Last Updated on October 21, 2022
How do I make an International Student Resume?
Before jumping into writing bullet points for your international student resume, we need to create a basic outline. Here are a few basic sections you should include on your resume:
Section #1: Contact Information
This may be the most important part of your resume. Make sure that you include your first and last name at the top of your resume. Bolding and making your name a larger font will help recruiters and hiring managers see who they are assessing as they deal with a large volume of resumes daily.
Below your name you should include your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile URL. Your resume is only one portion of who you are. The recruiter or hiring manager who picks up your international student resume will also look at your LinkedIn profile to see other useful information they deem necessary.
Section #2: Work Experience
The second most important part of your international student resume is your relevant work experience. This is your opportunity to shine and show your potential employer that you are qualified for the job. Make sure that you quantify your bullet points with the results you obtained while in previous positions.
Section #3: Leadership Experience
If you are applying to a position that requires you to lead a team of employees, this section will help you shine.
Have you worked with groups during school on massive projects that were needed by a specific deadline? Include it on your resume. MBA programs, participating in group assignments, or more provide you with relevant experience to shine for any role.
Section #4: Education
This is where you should include your previous education experience. If you have a degree from a college or university, list it under this section. If you have a High School Degree or equivalent, list it under this section.
Most employers look to see what your previous education history is to make an educated decision on what your salary should be. Generally speaking, the more education you have acquired, the more you are worth to the company.
Section #5: Skills & Interests
Skills and interests can be just as important to a company as your relevant work experience. If you are applying to a data analytics position, providing the hiring manager information around different programming languages you know like PowerBI, Tableau, and more will help you stand out.
Read More: If you’re struggling to create an international student resume, check out our free resume templates.
How Do I Write an International Student Resume in the US?
Being an international student in the United States can quickly become a new reality. Moving from another country where you have come to know something your entire life and feel confident can easily be changed by moving to the US.
Without describing yourself and your accomplishments on your resume, it will be difficult for recruiters and hiring managers to see your potential. The better you can describe yourself and your previous accomplishments on your resume, the better a recruiter or hiring manager can visualize you in the role. It may seem unfair that some recruiters only take 3-7 seconds when looking at any resume. That just means you need to make the most of those few seconds and capture their attention.
Read More: Do you have contract work you would like to include on your international student resume? See examples of how to include contract work on your resume.
What Should I Avoid When Creating My International Student Resume?
Being an international student in the United States can quickly become a new reality. Moving from another country where you have come to know something your entire life and feel confident can easily be changed by moving to the US.
Without describing yourself and your accomplishments on your resume, it will be difficult for recruiters and hiring managers to see your potential. The better you can describe yourself and your previous accomplishments on your resume, the better a recruiter or hiring manager can visualize you in the role. It may seem unfair that some recruiters only take 3-7 seconds when looking at any resume. That just means you need to make the most of those few seconds and capture their attention.
Read More: Do you have contract work you would like to include on your international student resume? See examples of how to include contract work on your resume.
Mistake #1: Don’t Include a Photo
International countries, and many international student resumes, commonly include a portrait photo on your resume. In Brazil, it’s expected to include a photo of yourself on your resume.
The hiring manager may base their decision solely based upon the way you look. In the United States, there are laws in place to protect job seekers from racial, ethnic, or religious bias. Make sure you don’t include a portrait photo on your resume. Employers are expected to base their decision on what your experiences, not based on looks.
Mistake #2: Don’t include Race, Religion, Sex, or National Origin
The Civil Rights Act 1964 (Title VII) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. This encourages all international students to avoid including where they are from, their sexuality, or their beliefs on their resumes.
Mistake #3: Don’t Include Your Address
Most individuals in the United States have transitioned from including their home address on their resume to leaving it off. This isn’t a hard rule, but it’s becoming more common to not include it.
Utilizing this space to include your LinkedIn profile with more information on your previous job history would be a better use of space. It’s also important to remember that most resumes are only one page in length when applying for a job in the US. Use this space to your advantage, and remember, space is super important. (Leave off any unnecessary information!)
Mistake #4: Don’t Describe Previous Job Duties
This is your moment to shine! Make sure to utilize your resume to sell yourself and your accomplishments. Instead of talking about answering phone calls daily as a receptionist, you can talk about how many calls you answer a day and what you accomplished by doing so. By providing more background on your accomplishments, your future employer will be able to envision your skills and abilities within the organization.
This idea of showing your accomplishments comes back to the X-Y-Z method previously suggested by Google. Companies want to see results, not job duties. Use the bullet point space on your international student resume to show them you are the person they need. It can be through increasing profit, decreasing costs, or improving the company in some form. An example would be "Selected as one of 275 participants nationwide for this 12-month professional development program for high-achieving diverse talent based on leadership potential and academic success.”
Final Thoughts
When all is said and done, try your best. If English isn’t your first language, make sure to ask a native English speaker or someone you trust to review your international student resume before you submit it. Make sure each bullet point utilizes an action verb at the beginning. And, remember, you’re attempting to join an organization and continue to build on their previously constructed foundation. Don’t miss a new opportunity just because of a few typos.
Don’t get discouraged. It may be difficult to “start over” in a new country with a new language, but if you follow these tips, you will provide yourself with the best opportunity for success.
