CVs
CVs in Taiwan are fairly similar to the ones that you will have written back home, using a simple layout with clear language is the standard format.
Format
It may sound like common sense to you, but addressing your future employer by their title i.e. Principal, President or Doctor etc followed by their surname is crucial. Additionally, surnames in Taiwan are normally written before christian names (e.g Mr Lee Yang-Shu would mean the surname is Lee).
When writing your CV, make sure you ask yourself the following questions:
What is the objective of my CV?
- Have you presented yourself in the positive light that you want to come across?
- Is your CV readable and have you gotten across your points clearly?
- Put yourself in your employers shoes, would you give yourself an interview?
Who am I presenting my CV to?
Do bear in mind that if applying for a job at a large company, your CV will pass through the Human Resources department first. This means that on the first round, a company will usually look for the requirements such as qualifications and experience first rather than the stylistics of your CV.
Therefore, it is essential that your CV reads clearly as you may have all the requirements, but if your CV is illegible, it will instantly be dismissed.
The next stage
If the Human Resources team has put you through to the next stage, an employer will then favour your application if it stands out.
You can make your application stand out by using the following techniques:
- Make sure contact details such as your name, address and phone number are clearly marked at the top of your CV.
- Make sure your CV is printed on high quality paper.
- Ensure the font you are using is clear.
- CVs should only be 2 pages in length.
- Label each section of your CV, e.g. Education, Work Experience.
- Work and Education should be listed chronologically, starting with the most recent first.
- Make sure there are no spelling errors in your CV, you can avoid this by having someone else proofread it. If you are writing the application in Taiwanese or Mandarin and you are not a native speaker, it may be a good idea to use a professional translator.
Click on the link for more information on writing a CV in Asia .