Internationalizing your resume Sarah Bell and Marilyn Shull Career Development Center

Introduction and Goals  We will not cover much of the “basics,” but ideas to help you individualize your resume and best identify and show your skills from your international experiences and knowledge.  Given your recent experiences, what skills do you now have that you didn’t have or have improved? And why?

Intro continued  What action verbs can I use to highlight my international skills and attributes in my cover letter?  What are some possible interview questions where I could incorporate my international experiences?

Resume styles  Chronological  Functional  Combination  International CV

Experience Section Example #1 Chronological EXPERIENCE Personnel Office, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA Student Receptionist, September present  Greeted and made appointments for students, faculty and staff  Recorded, typed, and distributed minutes at meetings  Answered telephones and relayed messages  Observed supervisor in daily duties The Gap, Cranberry Mall, Cranberry, PA Evening Manager, June - August 2006  Recorded sales and assisted customers with purchases  Resolved employee and customer concerns  Managed and organized inventory of over 500 items weekly  Supervised two salespeople  Trained four salespeople and one manager

Experience Section Example #2 Functional RELATED EXPERIENCE Customer Relations  Assisted customers in finding and choosing products in a successful retail store.  Greeted students, faculty and staff in an office setting and directed their inquiries to appropriate offices.  Answered the telephone and recorded messages accurately in a busy office. Supervisory Experience  Supervised two salespeople; trained four salespeople and a manager.  Resolved employee and customer concerns.  Observed human resources professional in daily duties. Organizational Skills  Managed and organized inventory of over 500 items weekly.  Recorded, typed, and distributed minutes for weekly meetings.  Scheduled appointments for several professionals in office setting. Work History  Student Receptionist, Personnel Office, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA (9/06-present)  Evening Manager, The Gap, Cranberry Mall, Cranberry, PA (6/06-8/06)

Attributes sought by today’s Employers  Communication skills (verbal and written)  Honesty/integrity  Teamwork skills (works well with others)  Interpersonal skills (relates well with others)  Motiviation/initiative

International Skills Inventory General Traits  Enjoy change  Sense of adventure  Desire to seek challenges  Open-minded  Patient  Curious Adaptation and Coping Skills  Emotional stability  Ability to deal with stress  Knowledge of culture shock  Observation and adaptation skills  Flexibility  Sense of humour  Self-knowledge Intercultural Communication Skills and Traits  Tolerant  Sensitive  Listening and observation skills  Knowledge of a second language Overseas Work Effectiveness Skills  Independence  Self-discipline  Training experience  Resourcefulness, Versatility  Persistence Organizational and people skills  Leadership; Energy  Project planning skills  Writing skills, Verbal communication skills  Loyalty and tenacity  Tact  Commitment to field of work Source: workabroad.htm#intskills workabroad.htm#intskills

Highlighting the international in all of your activities  Employment  Volunteer work  Community service  Social activities  Travel  Academics Courses pursued Papers written Group projects Language study  Study abroad  Internships

Consider the skills learned from these activities  Leadership  Resourcefulness  Independence  Writing skills  Communication skills  Cultural competence  Language skills  Patience and open-mindedness

Formatting your resume  Categories on your resume International education International experiences Intercultural/language skills  If highlighting experiences, be sure to mention the attributes listed earlier!

Formatting your resume (continued)  Example: Highlight study abroad Directly enrolled at… Immersed in a 4 month language program Conducted a four month course in French Demonstrated competence an flexibility Developed the capability to assess ambiguous situations

Interview Questions Can Highlight International/Intercultural Experience  Describe a personal or professional challenge  Describe an instance in which you communicated effectively  How have you asserted yourself under pressure  Describe an instance in which you used problem solving skills

Five Resume Tips for International Resumes Resume vs CV – be sure you know what to send! Personal information is often included Highlight the international Cite ability to work effectively across cultures Have your resume translated by a language or cultural expert Check out: jobera.com: resumes-cvs/international-resumes-cvs/international- cvs-resumes.htmhttp:// resumes-cvs/international-resumes-cvs/international- cvs-resumes.htm