If you’re applying for education or a job, you’re aware of the importance of constantly improving your resume or CV to land the job! However, with COVID making work and travel challenges, how do you gain new experiences that will stand out on your resume?
The first step is to be aware of the differences between applying for a job and creating a CV.
CV refers to the Latin word “curriculum vitae,” meaning “course of life.” CVs usually range from three to ten pages ( for those who are students, it might not be that lengthy) and contain all the details regarding your professional and academic experience, as well as any other awards, achievements, and other projects.
A resume typically consists of about one to two pages and only contains specific details about the job you’re applying for. For instance, on a job application for a position as a graphic designer, you should only list relevant work in the field on your resume, for example, your projects in design, past design work, or classes you completed at the school.
If you’re applying to one of the Chinese universities, make sure you read our comprehensive guide on this page.
Here’s an overview of the four ways you can enhance your resume and CV at home, and for no cost!
1. Learn new skills on the internet.
Numerous online platforms allow you to learn something new, such as programming, data science, statistics, marketing, or even psychology, with no-cost online courses offered by the top universities, including Chinese universities such as Peking University! Coursera, Mooc.org, and EdX are among the top, but there is a chance that you will have to pay a fee to get a course certificate. For a refresher on high school-level math and language before taking an exam, you can check out Khan Academy. Udemy offers courses that are an excellent resource for design and technology. Many methods are available for purchase; these are free.
2. Discover a different language
If you’re applying to a university, internship, or job in China, studying Chinese will significantly enhance your credentials and improve your chances of being accepted. Please look at our guide to the best ways to learn Chinese and the most effective programs to master Chinese. On this page, there are also cheap classes that are affordable for you. If you are looking to prove your Chinese proficiency, you can find more details about HSK here. Good command of Chinese, English, or any other language will significantly improve your resume. Everybody is looking for applicants who are bilingual or trilingual! Take a look at free applications like Duolingo, Bluebird, and Memrise.
You can take an online course at a Chinese university.
Each week, China Admissions presents free web-based webinars and online courses that help you learn new techniques and concepts about China. You can find the entire series right here.
This is an overview of the best online courses scheduled for the spring and winter!
4. Get published as an author.
It’s not as complex as it appears! If you’ve been to the Chinese school, China Admissions is looking for writers similar to you to share their experiences learning Chinese or other subjects at the Chinese university. Writing your own story online is not just a great way to look at your resume or CV. However, it can increase your exposure to employers who may be interested! Could you find out more about it here?
5. Volunteer
Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to your community while adding work experience to your resume. Thru volunteering, you’ll improve your teamwork skills, people skills, and problem-solving skills, as well as fundraising and logistics skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the social environment and ways to resolve social issues.
- Try VolunteerMatch to find a charity if you live in the United States. Try the United Way and Do Something.
- In the UK, use Do-it.org.
- Check out Volunteering India, GivingWay, or Volunteer for India in India.