Helping your Global Clients Create
Marketable CVs for the U.S.
10th International Higher Education Dual Career Conference
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, June 4, 2012
Marlar Kin, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
22.03.2016
DCS: Diverse Culture Service?
Why deal with this?

Challenge in Science and Research:
International Recruitments
→ bring in people used to different
styles of job applications

„Odd“ applications hinder qualified
applicants to find a job according to
their skills

Longer duration of job search
→ increases work for DCS

Knowing cultural differences helps to
counsel more efficiently
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Comparison – part 1
U.S. Resumes/CVs
Central European CVs
Personal details & photo: not
appropriate
Personal Details are requested
Order & Format
Order & Format
 reverse chronological
 clustered by skills and topics if clear and
helpful
 Focus on relevant professional experience
 irrelevant info is left out
 used to be chronological
 now more and more reverse chronological
 clustered by skills uncommon
 focus on „straight“ biography without gaps
 other skills listed (languages, IT, further education
certificates), sometimes hobbies
 date and signature at the end of CV are a must
Info on earlier jobs & references
Info on earlier jobs & references
 description of work & responsibilities
standard
 references (contact details) by former
employers, professors etc.
 description of work & responsibilities less common
 detailed description and evaluation of work by
former employer attached to CV and cover letter
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 date of birth
 civil/marital status
 children
 sometimes: religion
 photo(!) is preferred
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Comparison – part 2
U.S. Resumes
Central European CVs
Objective & personal profile
Objective & personal profile
 career objective often given
Personal profile given: competencies, soft
skills, fields of interest, special experience,
success, personal strength –
 application = professional self-marketing
 No career objective given in CV
 Usually no personal profile given, especially no
information on soft skills, self-evaluation, or any
other “non-facts” considered to be self-praise
 application = neutral/objective report of career
Attachments
Attachments
 none (cover letter sent with application only)
 copies of work certificates by former employers
(each 1-3 pages)
 copies of education certificates (high school
diploma, university degree, etc.)
 copies of other relevant documents (language
certificates, letter of recommendation)
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Translating is not enough
…. because there are many differences in

structure

kind of information provided

length of descriptions
…. and can be wrong, because
names for positions are often translated
incorrectly
Examples:

person who works in an office is not necessarily an officer or

person who manages appointments and travel planning for boss is not a manager
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Workshop
1. Divide into groups of 3 or 4
2. Each group works together on same CV
(20 min.):
 How should it be re-structured?
 What information should be taken out?
 What information is missing? → ask “client”
3. Each group presents results briefly
4. Wrap-up
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Contact
Marlar Kin
Dual Career Service Coordinator
Goethe-University Frankfurt
Bockenheimer Landstr. 133
D-60325 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49-69-798-28113
Email: kin@em.uni-frankfurt.de
www.dualcareer.uni-frankfurt.de
Thank you!
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