Differences between German and American resumes

[RainyDays 2,453]

 

We've been wondering what would have set them off - perhaps the long CV had something to do with it?

 

A 6 pages CV definitely doesn't work in someone's favour. I think the consensus is a length between 1 (for young applicants) and 3 pages, see e.g. here: "Ein Leben auf zwei Seiten", Die Zeit, 19 Oct. 2009:

 

 

Mehr als zwei bis drei Seiten sollte ein Lebenslauf bei einem Bewerber mit einigen Berufsjahren Erfahrung nicht umfassen. Das Layout sollte eine Schriftgröße von minimal Punkt zehn verwenden und genügend Weißraum lassen.

(For a candidate with several years of professional experience, the CV shouldn't surpass 2 to 3 pages. Use a font size of minimum 10p and leave enough white space.)

 

If the CV is too detailed, the reader easily loses track of the really important points, and it might make the applicant appear too self-centered.

[Danizand 4]

 

We've been wondering what would have set them off - perhaps the long CV had something to do with it?

Wow Why would they invite someone, just to sort of insult them

 

Too detailed may be something I can work with My CV may be 2 pages...but rammed with info :x

[Lifeisabuffet 483]

 

Very interesting to read - thank you for that. My most recent German teacher assured us the CV had to be long and freaked out when i showed my one page Aussie version.

 

My wife recently applied for a job and had her application professionally done - and her CV topped out at 6 pages long. When she went to the interview (a deputy principal position for an international German school), she said the interview panel were openly hostile and argumentative, refused to look her in the face, showed no interest whatsoever in her or her qualifications/experience and questioned her on one topic only for the duration of the interview. One person on the panel just stood staring out the widow for 30 minutes!

 

We've been wondering what would have set them off - perhaps the long CV had something to do with it?

 

It has nothing to do with the CV. Most possibly your wife was overqualified and it pissed some people off. They were simply jealous of her.

Good thing she did not end up working there, they would end up mobbing her 24/7. Think about it. If her CV was wack why invite her. I am sure

some people won't like the following comment but some German employers get highly jealous and pissed if an Auslaender is better than them.

[rockfisher 1,261]

 

I feel the same as Chat Noir. Was thinking about taking the leap, and now I will do it. So you guys take care and I'll see you guys probably in May.

 

Good to see you're a woman of your convictions, LIAB..

[tokeshu 779]

 

It has nothing to do with the CV. Most possibly your wife was overqualified and it pissed some people off. They were simply jealous of her.

Good thing she did not end up working there, they would end up mobbing her 24/7. Think about it. If her CV was wack why invite her. I am sure

some people won't like the following comment but some German employers get highly jealous and pissed if an Auslaender is better than them.

 

She's actually German (and we haven't yet heard if she's been successful or not).

 

It really sounded like a very strange interview. She was told by the admin assistant that a couple of candidates didn't show up - so the only way we've been able to rationalise the experience was that they were a group of public servants who had to sit around all day a few days before Christmas, when they perhaps could have been out at Christmas parties instead! From what she said, none of them seemed to have any idea about the position itself, and didn't want to know anything about her or her experience. It was a "just answer the questions" type of thing.

 

Strange, but the longer I'm here, the less I'm surprised by bureaucratic weirdness.

[Joe 466]

 

Very interesting to read - thank you for that. My most recent German teacher assured us the CV had to be long and freaked out when i showed my one page Aussie version.

 

My wife recently applied for a job and had her application professionally done - and her CV topped out at 6 pages long. When she went to the interview (a deputy principal position for an international German school), she said the interview panel were openly hostile and argumentative, refused to look her in the face, showed no interest whatsoever in her or her qualifications/experience and questioned her on one topic only for the duration of the interview. One person on the panel just stood staring out the widow for 30 minutes!

 

We've been wondering what would have set them off - perhaps the long CV had something to do with it?

 

The positive is that the CV did its job in that it got your wife an interview.

 

However I would be thinking if they are such A..s at an interview, they will be 100X worse as colleagues or bosses - taking that job should be a last resort because it will only make your wife ill.

 

One thing I would say is that you need lots of practice at interviews and dealing with questions etc. I would guess-imate it at around 4-5 interviews before you are 'fit', practicing really helps.

 

Some industries are also just confrontational in their styles, I would say particularly stuff with an academic bent here.

[Lyra 507]

I once went for an interview where one of the interviewers turned up nearly an hour late and then slept through half of the interview! At one point she was snoring loudly and the other two interviewers looked extremely uncomfortable, but obviously didn't dare do anything about it (I gathered that she was senior to them). Then she woke up with a start and proceeded to ask a string of questions about a technical area I had no knowledge of, finishing off with "Well, it's clear you know nothing about this area." Me "Well no, because it's not a requirement and it's got absolutely nothing to do with the job you're interviewing me for." Turned out she'd got her interviews mixed up.

 

They offered me the job, but after some discreet enquiries I found out that I'd be working in this woman's area. I turned it down. :D

[jabez 2]

Quick question to whoever is reading.

 

Do you think it is necessary to put your high school information if you finished over 10 years ago and have been working ever since? I have never put it on before but am not sure with Germany

[PLS 914]

I was told to do so by several people. I have been out high school for 15 years and I have advanced degrees, but I was told they think you are trying to hide something if you don't put on here.

[john g. 37,776]

I had to provide a resumé/CV last year for a three day seminar I ran for Airbus! I was 60 at the time! I sent them the works - including my "O" and "A " Levels from school in the 1960´s!!! I refused to waste time and money on a photo and referred them to our website

 

PS: Airbus, whom I´ve had seminar dealings with since c. 1990!!! New department boss to satisfy...sigh.