Job Discussion Forums

sahara musafir · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 22

This is a question for those of you who have landed jobs in the UAE. (Congratulations)

I have read on the internet that when applying for jobs in the Emirates, CVs should be much more detailed than resumes for positions in other parts of the world. http://www.jobera.com/job-resumes-cvs/international-resumes-cvs/united-arab-emirates/uae-cv.htm This isn't advice for teachers, but for job searches in the UAE in general.

Would you agree with this advice for teaching applications there? I'm referring specifically to jobs at HCT or Zayed University or other similar institutions.

For teaching jobs there, would you recommend a standard chronological resume or one that lists specific qualifications (degrees, experience, languages...) at the beginning before listing the work history?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I hope to see you in the UAE sometime soon.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I just used a standard 2 page resume and called it a CV. Laughing

In the end, it is not length or format, but content that will get you hired. In education, they want to see if you have the right academic pieces of paper... plus related experience. If you don't have those, it doesn't matter how much you pad it with details.

VS

MrScaramanga · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 221

I've always used the "long version", not the resume format and that has worked very well for me. My CV is about 7 pages long, and there is no "padding". However, I would recommend placing most relevant info in the first couple of pages: quals, experience and skills most essential to position applied for.
MrS

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Ah MrS... I would never accuse you of "padding." Laughing

The problem comes with entry level people who think they need to provide a 7 page CV. If you haven't been in the field long enough to have done presentations at conferences or published, it ends up full of extraneous unrelated things like hobbies (I collect stamps and seashells) and interests in... oh I don't know... world peace or some such. That is what I mean by padding.

However long, it should focus on the job applied for...

VS

sahara musafir · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 22

Thank you for the insights. I have relevant degrees and experience, but certainly not 7 pages worth. I'll stick with my standard resume and am happy to hear it won't be a strike against me. I am extremely interested in world peace, but I don't see how that sets me apart from other applicants, so I think I'll leave it out.

I also see that the Zayed University application requires an undergraduate teaching philosophy statement. I think with that in the package a standard 2 page resume will be enough to highlight my relevant experience.