Looking for a Job Overseas – How to Make Your CV More International

Your CV is often your first contact with a potential employer. It is, therefore, so important to spend time making sure that it is easy to follow and that it presents your skills and experience as clearly as possible. If you are looking for jobs abroad, there are some important details you need to make sure you include on your CV. Specialist recruitment agencies help teachers all over the world find teaching jobs abroad in international schools. They guide every one of their candidates through a review of their CV in preparation for their international job applications. Here is some of the advice, relevant to all jobs, that agencies offer to candidates:

Have a look at your CV and ask yourself the following questions –

1. Are your contact details correct? This is crucial. You wouldn’t believe the number of CV’s we get that have wrong or old information on them. Make sure you include country codes for telephone numbers and full country details in your address.
2. Do you clearly show your relevant qualifications? Often a recruiter will make short-listing decisions based on qualifications. Don’t forget that you will be dealing with a recruiter who may not be familiar with the qualifications from your home country so be as clear as possible and do not use abbreviations or acronyms assuming they will know what you mean.
3. Does your CV clearly show your relevant experience? Make sure you clearly indicate all aspects of your work experience that relate specifically to the job you are applying for including any extra posts of responsibility you have held.
4. Identify any Professional Development you have participated in recently. Recruiters like to see evidence of recent training. List the courses you have been on in the last two or three years in chronological order.
5. Include any international work or travel experience that you have had. International job recruiters will not only be looking for the right qualifications but will also be looking for the sort of people who can adjust to living and working in a different country. Any extensive or unusual travel experiences or previous international work that you have done may be a significant benefit.
6. Highlight your personal interests and hobbies. Most job selections are not just based upon professional qualifications. Recruiters will want to know how you fill your spare time.
7. Referees. You should ask referees if they are prepared to write a reference for you before including them on your CV and make sure all their contact details including email and mobile phone numbers (with international dialing codes) are correct.

Your CV needs to be presented in a professional and easy-to-follow format. Use sub-headings and content line dividers. Adding a photograph (head and shoulders) can be very helpful too.