Putting Together my First Resume!!

[Logres 0]

As I'm trying to avoid getting to the hallowed day when I receive my EAD and not actually be prepared to go about getting a job....... I thought I'd better get started on putting together my first resume (although as I understand it British CVs are actually pretty similar these days).

-Is it advisable to present US immigration status in detail (eg I-766 holder, etc)? if so, how?

-Has anyone got any links to good web resources for US resume/cover letter writing?

-Any thoughts on how to present a British first degree in the US?

-Any good job seeking sites (monster, etc)........

Thanks for anyone's thoughts.

Cheers, Ed.

[Lansbury 19]

On my resume I just put legal permanent resident allowed to work in USA.

Monster is as good as any website only but I found the city paper to have the best selection of jobs if you are not considering relocating for a job.

[Nancy2015 2]

-Is it advisable to present US immigration status in detail (eg I-766 holder, etc)? if so, how?

I didn't say anything about my status on my resume. But you can do it if you wish Just write that you're authorized to work for any employer or something similar.

-Has anyone got any links to good web resources for US resume/cover letter writing?

Monster has some decent advice:

http://content.monster.com/

-Any good job seeking sites (monster, etc)........

careerbuilder.com

craigslist.org

[no one 0]

As I'm trying to avoid getting to the hallowed day when I receive my EAD and not actually be prepared to go about getting a job....... I thought I'd better get started on putting together my first resume (although as I understand it British CVs are actually pretty similar these days).

-Is it advisable to present US immigration status in detail (eg I-766 holder, etc)? if so, how?

-Has anyone got any links to good web resources for US resume/cover letter writing?

-Any thoughts on how to present a British first degree in the US?

-Any good job seeking sites (monster, etc)........

Thanks for anyone's thoughts.

Cheers, Ed.

- I noted that I'm legally able to work in the U.S. in the ending of my cover letter, not in my résumé.

- what industry/field are you looking at? It's probably best to Google up examples that are suited for your line of work. For example, I work in Education so my style of résumé might not be best suited for whatever you're applying for. e.g. The first part of mine has my education and teaching certification info, but for other types of jobs, it's not recommended that you put edu info at the top.

- I got my degrees in Canada and mine looks something like this (with a nicer formatting):

Bachelor of Education

• Intermediate-Senior English and Biology

• Five year Concurrent Program

Queen’s University, Kingston, ON. 2005

Honours Bachelor of Arts

• English Language and Literature

Queen’s University, Kingston, ON. 2004

- I used a combination of Craigslist and school district websites for my job search. If you have an idea of what types of companies you'd like to work for, you might want to look under "employment/career opportunities" in specific companies' websites.

Best of luck on your job search!

[Jamie76 0]

British CVs are not similar to resumes here. Unless you are applying for a job in academia, you want you resume as to the point as possible. If you have a lot of experience, 2 pages is normal, 3 is pretty rare.

[Nancy2015 2]

If you have an idea of what types of companies you'd like to work for, you might want to look under "employment/career opportunities" in specific companies' websites.

I found this to be the best strategy.

[cartaverde 12]

I always go with resume, never with curriculum, even in Europe difference

A resume is a one or two page summary of your skills, experience and education. A goal of resume writing is to be brief and concise since, at best, the resume reader will spend a minute or so reviewing your qualifications

I have also found Linkedin to be a good resource. At least my employer found me from there

Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn

LinkedIn Profile Extreme Makeover

Resume all the way, the format (chronological or functional) depends on the job and market you aim for - I usually use mixed, chronological for the experience in field, grouped for the rest.

It's sometimes amazing how easy it is to spot the most European style ones .. if you have hundreds of resumes in front of you and you only are going to hire one or two, max time spent looking at one to see if you will look further or not is less than 10 seconds. If in those 10 seconds you see only information that absolutely should not matter in hiring decisions (but that many Europeans are encouraged to volunteer with their extended odd curriculum, such as place of birth, citizenships, even number of offspring and religious associations, I think I have seen them all..) .. it is realistically going to be tossed away. If they are interested in any detail more than what you would put on a 'marketing brochure' for getting you into the interview, they will ask. Better less than too much.

If you are aiming at different job functions at the same time, so applying for a trainer job, a coach, an engineer and a florist, you'd need a resume for each. Unless you can make one that will show on the first three seconds why you would be the best florist and engineer out there on the same format.

Monster is also a good place for keeping your resume.

[brtlmj 0]

As I'm trying to avoid getting to the hallowed day when I receive my EAD and not actually be prepared to go about getting a job.......

Depending on what kind of a job you are looking for, it may take a few weeks/months to find anything. You may want to start sending out resumes before getting your EAD.

-Is it advisable to present US immigration status in detail (eg I-766 holder, etc)? if so, how?

I did not. However, if I were to go through the process again, I would write something like "authorized to work in the US" - my name makes it clear that I am not from here.

-Has anyone got any links to good web resources for US resume/cover letter writing?

Your local library will have books on that subject. You may find them more helpful than web pages.

-Any good job seeking sites (monster, etc)........

Being an engineer, I used mainly Dice and LinkedIn. I also posted my resume on monster, and now I am getting tons of fake job offers. Look out for those - if it sounds too good to be true... you know the rest.

Good luck!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Couple o'tips:

1. Translate CULTURALLY, not literally: this applies to degrees (CEGEP, BA, etc.), names of positions (i.e. a University Provost in Canada is a Chief of Staff in the US)

2. Check out Lionel Laroche's books - the man is an expert in the area of foreign trained professionals.

3. DO NOT put your picture, SSN, favourite hobbies, name of spouse, LPR status.... recruiters do not look at those - until they are ready to make you an offer!

4. Match resume to job posting.- meaning tailor 1 resume per 1 posting. Mostly keep the same of course, but tweak here there and everywhere.

5. GOOD LUCK!!!

need more info, send me a PM!!!

Best, L.