Resume Writing Tips For Immigrants

Today I’m a talk about resume writing tips for immigrants.  The secrets and techniques that you will learn have been developed from years of looking at resumes and applications from foreign job applicants, immigrants and other jobseekers new to Canada and the US.

I have seen thousands of resumes from immigrants another foreign job applicants and so often they make the same mistakes.  If you are immigrant and want to know how to get a job in the USA, then you should read this post.  The top resume mistakes committed by immigrants and foreign job applicants are as follows:

Including Photos

Unless you are an actor or model or in industry, where appearance is your qualification you do not need to include a photo on your resume.  However, all too often resumes that coming from immigrants include their picture.  The hiring manager and the employer does not need to have your picture.  I know you might be wondering, “what is the harm in including a personal photo?”  Maybe you think it is a great way for the employer to get to know you.  Unfortunately, the reason for not including your photo on your resume is quite simply, we don’t do that here.  Including your picture creates a red flag for employers.  It warns them that you do not understand the workplace culture in North America.  It suggests that you will not fit into their company.  As an immigrant new to Canada or the United States, the lasting you want is to suggest to a prospective employer that you won’t fit in.  So if you want to learn how to get a job in the USA or Canada, don’t include your photo in your resume.

Physical Health

Again, many immigrants include their physical conditioning or physical health in their job application.  This is perfectly acceptable for jobs that have physical requirement, physical labor jobs where there is lifting, walking, prolonged standing.  However, in office jobs or in jobs that do not have a significant physical demand you should not include information about your physical health.  Again, we do not need to know about your perfect blood pressure, cholesterol level, flexibility, strength or stamina.  A decent employer will have you pass a physical or complete a physical test if there is a physical requirement in your job.  Once again, if you want to get a job in Canada or the US, including this information highlights your unfamiliarity with working in Canada and the US.

Religion, Marital Status, Family Status, And So On

Basically here is the same as what I just mentioned above.  In some parts of the world, it is common practice to include information such as religion, marital status, family status, and so on.  In fact, in some countries, often job interviews begin with the interviewer asking you if you are married or whether you go to church?  However, in Canada and the United States employers are not allowed to ask these questions.  There are laws to protect workers from discrimination based on these grounds.  When you include this kind of information it suggests to an employer that you do not understand the workplace in North America.

The Importance Of Fitting In

The last few paragraphs I have highlighted the common mistakes made by most immigrants went up line for work.  An important message is to shown employer that you can fit into their workplace.  I’m not saying that you should abandon your own culture or what you bring that is you need to the job.  Not at all, in fact, is very important that you show an employer how you are unique and what unique skills that you bring to the job that the are looking for.  What I’m saying is you need to acknowledge that as a job applicant new to North America with no work experience in the United States or Canada that you need to overcome some obstacles.  Whether or not have inaccurate preconceived notions about immigrant workers is not the message here.  The main point is you need to show an employer that you can fit in easily and quickly.  You need to prove that you will learn the job and fit into the company just as fast if not faster than another local candidate.  So what is the secret to getting a job in the USA and Canada for immigrants?  I have conducted thousands of interviews and the main reason people don’t  get a job:  the hiring manager didn’t feel like they would fit in.  So make sure that your resume is written in a way that aligns with common practice here in Canada and the US.  There are many resume examples here at greatresumeexample.com, feel free to use any of our resume samples as templates for your next job application.