Overseas careers sound like an adventure to many people. However, work in Italy needs more than just the obvious Italian cover letter and Italian CV writing and translation – it requires methodical preparation for the Italy job interview. You will face issues that probably did not even cross your mind when you become interested in jobs in Italy.
Do not underestimate the influence an Italy CV can have on your adventure! For instance, you will experience the different immigration rules and practices, job application procedures, selection trends and the management culture.
A CV is similar to a resume in that it provides more details about one’s professional qualifications, experience and education. However, the term “Curriculum Vitae” most often called CV, typically carries a different meaning depending on whether one distributes the CV within the US, Canada or internationally (external to the US or Canada) or is seeking a faculty, academic, research, clinical or scientific position.
You can turn your current resume into a CV. A CV is similar to a resume in that it outlines your professional qualifications and history, but it does so with more detail by adding to the resume the detailed descriptions of your educational and/or professional experiences and personal information that may include nationality, date of birth, marital status, etc.
English is quite common in business. Choose between Italian and English for the cover letter and CV, and stick to one language once chosen. Nevertheless, you need to understand that not knowing the Italian will put you at a real disadvantage from the local job seekers.
There are no strict rules for a CV in Italy, but it should be no longer than two pages in chronological order – starting with your first job and ending with your most recent position. However, Italian CVs of four or five pages are quite common.
The aim of your Italy CV should be to persuade recruiters to invite you for a job interview. Therefore, your CV is a marketing tool, which you should adapt to the market in which you intend to use it.
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Briefly mention your motivation and qualities for the job in the cover letter, not in your CV
Begin your Italy CV with “Personal Details”. Include your name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, nationality, civil status and children. Often CVs are kept on file for long periods, so any contact details you give have to remain accurate in the long term. A daytime phone number with an international access code and e-mail address are most important.
Follow with “Education”. Beginning with the most recent, list schools attended, from secondary through university, with their names, locations, dates of attendance, study emphases, grades and degrees. Also briefly describe your extracurricular activities, awards/honours and additional specialized training. Especially describe knowledge of Italian and other languages with reference to the spoken and written levels.
Next list your “Work Experience”. Starting with your most recent job, give the name, location and focus of each company. Then list your job titles, responsibilities and dates of employment. Highlight relevant activities, such as international projects, team leadership and budget development. Explain any gaps in employment.
Make your Italy CV more effective, at the end of this section list outstanding business-related accomplishments. Use power words and action verbs such as contributed, organized, trained, managed, developed, coordinated etc. Bullet points these at the start of a sentence for maximum impact. Where possible, mention the number of employees for which you were responsible. Provide examples that fit the job, to illustrate your achievements. Add special skills such as computer programs in which you are proficient and volunteer services.
Finally, close your CV with “References available on request”. It is best to avoid putting references on your CV unless you have been specifically asked to provide them. Employers usually ask for references when they actually need them. This is a strong indication that an employer is interested in you.
Do not send copies of diplomas and references with your CV – bring them for the interview. Because references are usually verified, inform your referees in advance.
If you are a man, clearly indicate whether or not you have fulfilled your military service. Hobbies are rarely mentioned and a photo is not usually requested.
Carefully consider what to leave out of your CV and exclude anything that might give prospective employers a chance to discriminate against you.
According to Italian law 675/96, you must grant permission for the use of your personal data. Add a note citing this law, along with your signature, on the original CV.
It is more common in Italy to apply for a job through the Internet. However, you should be aware that an electronic CV does not look the same as a standard CV. CVs are often scanned by Italian employers, so make your CV scannable by avoiding for example lines or italic fonts etc.
The recruitment process in Italy tends to be long, up to three months, so check carefully what kind of delay to expect for a response.
Check the spelling and grammar of your Italy CV. Use the word processor’s spell and grammar checker. If you are not confident of your ability to detect grammatical, punctuation and language usage errors in Italian or other languages or if you need help in organizing your CV, send it to a professional for assistance.
Remember that your CV must be targeted, scannable and generate hits. If you have difficulty with your CV writing instead of staring at a blank piece of paper, use CV samples and CV templates.
Most recruiters expect to receive a cover letter together with your CV. So, prepare a cover letter convincing the reader why you are the best candidate for the interview using cover letter writing tips.
