Job Discussion Forums

[omarr380]

Hello. As it says in the headline, I would like a critique of the resume that I am sending to potential employers. I have been looking for a job since January and I had a rather promising direct hire position in Higashi-Osaka which was pretty much mine, but they said due to circumstances at the BoE that they would not be able to hire me. I felt that the BoE representative really was trying to fight to get me in, but no dice. She was rather nice and told me about a another position that was opening up in Hyogo prefecture and even recommended me to that city's BoE. I went for an interview last Thursday and must wait until Tuesday for the results. We'll see how that turns out. However, I expected to find a job by now. I lost count of how many resumes I sent. I sent resumes to to ALTIA, NOVA and others, but no solid job offer yet. I have until Friday, March 25, to find a job. My job, with dispatch company, and my contract for my apartment end on that day. That is my situation and my resume is below. I would appreciate some feedback on my resume and/or solutions to my situation and/or a job offer. I am not looking forward to being a homeless foreigner in Gunma! Thank you, in advance.

In addition I would include these links in my emails to employers of me with happy Japanese children. Due you think they help?

http://www.haga-es.menet.ed.jp/2004/gakunen/3grade/mr.omar_page.htm

http://www.haga-es.menet.ed.jp/2004/gakunen/1grade/index.htm

http://www.haga-es.menet.ed.jp/2004/gakunen/4grade/english114/main.htm

Nationality: USA
Age: 26


Education
University of Southern California, 2002
・ Bachelor�s of Arts & Sciences: International Relations and East Asian Languages & Cultures

Experience
Maebashi City ALT: April 2004 � March 2005
・ Currently an ALT at (censored) junior high and elementary schools, and at (censored) elementary school
・ Assist Japanese teacher of English with student pronunciation, spelling, listening & speaking and in helping to prepare lessons
・ Team teach with Japanese teacher of English
・ In elementary schools, lessons prepared without assistance and classes conducted with minimal assistance from teacher

Volunteer English tutor: September 2001- December 2002
・ Volunteer tutor in Los Angeles with subset of LA police department
・ Tutored Japanese of various ages (mostly 20�s & early 30�s), emphasizing pronunciation and speaking

Volunteer teacher in Los Angeles city high schools: September 1999 � December 2001
・ Taught political theory in LA high schools once per week for several weeks per year
・ Worked in groups of four with other volunteers
・ Responsible for lesson planning

[guest of Japan]

This is Glenski and PaulH's forte, but off-hand I notice two things.

Your experiences don't look verifiable. You don't give any company names or addresses of who you've worked for. Many Japanese are impressed by brandnames.

On a grammatical note (might not really matter much in Japan), you switch between your verb tenses.

[PAULH]

In addition I would include these links of myself with happy Japanese children, to send to employers. Do you think they help?

http://www.haga-es.menet.ed.jp/2004/gakunen/3grade/mr.omar_page.htm

http://www.haga-es.menet.ed.jp/2004/gakunen/1grade/index.htm

http://www.haga-es.menet.ed.jp/2004/gakunen/4grade/english114/main.htm


Normally I wouldnt include webpage links in an email or a CV but no harm in it I suppose. Short video is probably better, but no need to send it unless they ask for proof of your teaching.

Nationality: USA (America is a country, you are American)
Age: 26 (birthdate?)
Current work visa?
Email address?
Postal address?
ID photograph?
Marital status?

Just my opinion, but do you think a necktie around your head is suitable attire for including in a resume? (I know its teaching kids but its also looks a bit untidy)


Education
University of Southern California, 2002
・ Bachelor�s of Arts & Sciences: International Relations and East Asian Languages & Cultures (is this one degree?)

Mention of your major not really needed.

Teaching Experience
Maebashi City Assistant Language Teacher (avoid abbreviations ALT etc): April 2004 � March 2005
・ I am currently an ALT at XYZ junior high and elementary schools, and at ABC elementary school
・ Assist Japanese teacher of English with the students' pronunciation, spelling, listening & speaking and in helping the JTE to prepare lessons
・ I team teach with a Japanese Teacher of English
・ In elementary schools, lessons prepared (avoid passive tense) without assistance and classes conducted with minimal assistance from teacher


You write in incomplete sentences (bullets are ungrammatical)

Volunteer English tutor: September 2001- December 2002
・ Volunteer tutor in Los Angeles with subset of LA police department
・ Tutored Japanese students of various ages (mostly 20�s & early 30�s), emphasizing development of pronunciation and speaking skills

Volunteer teacher in Los Angeles city high schools: September 1999 � December 2001
・ Taught political theory in LA high schools once per week for several weeks per year (relevance to teaching ESL?)
・ Worked in groups of four with other volunteers (So?)
・ Responsible for lesson planning


References and contact nos. from employers?
Japanese language ability?
Special Licences?

[Glenski]

In addition to what Paul suggests for your section on personal information, I would hope that you have your name in full (as it is on your passport), plus a telephone contact number.

For Education, list the city, state, and USA for your university. Not everyone in the USA knows what city USC is in. I don't. If you must list your major, identify it on a separate line as "Major".

For work experience, it seems as if you may have worked or volunteered for many places, and that is the reason you don't list employers by name. Is that so? How many were there? Are there too many to write names on the resume? If not, I'd suggest putting them down, as guest of Japan mentions, with their name, city, state, and USA.

Your descriptions don't have to be "grammatical", as Paul wrote. Full sentences may even be harder for some Japanese reviewers, depending on how long they are, and on what sort of format and font size you use.

The links are not really necessary, in my opinion, and only one is really and truly needed if you insist on including them. However, if you plan to teach teens or adults, I wouldn't put them in at all.

I also recommend not listing references. If your resume is excessively short, add a section on hobbies or personal interests.

[azarashi sushi]

Hi Omarr... Everyone has given you good advice. The only thing I wanted to add was regarding the use of photos. I have often included a photo with my job applications. I have one straight head and shoulders shot on the resume and then I usually attach a picture of myself "in action" with a class. The action photo always seems to get a really good reaction. Mind you, I attach only ONE and make sure that it's a REALLY GOOD ONE. I personally wouldn't included all those links. There is too much to wade through. And I have to agree with Paul... The tie around the head is not a good look.

Anyway, best of luck.

A.S