As a Chief Instructor I receive loads of CV's from potential new candidates the tips below will ensure your get noticed and not filed in the bin.
- Most overseas operations employ staff without ever meeting candidates so your CV is your only chance to shine, so make sure it is well laid out and does not contain mistakes. Is it in a file format that as many people as possible can open? PDF is ideal or a link to cloud storage such as Google documents.
- Always include a colour photograph of yourself so the employer can put a name to a face. It should show you in your best light, being well groomed and ideally taking part in the activity you teach. Nobody wants to see a picture of you drunk with your mates, this is not Facebook.
- Keep it brief, generally people are short on time, two pages is plenty, keep the information relevant to your chosen career.
- Qualifications are really important, it is worth sending colour scans so the employer can verify were you did courses and that they are still in date.
- Employers are taking a gamble flying you overseas, they are looking for people who complete contracts and do not change jobs every three months. Make sure that your references and their contact details are up to date.
- Send a covering letter that is specific to the job you are applying for, explain why you think you are the best candidate and what your future career plans are. If you are currently working it is worth noting when you will be available to start.
- Do your research, if you are lucky the employer may arrange to call you, make sure you have studied the website or spoken to people who can give you information about the job.
- Jump the Queue, a couple of days after sending your CV try and phone up the organization and ask to talk to the person in charge of recruitment. This shows you are keen, confident and proactive
- Send lots of CV's and if you get rejected for an application try and find out why and learn from the experience, it's often just luck and persistence.
Good luck and happy hunting
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