Writing a Resume for Jobs Abroad: What to Change From Your Thai Version
What to change when taking a Thai resume abroad: personal details, photos, explaining companies and degrees, and clear English.
You find a job in Singapore, Australia or a European company hiring from Thailand, and immediately translate your Thai resume into English and send it: photo in the top right, date of birth, height, marital status and Thai company names nobody abroad has heard of. What the reader sees may not be your ability but an unfamiliar document. Adapting your resume to the destination country's norms matters as much as the content.
How an overseas resume differs from a Thai one
Many Thai resumes still include a lot of personal information, while many countries focus on reducing bias in hiring and want to see job-related achievements first. Readers also don't know Thai companies, universities or market context, so you need to explain more.
Personal details and photos
Norms vary by country. For example, Chemistry World advises that CVs for the US and UK should not include details such as date of birth and marital status, while in Germany a photo is usually expected.
- Include: name, email, phone with country code, city and country, LinkedIn or portfolio link.
- Depends on the country: photo, nationality.
- Usually leave out: height, weight, religion, ID number, full address.
The best approach is to check sample resumes or advice from job sites and career organisations in that country directly.
Explain the Thai context
Companies people don't know
Add a one-line description under the company name, such as "One of Thailand's leading home improvement retailers with nationwide stores" or "Thai fintech startup serving SME lenders," so readers grasp the size and industry.
Degrees and grades
Write degree names in standard English, such as Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing. Include your GPA only if it's a strength, and state the scale clearly, such as GPA 3.45/4.00.
Numbers and currency
When mentioning budgets or sales, use growth percentages, or convert to a currency the reader knows and note it's an estimate.
Work rights and visas
Overseas employers want to know early whether you need visa sponsorship. Add one line under your contact details, such as "Thai citizen, requires visa sponsorship" or "Available to relocate from March." Being upfront saves both sides time. Visa rules change, so always check the destination government's official website.
Length and layout
Chemistry World notes that a typical CV in the US and UK runs to about two pages, with academic CVs longer. Use a readable font, clear headings and list experience from most recent to oldest, the format most readers expect.
Clear, readable English
- Start bullets with verbs such as Led, Built, Reduced, Launched.
- Keep sentences short and direct, without fancy words.
- Use one variety of English throughout. For the UK or Australia, use British spelling.
- Ask a strong English speaker to proofread, or use a grammar tool, then check again yourself.
Watch out for
- Literal translations from Thai. Some job titles need to match what that market calls them.
- Sending Word files where Thai fonts render badly. Use PDF.
- Agencies charging fees to guarantee an overseas job. Verify them carefully before paying or sending personal documents.
An overseas resume has to answer two questions for a stranger: what you can do, and how big your past work was.
How to start
- Pick 1 or 2 target countries and study their resume norms.
- Remove unnecessary personal details from your Thai version.
- Add descriptions of companies, degrees and your visa status.
- Rewrite achievement bullets in short, clear English.
- Get it proofread, then tailor it to each job ad.
If you're unsure whether you need a resume or a CV, read the difference between a resume and a CV, and prepare for the interview with English job interview preparation. Once drafted, check language and structure in Resume Lab.