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Part -
I
In the American market,
your resume and job interview needs to both SHOW and TELL your
qualifications as visually as possible. It's your job to give energy to
your resume and make your skills come alive in the mind of an employer.
As a foreign applicant,
you are automatically at a perceived disadvantage as there are many
Americans with the same qualifications and experience who are
acclimatized to the US workplace ethos, ready to be hired - today.
That's why you need to counterbalance this prejudice: to prove yourself,
your worth, and that you are worth waiting for.
Think about a job you
really want and how you would show that you are right for the job. How
you would tell your story? Here are some tips: -
"SHOW"
YOU CARE: You must know
everything you possibly can about the company BEFORE you apply. Do your
homework. Most companies today have a corporate website with the details
of the business's history, philosophy, product lines, achievements and
marketing focus. Read through the entire website and tailor your resume
and cover letter to the strengths, pride and products of the company.
What do you see as their short and long-term goals? These are answers
that employers love to see and hear - that you've actually put some
thought and research into their business. SHOW them that you
understand their firm and care enough to think about their needs; and
think about how you can help their product or trade lines for them by
hiring you. Make your case!
"TELL"
THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR: Your
resume and cover letter must be the best possible presentation you can
make. A cover letter's primary purpose is to act as an employer's
introduction to your resume, and to you. SHOW and TELL
them why they should even consider you - especially since you are so far
away from America.
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Your cover letter
should have a subtle yet strong selling message - a point-by-point
detail that tells the American employer that, by hiring you, they'll
benefit from your previous successes and experiences.
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You must use American
expressions and terminology. Use statistics and measurements that
show what you were able to achieve for former employers.
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Appeal to their
interests, but don't use the cover letter to criticize their
business model. Instead, show how you would complement their
company's goals and ideals.
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