CV Advice for the Irish Market

CV formats differ throughout the world and it is important to tailor your CV to the needs and expectations of the employer in the country in which you are seeking work.

If you are applying to the Irish market, you are expected to identify relevant skills for a job vacancy and provide examples of how you are developing those skills. This requires more than just a list of your academic qualifications and experience.

It may help to view your CV as a marketing tool which will help convince the employer to notice you. In this sense, you are the product and must market yourself in the best possible light.

• Top tips for international students: CV Content
• Top tips for international students: CV Language and Style
• Sample international student CV

 

Top tips for international students: CV Content

• In Personal Details, you many want to include your nationality. There is no need to include your marital status or religion.
• Include your work permission status, if applicable e.g. “Eligible to work under Third Level Graduate Scheme, with possibility of extension.”
• For your educational qualifications, give the Irish equivalent if possible (e.g. “equivalent to Irish 2.1” or “equivalent to Irish Leaving Certificate standard”). See the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland to check equivalence of qualifications.
• Draw attention to any additional skills you have which might make your application stand out, e.g. language skills, technical or IT skills, statistical packages used, instruments used, etc.
• There is no need to include degree certificates, official academic transcripts or a photo with your CV.

Top tips for international students: CV Language and Style

• Use your CV to present yourself in the best possible light to employers but be honest at all times.
• Use examples to provide evidence for your skills and qualities.
• Spelling and grammar – ask your Irish friends or colleagues to look over your CV.
• Write in third person, not ‘I’ or ‘My’
• Phrasing should be direct, to the point, and persuasive – ask your Irish friends or colleagues to look.
• Try not to use the dictionary or thesaurus too much… it must be natural.
• Use action words: e.g. Led, Managed, Analysed, Initiated…
• Use positive language – don’t undervalue your experience.

Please go to our CV section to find out in detail about Irish CV formats, taking into account the top tips above.

Click on this link to view a sample International student CV.

If you need assistance with your CV book a place on one of our CV workshops for international students or you can make an appointment with your Careers Adviser for a CV review.