Part - I

In the American market, your resume and job interview needs to both SHOW and TELL your qualifications as visually as possible. It's your job to give energy to your resume and make your skills come alive in the mind of an employer.

As a foreign applicant, you are automatically at a perceived disadvantage as there are many Americans with the same qualifications and experience who are acclimatized to the US workplace ethos, ready to be hired - today. That's why you need to counterbalance this prejudice: to prove yourself, your worth, and that you are worth waiting for.

Think about a job you really want and how you would show that you are right for the job. How you would tell your story? Here are some tips: -

"SHOW" YOU CARE: You must know everything you possibly can about the company BEFORE you apply. Do your homework. Most companies today have a corporate website with the details of the business's history, philosophy, product lines, achievements and marketing focus. Read through the entire website and tailor your resume and cover letter to the strengths, pride and products of the company. What do you see as their short and long-term goals? These are answers that employers love to see and hear - that you've actually put some thought and research into their business. SHOW them that you understand their firm and care enough to think about their needs; and think about how you can help their product or trade lines for them by hiring you. Make your case!

"TELL" THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR: Your resume and cover letter must be the best possible presentation you can make. A cover letter's primary purpose is to act as an employer's introduction to your resume, and to you. SHOW and TELL them why they should even consider you - especially since you are so far away from America.

• Your cover letter should have a subtle yet strong selling message - a point-by-point detail that tells the American employer that, by hiring you, they'll benefit from your previous successes and experiences.

• You must use American expressions and terminology. Use statistics and measurements that show what you were able to achieve for former employers.

• Appeal to their interests, but don't use the cover letter to criticize their business model. Instead, show how you would complement their company's goals and ideals.

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* Sacha DeVoretz is a North American-based career consultant, author and educator. She is also an active member of the National Employment Counseling Association - USA. For detailed information and insider tips for getting a job in America, please visit Ms. DeVoretz's website at www.americajobnet.com