Santa Fe A/S : Applying for a career overseas

Posted: 17/07/2017 Author: Santa Fe Relocation Services

Moving overseas and living your dream life is a fantastic aspiration, however making your dreams a reality is somewhat more difficult to do when you do not have the financial stability (a job!) to allow you to make the most of living abroad. This is why it is so important to ensure that you take great care when applying for work overseas as you application will often be the first impression that a prospective employer has of you as a person.

On the whole, while the job application process be a little different to what you're used to and the language may be different (for example) employers all tend to look for the same professional skills across the globe. Before you start preparing your CV for an overseas career, it would be beneficial for you to explore the specific expectations when it comes to work in the country you are looking to relocate to. Each country has its own CV specifics so it would make sense to adjust your current CV to match what the prospective employer will be looking out for.

The Cover Letter

Your cover letter should typically act a summary of everything that you can offer an employer and this remains true when it comes to looking for a career overseas. It should act in some ways as a business card for the uses of HR departments. As a significant representation of your personality and professional skills, it can also address other areas such as notice periods and salary expectations too.

The tone that you set within your cover letter will really help you to stand out from the crowd. Alongside this, clarity is an important factor. It would help to read a few model applications relative to the field and country you are moving to. Finally, as with every application, it would be worthwhile for you to get someone to proof read your work. This should be done by a native speaker of the language you are writing in or by someone who has prior experience in the country for which you are seeking work in.

The CV

When it comes to compiling the perfect CV, you should take into consideration the fact that it should give HR staff a succinct overview of your experience and professional experiences. As the ultimate marketing tool your CV should be accurate, honest and as close to matching the job description you are applying for as possible. Be sure to list your most recent positions in reverse chronological order and keep the most important details on the first page for maximum impact.

The Format

Once you have all the relevant information to be included in your CV, it is then necessary to format it in a way that is presentable and easy to read/ understand. A confusing CV can make even the most skilled professional miss out on their dream job role; similarly a badly written CV cannot be disguised by great design! Try to remain conservative and professional at all times to ensure that your CV will not be overlooked or be seen as too garish to be taken seriously.

Personal Details

When it comes to the sorts of personal details that you should be including on your CV, it is normally suggested that you stick to your education and professional expertise as opposed to listing your marital status and a range of other random details. Be sure to also prioritise your CV so that the most recent and important information is at the top as it will instantly draw the reader's eye to the top. Consider inputting your visa status and language proficiency so that your employer is aware of your status ahead of time.

Should you find yourself being challenged by job applications overseas or want to find out a little bit more about the visas your country of interest will require, get in touch with us at Santa Fe. We are dedicated to ensuring that your relocation process runs as smoothly as possible!