Resumes from other countires
How do you tailor resumes when students have worked in other countries?
Maria Rosario,
You articulated this perfectly; and I really like your emphasis on transferable skills. So often students assume that just because they have not previously worked in their chosen field, that their past experience is irrelevant-which of course we know is not at all the case.
Elizabeth Kemler
Most likely they have some of the skills that a potential employer is looking for in a candidate. In addition to this, a candidate must highlight in their resumes their transferrable skills, successes/accomplishments. In other words, he/she should articulate how he/she contributed to the success of the department/company while employed in a particular position. For example, if a candidate excelled as a sales person, did he/she exceeded the sales goal? How much revenue did he/she bring in to the company? Did he bring in new clients? If an employer sees this, I would assume that the employer would take this into consideration because that candidate would do the same for the company.
Jennifer,
Absolutely. Experience is valuable, wherever it takes place.
Elizabeth Kemler
Working in Miami, we run into many international students that have previous work experience in their country. I don't treat them any differently then the students with work experience in the states. I add the experience on their resume.
Rocio,
I like your emphasis on the 'big picture'. It's easy to lose sight of that when the job search is often such a struggle.
Elizabeth Kemler
Hi Cinthia, I have the same issue in my job. I work with international student that them apply for Work Visa and I think the difficult part is to motivated them at the begging. They feel in a strange place... ant the reality is that THEY ARE!!!
I work with them as I work with my other students but we carefully review the skills needed to fit the wanted job... specially the skills related to the language.
Keep working with them and don't forget to encourage them to pursuing their dreams... never forget the "Big Picture".
Cinthia,
I would not treat them any differently. The work is as relevant, wherever it took place.
Elizabeth Kemler
