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Post by Kage2020 on May 4, 2004 16:28:49 GMT -5
Anyone any hints and tips for writing a resume for an American company when you're a Brit? It's a non-academic post but one which would be more than likely sold on academic qualifications and multi-disciplinary ability. (It's also a job which the applicant is horrendously over-qualified for...) Just thought that I would ask to see if there were any work-age Americans here who might be able to shed some light on the topic!  Kage |
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Post by v0lsung on May 7, 2004 14:04:06 GMT -5
Kage,
Is this a technology position you're seeking, or is it academic in nature (or financial, etc.)? I don't know if hiring practices are radically different over here than across the pond, however I can tell you that being overqualified doesn't seem to be as prohibitive as it used to be (and yes, overqualified can be a bad thing on occasion, for various reasons).
I try to avoid padding my resume unless it's absolutely necessary - but believe me, I'd be the first to say you should leave the option open.
I presume you'll have a degree now...right? That seems to be a requirement more and more often these days - I know most of my jobs have required one (hehe but note that I'm a computer security specialist with a literature degree).
I don't know how things work in the UK, but over here a resume tends to get you in the door and that's about it - the exception being in situations like my own, where my experience sort of precedes me and a prospective employer is looking closely at my skills to make sure I have the specific requirements for a job. Otherwise once you're in the interview you'll be competing with a bunch of American bores so that should be in your favor.
I'd also recommend that you not sell yourself short in areas like web site management, etc. Put down just about everything you can do. You'd be surprised how valuable those types of skills can be in just about any workplace (err, at least office/academic environment).
If you are pursuing a technical job...well experience is becoming more of a requirement these days so good luck. In my field, for example, it can be downright difficult to get in the door (but once you do, you're golden).
If none of this is new to you, I apologize. And good luck again.
-V
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Post by Kage2020 on May 7, 2004 18:37:29 GMT -5
First off, thanks for the reply v0lsung! ;D Is this a technology position you're seeking, or is it academic in nature (or financial, etc.)? Commerical science sector. I'm wanting to avoid the academic sector at the moment since I'm somewhat disappointed with how it operates. Of course, the ivory tower might look somewhat more interesting at a later date... I don't know if hiring practices are radically different over here than across the pond, however I can tell you that being overqualified doesn't seem to be as prohibitive as it used to be... It still gets quoted all the time over here. Indeed, university qualified individuals who would, say, go to an "employment centre" are now advised to leave off their education if not applyiing for something that it is directly relevant. I try to avoid padding my resume unless it's absolutely necessary - but believe me, I'd be the first to say you should leave the option open. Keeping the resume/CV to two A4 sides is hard enough as it is without padding, but good advice overall. Thanks. I presume you'll have a degree now...right? Two: BSc and MSc, both 'good' degrees. Working on the third, hence the disenchantment with academia. Otherwise once you're in the interview you'll be competing with a bunch of American bores so that should be in your favor. LOL. That puts the American employment market into some... erm... interesting light. I'd also recommend that you not sell yourself short in areas like web site management, etc. Hmmn, fair enough. Although apart from competent computer skills there was little else that was needed. But then again one of the 'selling points' is diversity of skills so, yes, that's another good point. Again, thanks. If you are pursuing a technical job...well experience is becoming more of a requirement these days so good luck. I've got the technical experience and, indeed, in more 'areas' than specifically required. If none of this is new to you, I apologize. And good luck again. -V Nope, all useful. Sometimes just hearing what you know from a different source can be a "eureka" moment. I've got martial arts students who you can tell for years that they're doing something "incorrectly", trying to get them to change... then someone else makes an offhand comment and the student will go "Oh! Why didn't someone tell me that before!" At which point I'm normally crying in frustration in a heap in the corner!  Again, thanks v0lsung... Kage |
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