Job Discussion Forums

[lookingforworkinasia]

Hi Everyone,

I just got approved to join this forum, but I've been using it for research for the past week or so.

Basically, I've decided I'm finally ready to head overseas. I've done plenty of research (on this website, talking to friends who have experience, looking at employers, studying countries, etc) but I still need a little bit more help. Specifically, I'm looking to fine tune my cover letter/resume. I've figured out they're different overseas than here, and I have a few concerns before I start sending them out to recruiters/schools.

1. The personal information (such as age, marital status); where should I put it? On the cover letter, in the first paragraph? On my CV, at the top maybe beside my picture? I've tried a couple of different ways and I can't seem to figure out how to integrate it smoothly into my presentation.

2. Speaking of photo's, I'm not sure what exactly to include. I've gathered that a small, headshot on the resume is kind of a norm. However, lots of job ads I'm looking at require a couple of photos, so I'm wondering what to they are looking for. Are pics of me reading that my friends take ok? Should I go to a portrait studio? Can I go get passport photo's taken and attach the same basic shot with two different smiles?

I'm sorry about the long post. I just don't want to miss out on a good opportunity because I'm not sure how to present myself to potential employers.

[Glenski]

Welcome to the forum.

I can't give advice for more than Japan, so here goes.

First of all, information on resumes and cover letters has been covered a lot here. Have you used the search function to see if you can find what you want? Many people just page back manually and try to cover the interesting posts instead.

Second, here in Japan, you might get by with a western style resume format, but if you want to go with something a little more customized for Japanese, here goes. Name at the top. Picture in the top corner. Under your name, put the personal info: mailing address, email address, phone number (just one, please), date and place of birth, nationality, marital status, and passport or visa info. How you lay this out depends on your creativity and the overall length of your resume.

Next should be education, followed by work experience. If your resume is very short, you might want to add a personal interests section last.

Pictures are usually just portrait shots (from the shoulders up, that is). Dress professionally and have a neutral background. Don't crop a great party photo of yourself no matter how nice you looked then.

[denise]

Extra photos could be for paperwork: visas, etc. In which case, I'd send passport photos--nothing fancy.

d

[Dedicated]

Make sure you check your CV very carefully for spelling/grammar errors if you intend teaching English.

Your post saying "photo's" rather shows you don't know how to use the apostrophe. Employers in Germany, UK and Japan, in particular, are meticulous.

[lookingforworkinasia]

I appreciate the feedback everyone. I have a good layout now for my CV, and a strong cover letter for the first position I'm applying for. I'm going to get photos of me from a few different sources to give me some options, including passport photos and the kind of professional portraits employers seem to want most. I have one other question in regards to passports.

1. I have been researching whether or not to send a copy of my passport to schools who request it. My concern with sending this information (besides not knowing where it is going to end up) is that my photo in the passport looks unprofessional. Am I being too critical of myself here? Do employers/recruiters understand that ID photos are often unflattering? If I provide a copy of my passport and supplementary photos is this good enough? Can I black out just the pic in my passport?

Once again, I appreciate the feedback. I've never done these kinds of applications before, so its stressing me out a little bit more than I think it should. I just want to get my info out there already!

[denise]

If they want a copy of your passport, you should sent it. It's fairly common. It could well be for bureaucratic issues/visas. If I were an employer, I would seriously question a candidate who blacked out the photo. It would seem suspicious or just plain wacky. You're not entering a beauty pageant.

d

[lookingforworkinasia]

^^That's what I figured. Looking unattractive isn't my concern here. My concern is that my passport photo looks unprofessional, as in it looks like I rolled out of bed and someone took my picutre. I don't want to project such an unprofessional image in my application, since it will literally be putting a face to my name for them. Any suggestions on a way around this?

[naturegirl321]

For Peru:
I put my DOB, not age. I don't put my marital status, but they can guess it due to my last name.
Photos, make sure it's professional. And put it at the top of your CV: I put my photo on the left and personal info on the right. You should be looking straight at the camera, like a passport photo.
Passport, I don't send it until they ask for it.

[EmailKid]

[Jetgirly]

I like to use my university grad photos when a photo is required for application purposes. However, I requested the pink sash in my undergraduate photos, and the university's own photography studio had no problem letting me wear the pink sash, but then when I went to pick up my photos they tried to withold them, saying that I could try to use the photos with the pink sash as evidence that I had obtained a Bachelor of Music degree rather than a Bachelor of Arts degree! Like, wouldn't my transcripts clear that up pretty quickly if it came into question? And if that's the case, shouldn't they have thought of that BEFORE they let me wear the pink sash?

[denise]

OK, after reading more thoroughly, I think I should explain/change my stance. If they want a photo to accompany your CV (or if they just need a bunch of photos... my current job asked for 12), I agree with the others' advice about how to get them done. But if they want a photocopy of your passport page itself (i.e., the entire page, not just the photo), I'd still say that blacking it out would be weird.

d

[lookingforworkinasia]

^^12. Yeesh. That seems excessive. What do they need so many for, and for what kind of a job (if you don't mind me asking)?

[denise]

Well, the funny thing is that they couldn't even use most of the photos that I gave them... They need them against a blue background and the places that I went to in the US only had red or white backgrounds. So after I got here I had to get another 12 done...

I've used them for:
driving license
road pass (necessary-ish for driving across the border)
library card at college
membership card at hotel gym
??
??
??

I got a separate, and truly horrid, photo taken for my residence card, so I have no idea what the others are for. It's always good to have some lying around for whatever bureaucratic issues arise, so I just carry the unused ones around with me in my purse. I think that's why they recommend so many: sort of a "just in case" situation.

d

[jwbhomer]

Being asked for 8 or 10 or 12 photos is not unusual. At both universities I worked at in China they wanted 10 and they all got used eventually. In addition to the things D mentioned, they would put your photo on the forms for your medical test, to make sure that no-one took the test for you.

[lookingforworkinasia]

^^ Oh ok. I thought you meant you had to submit 12 different photos with your application, under the more "we just want to see what you look like" pretense. It makes more sense to me now. These days, I would think e-mailing a quality digital image would be enough.

I guess I can worry about stuff like that a little further down the road though. Specifically, when I actually have more promising prospects. Thanks everyone!