Resume Misconceptions - What a Resume is Not

1. A document that reflects your personality: Unless you're in the performing arts or involved in a creative industry, a resume should err on the conservative side — no designer fonts or unusual designs.

2. An exhaustive listing of everything you've done: Recruiters and Hiring Managers want recent experience, not all experience. The rule of thumb is to go back 10 years for IT professionals and no more than 15 years for those in other industries. Ideally, a resume should not be longer than 2 pages.

3. A document that tells the recruiter or hiring manager what you want: Recruiters and Hiring Managers are interested in what you can bring to their organizations in terms of performance — increasing profits or reducing costs. What you want (your objective) is secondary.

4. A document that will guarantee an interview or job offer: A resume is the beginning of your job search. It cannot guarantee the end result. No matter how well your accomplishments are detailed and your data presented, if your background doesn't closely match the requirements of the job, you will not be called in for an interview

5. A one-size-fits-all document: Certainly, there are basic standards for all resumes, such as page length and data prioritization/organization. However, your background is unique and needs to be presented to showcase your skills, not fit a general template designed for everyone.

6. A document that will please your spouse, parents, colleagues, etc.: The only audience that matters is Recruiters and Hiring Managers. Relatives, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances may be well-meaning, but they are not experts in resume writing. They may tell you to add hobbies, when you should not - or include personal data when it's not required.

7. A document that is perfect in every way: Organization of data and showcasing accomplishments are what matter most in a resume as does language and tone (be professional at all times). Recruiters and Hiring Managers are looking for hard skills that you can bring to their organization, not whether you used the word 'oversaw' rather than 'managed'.

GLOBAL RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

UNITED KINGDOM

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. Secondary education, include dates/names/locations of schools, plus qualifications received

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Professional Experience:

1. Include reasons for leaving

Interests/Hobbies: Describe how time outside of work is spent

Format: Education followed by professional experience

Length: No longer than two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company

Length: One page

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

THAILAND

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. University: include data about student training work/thesis projects stating length of time and references.
2. Secondary school/high school – state major subjects studied; provide details on specific courses and programs. Indicate if you’ve studied abroad.
3. Include extracurricular activities

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Professional Experience:

1. Explain all gaps in employment
2. If employed part time, indicate why you did not choose full time work

Military Experience: Include details, including military service status

Interests/Hobbies: Briefly mention

Format: Begin with personal information, then academic achievements, additional information (training, professional associations, hobbies), employment record (reverse chronological order), and references.

Length and Format:

No more than two pages, three is the max; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. What job is being applied for, why, and how you found out about it (newspaper ad, etc.)
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Address to person in charge of recruitment

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

GLOBAL RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

SWITZERLAND

Resume Guidelines

Format:

1. Education
2. Awards/honors
3. Additional education/specialized training
4. Detailed work experience descriptions (reverse chronological format)
5. Achievements/accomplishments
6. Special skills (especially languages)
7. Interests/hobbies
8. Personal information

Format: A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Length: One to two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. State current position
2. Position you’re applying for and why
3. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
4. Career goals
5. Geographical preferences
6. Ability to relocate
7. Salary range
8. State if currently unemployed
9. Address letter to specific person

Length: One page