 What
about ESL Resumes
and CVs for Thailand?
Are ESL Resumes for Teaching English
in Thailand the Same as Back Home?
Generally
speaking, no.
Get used to the
idea that the work scene in Thailand (and most of the
world) is VERY DIFFERENT from the one "back home".
Employers WILL want to see your photograph. May well
ask you about your family. May ask your age. WIll
ask your nationality. May ask
if you are married - maybe even why not, if you aren't
(with a smile, of course . . .).
Okay, not
always, but it is not unusual in Thailand and other
countries, for ESL employers to ask many questions that
would be illegal in many Western countries. In their
country they are legal and, in their eyes, legitimate
questions.
In spite of
what you have been taught to believe there is nothing
sinister in their questions. They just want to know
about you and understand you.
They
Have Their Reasons
Work visas for
English Teachers in in some countries will require that
your passport be from a country they deem as being
English speaking. Age, is sometimes limited for certain
kinds of visas due to mandatory retirement ages. Some
schools may (and often do) prefer a female for their
preschool and kindergarten classes - and on and on.
Get
over it
Decide now if
these issues really bother you. If they do - you may
have some difficulty landing a job - or even surviving
in Thailand or any non-Westernized country.
What to
put on your Resume/CV
Traditional
resumes are fine - but be sure to put the essential
information THAT QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE JOB
near the top - where your potential employer can see it
quickly. Technically, a CV is a much more
academically-oriented form and more detailed, but you'll
find the terms resume and CV used somewhat
interchangeably abroad. Keep them both to two pages or
less.
If you are an
older person, put a cut off point in time to limit how
long your resume will be. Do they really need to know
that you worked for McDonalds 35 years ago? Unless, of
course, you are applying to McDonalds to teach English
to their Thai employees!
If you are very
interested in teaching in a particular specialty -
Business English, Medical English, Hospitality English -
be sure to include your experience in that area to
strengthen your position.
Photo
Yep, Thailand
will want a photo attached to your resume. Passport
size - top left corner. Not everywhere is the same -
but not a big deal if you put it on the wrong corner . .
. It is usually okay if you print it on the resume.
Make sure you dress and appear professionally in the
photo.
Age, Marital Status, Sex, Nationality,
Dependents
Get used to it
now. If you don't include this information, and the
employer has many applicants - guess where your resume
will go . . . If you do not include this information,
some people will assume you are hiding something! Get
used to the idea that not everyone thinks the way
Westerners do - or has the same rules or standards.
That people and cultures and countries are different is
what makes it all so interesting . . .
Contact
Information
Especially
for Thailand - get a mobile phone as soon as you arrive
and put that number on your resume. Make sure you are
using an email address that seems professional or at
least neutral. Don't use email addresses like
hotsex69@hotmail.com - which was on an application
form that the webmaster once reviews.
It's
okay to be creative
Avoid templates
- you blend into the background as if you weren't
there. Try something creative. Use color - give it
shot. Try a Google search for "creative resumes".
|
"Twenty
years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the
ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the
trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." -- Mark Twain |
|
Raise your hand if you'd like to spend your "working"
time in a Luxury Resort . . . 
