Back to Resources

Resume Writing Tips for OFWs

How to create a professional resume that gets noticed by international employers

Your resume is your first impression to employers. A well-crafted resume can open doors to international opportunities, while a poorly written one will be discarded in seconds. This guide will help you create a professional, ATS-friendly resume that showcases your skills and experience effectively.

ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Friendly

Many employers use ATS software to scan resumes before humans see them. Keep formatting simple, use standard section headings, include keywords from job posting, and avoid tables/graphics that confuse ATS systems.

Essential Resume Sections

Personal Information

Must Have

  • Full name (as in passport)
  • Professional email address
  • Active phone number (+63 format)
  • Current address in Philippines
  • LinkedIn profile (if applicable)

Avoid

  • Photo (unless required by country)
  • Age, birthday, or gender
  • Marital status or number of children
  • Religion or political affiliation
  • Unprofessional email (e.g., cutiepie@email.com)

Pro Tip: Use a professional email: firstname.lastname@gmail.com format works best.

Professional Summary/Objective

Must Have

  • 2-3 sentences about your qualifications
  • Key skills relevant to the job
  • Years of experience
  • Career goal matching the position

Avoid

  • Generic statements ("seeking opportunity")
  • Copying from templates word-for-word
  • Long paragraphs (keep it brief)
  • Salary expectations

Pro Tip: Tailor this section for each job application. Mention the specific position you're applying for.

Work Experience

Must Have

  • Job title and company name
  • Employment dates (month/year format)
  • Specific responsibilities and achievements
  • Quantified results (e.g., "Managed team of 5")
  • Most recent job first (reverse chronological)

Avoid

  • Duties without achievements
  • Every job since age 16 (last 10 years is enough)
  • Unexplained gaps in employment
  • Lies or exaggerations

Pro Tip: Use action verbs: Managed, Coordinated, Achieved, Implemented, Improved.

Education

Must Have

  • Degree/diploma title
  • School/university name
  • Graduation year
  • Honors or distinctions (if any)

Avoid

  • Elementary/high school (if you have college degree)
  • GPA below 3.0 (better to omit)
  • Incomplete degrees (unless relevant)
  • Too much detail on coursework

Pro Tip: List most recent education first. Include relevant certifications here.

Skills

Must Have

  • Technical skills relevant to job
  • Language proficiency (English, Arabic, etc.)
  • Software/tools you can use
  • Certifications (TESDA, NCII, etc.)

Avoid

  • Obvious skills ("Microsoft Word")
  • Skills you don't actually have
  • Rating yourself (e.g., "Expert")
  • Soft skills ("hard-working, team player")

Pro Tip: Match skills to job posting keywords. Be specific: "Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP)" not just "Excel".

Formatting Guidelines

Length

1-2 pages maximum

Recruiters spend 6-10 seconds scanning resumes. Keep it concise.

Font

Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, size 10-12

Professional, easy to read, ATS-friendly.

Margins

0.5-1 inch on all sides

Clean look, easy to print, space for notes.

File Format

PDF preferred (unless employer asks for Word)

Preserves formatting, looks professional.

Filename

YourName_Resume.pdf

Easy for recruiters to find and organize.

OFW-Specific Resume Tips

Highlight International Experience

If you've worked abroad before, emphasize countries, cultural adaptability, and successful contract completion.

Language Skills

List all languages and proficiency level (Basic, Intermediate, Fluent). English proficiency is crucial.

Include Relevant Certifications

TESDA certifications, NCII, caregiver training, medical licenses - all very important for OFWs.

Address Employment Gaps

If gap was for family care or health, briefly mention it positively (e.g., "Family care responsibilities").

Use International Date Format

Use Month/Year format (e.g., "Jan 2020 - Dec 2022") which is understood globally.

Adapt to Country Norms

Some Middle Eastern countries expect photo + personal details. Research destination country expectations.

Powerful Action Verbs

Start bullet points with strong action verbs to make your achievements stand out:

Management

LedSupervisedCoordinatedDirectedManagedOversaw

Achievement

AchievedExceededImprovedIncreasedReducedStreamlined

Communication

PresentedNegotiatedCollaboratedLiaisedFacilitated

Technical

DevelopedImplementedProgrammedDesignedEngineeredConfigured

Creative

CreatedDesignedConceptualizedProducedIllustrated

Helping

AssistedSupportedCared forCounseledMentoredGuided

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Typos and Grammar Errors

Impact: Instant rejection - shows carelessness

Fix: Proofread 3+ times. Use Grammarly. Ask friend to review.

Using Same Resume for All Jobs

Impact: Doesn't match job requirements

Fix: Customize for each application. Match keywords from job posting.

Including References on Resume

Impact: Wastes valuable space

Fix: Write "References available upon request" or omit entirely.

Listing Job Duties Instead of Achievements

Impact: Doesn't show your value or impact

Fix: Use numbers: "Increased sales 20%" not "Responsible for sales".

Unprofessional Email Address

Impact: Looks immature and unprofessional

Fix: Create professional email: firstname.lastname@gmail.com

Missing Contact Information

Impact: Employer can't reach you

Fix: Double-check phone number and email work correctly.

Too Much or Too Little Information

Impact: 5-page resume = ignored. Half-page = not enough info

Fix: 1-2 pages. Include relevant experience from last 10 years.

Sample Resume Structure

JUAN DELA CRUZ

Manila, Philippines | +63-917-123-4567 | juan.delacruz@email.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juandelacruz

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Experienced Registered Nurse with 5+ years in critical care. Skilled in patient assessment, emergency response, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Seeking nursing position in UAE.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Staff Nurse - ICU | Manila General Hospital | Jan 2019 - Present

  • Provided critical care to 10-15 patients daily in 20-bed ICU
  • Achieved 98% patient satisfaction score (hospital average: 92%)
  • Trained 12 new nurses in ICU protocols and procedures

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Nursing | University of Santo Tomas | 2018

Cum Laude, Dean's List (2016-2018)

SKILLS

Critical Care | Patient Assessment | BLS, ACLS Certified | Electronic Medical Records | English (Fluent) | Arabic (Basic)

CERTIFICATIONS

• Philippine Registered Nurse License (PRC) - Valid
• Basic Life Support (BLS) - Expires Dec 2025
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - Expires Jun 2025

This is a simplified example. Actual resume should be properly formatted in Word/PDF.

Final Resume Checklist

Ready to Apply?

Browse available jobs and submit your polished resume

Browse JobsInterview Preparation