I am a mid-career professional who has worked in South Korea for a decade. Now, however, I would like to return to Canada to work. Having a family, of course I would like to line up a new job to go home to before I arrive. However, after six months of applying to jobs in my field over the internet, many of which I am exactly or even over-qualified for, I have not received any feedback or calls for a resume. My cover letter contains this paragraph near the end:
"As my resume shows, I am a Canadian working in South Korea; I have now decided to return with my family to Canada permanently, and am very interested in matching my skills to your organization. Although I am currently residing outside Canada I can interview on a week's notice and be ready for work two to three weeks following a job offer."A friend of mine commented: "I think as soon as they see the South Korea address on your resume/cover letter, they throw it away. If I were them, I would feel like I was almost obligated to give you the job if you came for an interview from so far away."
My questions are:
1. Do you think my friend is correct in his explanation of why no employer has replied to me?
2. Do you have any suggestions of how the above paragraph could be made more "don't be shy to call me for an interview" -ish?
Thank you for your blog, and any advice you can give me.
-- Hugh
Job Loungers, let's hear what you think about Hugh's cover letter and your advice for his long-distance job search. Click "comments" below, and type away.
3 comments:
So, uh, do you not answer anyone's questions here? The readers are supposed to?
This is a community of job seekers and job search experts. If a job seeker has a question, he or she can email it to me (joblounge@aol.com). The question gets posted in the Job Lounge and anyone, including myself, can answer the question. You'd be surprised how much fellow job seekers can help each other with great ideas, advice, and job leads.
Hugh, do you have an address (even a friend's or family member's) in Canada that you could put on your resume and cover letter along with your address in South Korea? That would show the employer that you have "roots" in Canda, which might make it more inviting for an employer to ask you to an interview.
You might also mention in your letter that you travel to Canada from time to time, indicating that you don't expect the employer to pay for your trip (if, in fact, you don't have that expectation.)
Good luck with your transition. Please let us know how it works out.
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