What to include in a resume
Writing a resume is a little different from country to country. It’s not drastically different, but there are a few nuances that you can take advantage of when looking for a job. Most of the resume writing guides out there are great, but they aren’t specific to a particular job market. These tips are.
We won’t go into the specifics of structuring and writing a resume here, you can find that information all over the internet and will come down to your personal style and preference. But here’s an excellent article to get you started structuring and writing a resume.
So what makes a country resume different? Personal details. In some countries, resume writing practice generally includes personal information that can seem inappropriate elsewhere. This isn’t a bad thing, the world and social media have made the world a whole lot more personal already, and you can use this information to your advantage.
A Photo
It may be a common practice in a country to include a photo of yourself somewhere at the top of your resume. 'Should I really put a photo in my resume?' you may be asking yourself, and the answer is ‘Only if you want to’. But why not? A photo is an opportunity to let your personality and confidence shine.
We aren’t talking about a selfie, your photo should be professional, tasteful and please smile. A resume is an opportunity to make a first impression without meeting someone; you don’t need to look serious to come across as professional. Portray yourself as someone the reader would want to have a conversation with.
When reviewing your photo you should be asking yourself “Do I look friendly and competent?”
Languages Spoken
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s even more so in multi-racial countries. Being able to converse in English, Malay, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tamil can be a huge benefit to you and your future employer. State these skills clearly and make a reference to how proficient you are in them.
A word of advice, if you can only speak the basics, that doesn’t really count, and we wouldn’t recommend that you include it. Proficient means being able to converse in a manner that is beneficial to the job you’re applying for.
Social Media
Your personal life is yours, but it can help build trust to include your social media profiles in your resume. Many employers will likely check them anyway, but listing them openly shows they have your blessing for them to take a look.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, and make sure your other profiles don't contain information, photos or comments you wouldn't want a prospective employer to see.