How To Write A European Resume

y2jake215

Hey guys - I'm applying to a job overseas in Europe, and I'm wondering if there are specific ways to structure my resume and things to focus on that would not be immediately evident to me as an American. This job is really appealing to me in a variety of ways, but as a foreigner I really need to nail the application to even get considered.

Are there any Europes around that could steer me the right way? I think that technically this is a government position, though I'm not positive (it's related to research, though I would not actually be in a research position - more of a technician).

If any other information about me or the job is relevant just ask and I'll add it to the OP.

Thanks!

V1m

"Europe" is a pretty large and diverse area. It contains several distinct countries.

V1m

Coming to terms with that fact might be a great starting point, btw.

bowen

I think that was shorthand for "I don't know all the customs for all the countries in Europe, but you guys seem to share a lot of stuff on the professional front with how things are organized, is there any tips on what I should do if I'm applying for a job, any job, in a European country, any European country?" without typing too much.

And yeah, Europeans typically use the CV format versus the Resume format Americans use, which seems to be ubiquitous across much of continental Europe. You want to go into more depth, talk about books you've helped write, other publications, independent research instead of trying to sell your business expertise, you want to sell your knowledge capacity.

y2jake215

V1m wrote: »

"Europe" is a pretty large and diverse area. It contains several distinct countries.

bowen wrote: »

I think that was shorthand for "I don't know all the customs for all the countries in Europe, but you guys seem to share a lot of stuff on the professional front with how things are organized, is there any tips on what I should do if I'm applying for a job, any job, in a European country, any European country?" without typing too much.

basically that, plus that the place i'm applying is an intergovernmental organization of several dozen European countries, so it seemed more helpful to be general

RMS Oceanic

As a Europe, you may need to wrap your head around the idea that instead of a resume, you may need to send a Curriculum Vitae, commonly a CV.

I admit to no experience in research jobs, but it sounds like laying out your academic credentials in a CV would be beneficial. Also it doesn't hurt to have a CV built and just on file in case another job asks for it.

y2jake215

RMS Oceanic wrote: »

As a Europe, you may need to wrap your head around the idea that instead of a resume, you may need to send a Curriculum Vitae, commonly a CV.

I admit to no experience in research jobs, but it sounds like laying out your academic credentials in a CV would be beneficial. Also it doesn't hurt to have a CV built and just on file in case another job asks for it.

i took a class in grad school on writing a CV, but it appears that in America a CV is rather different - it was very comprehensive, could be over 10-15 pages long, and focused heavily on publications and research done (which is not really the career path I ended up going down)

it sounds like an American resume and a European CV are far more similar?

PedroAsani

They are the same thing, just with different names.

What matters is getting your information pertinent and the layout easy to read.

You can ignore the whole idea of "don't make it longer than a page", my short CV is 7 pages long. The long one is 13 pages. Any interested party will ask for the long version after reading the short version, so the key is to make them want to keep reading.

If you want to message me your email I can help you with writing it. Also, it sounds like you are applying to either NATO or the EU, and I can give you some local advice on either should you get it. I particularly liked Geneva, though it is expensive as hell.

Liiya

Maybe check out some of these links http://jobs.theguardian.com/cv-advice/ ?

The Guardian is a pretty useful resource and advertises quite a lot of professional to high-end jobs.

Dis'

PedroAsani wrote: »

They are the same thing, just with different names.

What matters is getting your information pertinent and the layout easy to read.

You can ignore the whole idea of "don't make it longer than a page", my short CV is 7 pages long. The long one is 13 pages. Any interested party will ask for the long version after reading the short version, so the key is to make them want to keep reading.

If you want to message me your email I can help you with writing it. Also, it sounds like you are applying to either NATO or the EU, and I can give you some local advice on either should you get it. I particularly liked Geneva, though it is expensive as hell.

Well in the UK at least a "CV" won't run that long; 2-3 pages with the long form you're talking about being 'additional information' like a list of publications/certifications.

This has also been the way I've seen technical type CVs for European companies and institutions (may vary by industry, my experience is with Bioscience and Energy).

For the OP, your cover letter is super important for getting them to read your CV so you should spend a good bit of time polishing that. Also if the job needs technical qualifications you should look into the US::EU equivalents)

BlindZenDriver

I normally includes a section in my CV that reveals a little bit about my personal life like maybe a couple of hobbies, and if I'm attached to someone and so on. In interviews it often works as a conversation starter allowing you to connect on a personal level, rather than being all business.

bowen

BlindZenDriver wrote: »

I normally includes a section in my CV that reveals a little bit about my personal life like maybe a couple of hobbies, and if I'm attached to someone and so on. In interviews it often works as a conversation starter allowing you to connect on a personal level, rather than being all business.

Oh god that seems like a nightmare in the US.

I'm surprised no one's adopted it yet so they can get more info about your personal life, that's something US companies love to do.

I guess in Europe it's to get to know the employee, whereas in the US it'd be used to weed out people that don't fit an archetype they're looking for. IE, single, white male for jobs that do a lot of traveling.

PedroAsani

Dis' wrote: »

PedroAsani wrote: »

They are the same thing, just with different names.

What matters is getting your information pertinent and the layout easy to read.

You can ignore the whole idea of "don't make it longer than a page", my short CV is 7 pages long. The long one is 13 pages. Any interested party will ask for the long version after reading the short version, so the key is to make them want to keep reading.

If you want to message me your email I can help you with writing it. Also, it sounds like you are applying to either NATO or the EU, and I can give you some local advice on either should you get it. I particularly liked Geneva, though it is expensive as hell.

Well in the UK at least a "CV" won't run that long; 2-3 pages with the long form you're talking about being 'additional information' like a list of publications/certifications.

This has also been the way I've seen technical type CVs for European companies and institutions (may vary by industry, my experience is with Bioscience and Energy).

For the OP, your cover letter is super important for getting them to read your CV so you should spend a good bit of time polishing that. Also if the job needs technical qualifications you should look into the US::EU equivalents)

<-- UK person here.

Dhalphir

BlindZenDriver wrote: »

I normally includes a section in my CV that reveals a little bit about my personal life like maybe a couple of hobbies, and if I'm attached to someone and so on. In interviews it often works as a conversation starter allowing you to connect on a personal level, rather than being all business.

this is useful only when applying to small companies

apart from that it's just clutter for HR to sort through.

PedroAsani

BlindZenDriver wrote: »

I normally includes a section in my CV that reveals a little bit about my personal life like maybe a couple of hobbies, and if I'm attached to someone and so on. In interviews it often works as a conversation starter allowing you to connect on a personal level, rather than being all business.

On a CV that is honestly wasted space. I will use the interview to find out if you are capable of functioning in an office with other people. A CV is about demonstrating you have the skills and experience in the job ad. Anything that doesn't do that isn't helping you.

Thirith

To add to that: don't feel you have to provide the same level of detail on everything. If it isn't relevant to the job you're applying for, shorten it or even leave it out - unless that leaves a gap in your CV, in which case do mention it, just don't dwell on it.

Edit: If you're applying for a job in the international community, I don't think you need to worry too much about European vs. American CVs. They will be used to getting applications from people around the world.

y2jake215

thanks everyone to the replies so far.

Dis' wrote: »

For the OP, your cover letter is super important for getting them to read your CV so you should spend a good bit of time polishing that.

@Dis'

so for this cover letter - what should it entail? why i want the job? why i think i'm qualified? etc?

I've never had to write one before, American or otherwise, so I'm a little unsure here.

Dis'

Succinctly show: who you are, that you understand who they are/what they do, and why you'd be good for the role. If someone referred or recommended you for the role do a name-drop.

They should be able to read it in a minute and then feel an urge to look at your CV.

PLA

I'm not good at even finding potential jobs, much less getting them, but the thing that is always stressed about CV is that it needs to make you seem like coolguy people will enjoy working with. And also that you will like them.

Anarchy Rules!

y2jake215 wrote: »

thanks everyone to the replies so far.

Dis' wrote: »

For the OP, your cover letter is super important for getting them to read your CV so you should spend a good bit of time polishing that.

@Dis'

so for this cover letter - what should it entail? why i want the job? why i think i'm qualified? etc?

I've never had to write one before, American or otherwise, so I'm a little unsure here.

The CV is meant to be a general list of everything you've done. The cover letter is meant to highlight the parts of your CV that make you a good fit for the position. You should also be trying to show that you've researched the company and position. It's what is meant to get the person interested so that they spend the time and effort reading the whole CV.

schuss

BlindZenDriver wrote: »

I normally includes a section in my CV that reveals a little bit about my personal life like maybe a couple of hobbies, and if I'm attached to someone and so on. In interviews it often works as a conversation starter allowing you to connect on a personal level, rather than being all business.

FYI - Don't do this in the US, as technically we shouldn't ask about it.

y2jake215

As an update: I finished, applied, and a few hours later got an (automated?) email saying I was disqualified due to living in the US. However they are allowed to hire from here if there are literally no other candidates so....you're saying there's a chance..

Thanks all

PedroAsani

y2jake215 wrote: »

As an update: I finished, applied, and a few hours later got an (automated?) email saying I was disqualified due to living in the US. However they are allowed to hire from here if there are literally no other candidates so....you're saying there's a chance..

Thanks all

It's one of the ridiculously disjointed immigration issues between Europe and the US. It would be so much easier if they allowed workers to move between some of the countries that are more on parity. I'm thinking UK, Ireland, Netherlands, etc.