can weave all of this into the body of your resume/CV and may even create a separate section to call it out in greater detail.

Finally, above all, be open-minded and flexible. Your eagerness to learn and your adaptability are key predictors of how successful you will be on international assignment. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions and adapt to new ways of doing things. Your international job search is not the time to hold tight to your own cultural preferences. Be flexible! If you don’t know what is expected or required of job candidates in a particular company or foreign location, ask! Then adapt your approach.

Here is a checklist to help you prepare your international career marketing portfolio:

___The content and format of my resume/CV has been modified to conform to the requirements of the international job market I am targeting.

___The content and format of my resume/CV has been modified to conform to the expectations of the decision-maker for the position I am targeting.

___I have paid particular attention to requirements regarding photographs and personal data and have adapted my resume/CV accordingly.

___My resume/CV has been translated into another language if necessary and has been reviewed by a native speaker of that language.

___My resume/CV emphasizes and includes information about all of my previous multicultural and international business experience and qualifications.

___My resume includes a thorough listing of my foreign language abilities.

___My resume/CV includes detailed descriptions of my education and training (educational requirements and degrees vary around the world, so it is often helpful to describe your degrees in terms of their local equivalent).

___The design of my resume/CV had been modified to fit on the paper size that is the standard in the international location I am applying in.

___My resume/CV has been proofed and is completely free of errors.

___My resume/CV uses simple fonts and a classic, easy-to-read design.

___The electronic files of my resume/CV are prepared in standard formats, including Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, and plain text ASCII.

___I have researched and scrupulously followed any guidelines for submission of my resume/CV as described by the company I am applying to.

___I have sent my resume/CV and job search letter by email when an email address is available, but have followed up with a hard copy by regular postal mail.

How many of us actually bother to keep our resume regularly updated? If you were approached for the job of your dreams, the job you have always wanted, would you have your resume updated and ready to be sent?

Update It Yearly

This is what most people should be doing but are not. It is good to update your resume every year. What happens if there is a job opportunity and you find that your resume hasn’t been updated in years? You will lose out on a great offer because you could not submit your resume in time or update it accurately with the relevant information that could have been beneficial. It is best to update your resume every year so that you can keep adding your accomplishments or new projects. Do not wait for years to do what you can do for your resume now. Who knows – you may forget important information and that will definitely be detrimental to your career.

Update If Switching Careers

If you are thinking of switching careers then it is time to change your resume. Your new updated and improved resume should focus on skills that will benefit new career opportunities – these skills are called transferable skills. This helps in presenting yourself as a stronger and more capable candidate for a job in the new field. Match your accomplishments to your transferable skills, which will make a better impression on the interviewer.

Update When Anticipating Layoffs

Layoffs are becoming more and more prominent in every organization in every field, largely due to the state of the economy. So in the worst case scenario where you are laid off, you should at least have your resume updated.

What happens to most people is that they are not prepared for a layoff. They think it will not happen to them. If you expect it and are not laid off, great! But if you are laid off; you may end up jobless – and without an updated resume. If you know that your organization is in the process of layoffs then prepare for it. Keep your resume updated. Look out for new job opportunities. You are a better candidate while you are employed as opposed to laid off and unemployed.

Update If Not Happy With Your Job

If you are unhappy with your job, if you are dissatisfied and frustrated with the job you are doing, then you are losing more than you would if you just quit. If you are planning on quitting, it is best that you keep your resume updated so that you can submit it as and when the need arises.

Updating your resume is a task that is quite time consuming. You need to decide on what kind of update your resume requires. While updating your resume you can also change the look of your resume in terms of the format. A well-written resume makes all the difference. It is your best sales tool in finding that better position that you have been looking for.

Applying for a government job may seem a bit intimidating, due to the long list of special requirements regarding your application. One of the requirements is a resume in a certain format, known as a government resume.

What is a Government Resume?

A government resume is simply a resume that is formatted to meet the needs of government job openings. When applying for a government job, more information is required than when applying for a job in the private sector. The government resume is formatted in such a way as to highlight this specialized information.

Pre-printed application forms are also sometimes used when applying for a government job. Although the SF-171 is generally considered an outdated form, some employers may still request it. The most commonly used form is the OF-612. A government resume contains all of the same information as these forms, but presents your application in a more attractive format and allows you more freedom to articulate your skills. Be sure to read the job vacancy announcement carefully, as it may specify which format applicants are to use.

Government resumes are formatted chronologically, with the most recent instances given first. Whenever possible, the wording in your resume should reflect the wording in the job announcement. Due to the specific information required when applying for a government job, a government resume is longer and more detailed than a basic resume, covering up to the past ten years and achieving as many as five pages in length.

Seven Subjects Your Government Resume Must Cover

One of the major differences between a government resume and a resume written for a job opening in the private sector is that the formatting of the latter is extremely flexible, allowing whole sections to be added or left out. When applying for a government job, however, a resume must contain specific information if the applicant is to be considered for the job. A resume that lacks the required information or formatting will be automatically disqualified.

Personal Information

Just like a regular resume, a government resume lists the applicant’s personal information at the top of the first page. Both day and evening contact numbers should be included, as well as your name and address.

In addition to the typical contact information, however, a government resume requires more specific information, such as your social security number and your country of citizenship. If you have been honorably discharged from the military, you may be eligible for veterans’ preference, which should be listed next. Finally, the government resume must contain information on your government status, such as the highest government civilian grade you have held, and your reinstatement eligibility.

Job Information

Below your personal information, the government resume must list identifying information about the job you are applying for, including the title, series, grade, and job announcement number.

Summary of Experience

The first section of the government resume summarizes your experience. This is your chance to be a little creative and make your application stand out from all the others. How you summarize your experience can impact how the employer interprets the rest of your resume, so choose your words carefully!

Professional Accomplishments

The next section of the government resume lists the positions you have held chronologically, with the most recent listed first. Just as in other sections, the government resume requires more details about previously held positions than a basic resume. In addition to the information you would provide in a regular resume – such as the employer’s name (in bold), address, position, and dates the position was held – each entry will need to include your supervisor’s name and contact information, whether you consent to your supervisor being contacted, your salary at the position, and the average number of hours you worked each week.

After this information, a government resume should follow with a brief summary of the job, followed by the duties you performed at the position. For each position, an employer expects to see between four and eight duties listed in a bulleted format, with each bullet being approximately four to six lines long. Due to these expectations of length, the Professional Accomplishments section of a government resume is considerably longer than the corresponding section in a basic resume.

Education

The education section of a government resume should list your degrees in chronological order, with the most recent appearing first. Each listing should contain the year the degree was received, the type of degree, the name of the school, and the city, state, and zip code where the school is located. Read the job announcement carefully to determine if you should include your college transcript with your application package.

Training

As in previous sections, training programs you have undergone should be listed in chronological order, with the most recent appearing first. Include the year you completed the program and the program title, as well as any additional information – such as the school’s name and hours completed – you can provide.

Other Qualifications

The format for a government resume allows the applicant to include additional sections in order to list other qualifications he or she might have. If you include any of the following sections, remember to organize the qualifications in each section in chronological order, with the most recent listed first.

• Awards – Include the year and a brief description of each professional award you have received.

• Certifications – Include the year and a brief description of each certification or license that you currently hold. Do not list expired certifications or licenses.

• Publications – List the publications you have contributed to, using a standard bibliography format such as MLA.

• Presentations – List the title of each presentation you have contributed to, who you made the presentation to, where the presentation was made, and the year it was made.

Putting Together the Government Application

As you can see, writing a government resume is more time-consuming than it is difficult, as it generally requires that you add more detail to every section of your resume. However, the finished result is well worth the extra effort, as it is much more attractive – not to mention a much more professional representation of yourself – than simply filling out a government application form.

As you put together your government application, you may have some questions about whether you need to use a government application form or a government resume, or what KSA statements to include with your application. Thoroughly reading and reviewing the job announcement will allow you to tailor your application to the requirements and job description, ensuring that your application meets the employer’s needs and increasing your chances of being selected for the position.