The first step in a job search is to prepare a well-written resume. What should one include in a resume without work experience? What are the perspectives of human resources (HR) in Taiwan on resumes? How can one craft a resume that captures their attention? We’ve addressed all your questions and concerns, so take a look at the strategies we’ve prepared for you! The following fields are mandatory and use 104 Job Bank’s resume format as an example.
※This article references “Analysis and Examples of 104 Resume Templates” from 104 Job Bank to outline key points for effective resume writing.
Table of Contents (Click on the links to jump to the corresponding section)
- Access the 104 Online Resume
- Steps and Key Points for Resume Writing (Resume Sections 1-7)
- Download Resume Templates
- International Student Resume FAQs
- Free Online Resources
First Steps in Resume Writing
The first step for international students job hunting in Taiwan is to log in to the 104 Member Center and complete the online resume (attach the link to the Member Center resume). Once the resume is completed, you can immediately apply for your desired position in the 104 Foreign Talent section!
Section 1: Personal Information
- The resume should clearly present essential information, including the candidate’s name, contact details (telephone and email), and links to LinkedIn or other professional websites. If you are open to direct contact from HR via email or phone, you may also include that information.
- A one-minute self-introduction may be included at the beginning of the resume to highlight personal strengths, facilitating a quicker understanding for HR. For example: “During my time at school, I gained internship experience, excelled in multilingual communication, and adapted well to a multicultural work environment.”
Section 2: Resume Photo, Headshot
According to a survey conducted by the 104 Job Bank, including an appropriate photo on a resume can lead to a threefold increase in interview opportunities. Resume photos influence HR’s first impression of a candidate, so we recommend adding a photo to improve interview prospects. Make sure that it aligns with local culture and industry standards, while staying neat and professional. What type of photo is suitable for a resume? Here are some suggestions:
- Attire and Appearance: It’s not necessary to wear a formal suit or adhere to passport photo specifications; a solid-colored top can also appear natural, approachable, and convey confidence.
- Clear Background: The background should be simple and clean, minimizing excessive clutter or distractions from the visual focus. A monochrome or light-colored background is best.
- Front Photo: The photograph should be a front-facing, smiling portrait that conveys a natural, approachable demeanor.
- Clear Image: Photographs must be clear and free from blurriness or excessive compression. The resolution should be sufficiently high, and excessive retouching should be avoided.
- Appropriate Lighting: Opt for natural light sources or soft artificial lighting, while avoiding shadows and strong reflections.
Section 3: Education
- For educational experience, include a maximum of two to three higher education qualifications, listed in descending order of level and recency (e.g. graduate school, university). Expatriates are recommended to emphasize the country of origin for educational qualifications as well as institution names, and to list subjects or courses relevant to the position.
- If you are a recent graduate, you can emphasize any honors or awards you’ve received to increase your competitiveness. For instance, you may include details such as a major in Marketing, a minor in AI, or any competition awards and event experience.
Section 4: Work Experience
- For expatriates working in Taiwan, you should emphasize not only your professional skills and achievements, but also your multinational work experience and multicultural background. These experiences showcase your cross-cultural communication abilities, which are especially valuable to global companies or enterprises involved in international collaboration. For each job you list, make sure to include the company name, job title, job category, and work location.
- Recent international graduates may include internship experience in the work experience section, highlighting the applicability of this experience and their academic field of study in the workplace.
Section 5: Job Search Criteria
Job search criteria enables human resources to quickly understand your anticipated job conditions and the types of positions you seek. How should you specify your expected salary and desired position?
- Working Conditions: This encompasses full-time, part-time, or internship positions, work hours, willingness to accept shift work, available workdays, desired compensation, and work location.
- Expected Salary: If you have a desired salary range, list it truthfully. Alternatively, you may indicate “as per company policy” or “negotiable.”
- Job Type: Divided into two categories: “Desired Job Title” and “Desired Job Category.”
- Desired Job Title: The job description should align with the company’s recruitment criteria.
- Desired Job Category: If you select more than one category, the nature of these positions should not vary widely. Otherwise, the company may view you as indecisive, which leaves a negative impression!
Section 6: Skills and Expertise/Certifications/Language Proficiency
This section includes an individual’s “Skills and Expertise,” “Professional Certifications,” and “Language Proficiency.” As an expatriate, you can highlight your existing professional knowledge and skills while also emphasizing your adaptability in cross-cultural environments and your linguistic advantages. For the following, prioritize skills and expertise relevant to the position you are applying to:
- Skills and Expertise/Professional Certifications: Outline your skills and competencies according to the company’s job requirements. Recent graduates may highlight their academic achievements or professional certifications acquired during part-time employment, rather than listing desired skills they do not possess.
- Language Proficiency: Based on applications on 104, foreign nationals who can demonstrate Chinese proficiency or provide certification of their Chinese language ability receive 1.4 times more invitations for corporate interviews. Including results from the TOCFL or any other Chinese language certification, along with documented hours of Chinese language study, further enhances an application. Candidates who possess proficiency in English or other foreign languages are also encouraged to indicate this or provide relevant language test scores and certifications.
Section 7: Project Achievements/Portfolio
While recent graduates may lack work experience, they can highlight theses, internship experience, part-time employment, club activities, honors and achievements, volunteer work, and relevant coursework. A diverse range of learning experiences can also help companies and HR to quickly get to know you.
How should project achievements be presented?
- Use bullet points and present results through numerical data (or customer testimonials and contributions from schools and organizations).
- Summarize the key highlights of an attached portfolio in the “Project Achievements” section to make sure that it is not overlooked during a company’s expedited screening process.
Four Types of Resume Templates
| Identity | Resume Templates/Downloads |
| Recent graduate | Recent graduate template |
| Part-time worker | Part-time template |
| Intern | Intern template |
| Full-time worker | Full-time template |
International Student Resume FAQs
- How should international students write their resumes to increase the chance of an interview? see more＞
- What should international students graduating from a Taiwanese university do if they wish to find employment and remain in Taiwan, yet aren’t receiving any responses to their job applications? see more＞
- When seeking employment after graduation, can international students omit their special status from resumes? see more＞
Free Online Resources
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