Philippines CV and resume guidance – Page 2

Bring several printed copies of a one-page or two-page resume, plus a ready answer about the role you want. Job fairs often gather many employers in one place, and recruiters may do quick screenings on the spot.

Checklist:

• Five to ten copies of your resume on clean paper, in a folder so they do not crease.
• A pen and a list of companies you plan to visit.
• A tailored version for each main type of role, if you are applying to different fields.
• Photocopies of your diploma, transcript or licence if the fair notice asks for them.

Dress neatly and be ready for a short interview. Write down the names of recruiters you speak with for follow-up.

Present it as normal work experience with the country, employer, title and achievements, and connect it to the local role. Overseas experience is valued by many Filipino employers, especially in hospitality, healthcare, construction, engineering and customer service.

Tips:

• Name the employer and city abroad, and describe the company type if it is unknown locally.
• Highlight international standards, tools or certifications you used.
• Mention languages you picked up.
• Explain your availability: "Returned to Manila in January 2026, available immediately."

Example: "Front Office Supervisor, a 5-star hotel in Doha, 2019 to 2025. Led a team of 8 and trained new staff on the hotel's property management system."

Yes. Adapt your resume to the country you are applying to, because conventions differ a lot. A Filipino resume with a photo, civil status and many seminars may be fine locally but looks out of place in countries such as the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.

General changes for abroad:

• Follow the target country's norms on photos and personal details.
• Explain local terms: OJT, NC II, Latin honors, PRC licence.
• Add your licence status and any foreign registration you have started.
• Use the paper size common in that country.

Recruitment agencies may also ask for their own format. Use it when required, and keep your own clean version for direct applications.

Use your full name as it appears on your official documents, and add a nickname only if you want colleagues to use it. Nicknames are very common in the Philippines, but a resume is a formal document and the name must match your IDs and diploma for verification.

Example: "Maria Angelica Santos" or "Maria Angelica 'Gela' Santos"

Tips:

• Do not use only the nickname in the header.
• Make your email address based on your real name too.
• Keep the same name on your job site profiles and LinkedIn.

Use the +63 country code and drop the leading zero, such as "+63 917 123 4567", so it works for both local and international callers. For purely local applications, "0917 123 4567" is also understood.

Tips:

• Use one number that you check daily.
• If you also use messaging apps, you can add "(Viber/WhatsApp)" if you are happy to be contacted there.
• Make sure your voicemail or SIM is active, since missed calls from recruiters are a common lost opportunity.

List it briefly with the dates and what you did, and mention the result if you passed. Board exam review is a common and well-understood reason for a gap in the Philippines, so there is no need to hide it.

Example: "Board exam review, Feb to Sep 2024. Passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (September 2024 exam)."

If you did not pass yet:

• You can write "Board exam review" with the dates and mention what you studied.
• Add any part-time work, tutoring or volunteering you did at the same time.
• Be ready to explain your plan for retaking the exam if the job relates to it.

Make your education and work immersion the core of the resume, and add skills, certifications and school activities. Many SHS graduates apply for entry-level jobs, especially in retail, food service and BPO, and a simple, honest one-page resume is enough.

Include:

• Contact details and a two-line objective.
• Senior high school, strand and honours.
• Work immersion: company, dates and tasks.
• NC certificates from a TVL track, if any.
• Skills: computer use, languages, customer service.

Example: "Work Immersion, a fast-food restaurant in Antipolo, 80 hours. Took orders, handled cash and kept the dining area clean."

Write the agency as your employer and name the company where you were assigned. In the Philippines, many workers are hired by manpower or service agencies and deployed to client companies, and employers checking your background may contact the agency that paid you.

Example: "Warehouse Checker, ABC Manpower Services (assigned to a logistics company in Laguna), 2023 to 2025"

This is honest and still shows the real work environment. If the client later hired you directly, show that as a separate entry with new dates.

A resume alone is often accepted, but a short cover message or letter helps when the job asks for one or the employer receives many similar applications. Many Filipino job site applications let you add a message; use it.

A short message can say:

• Which role you are applying for.
• One or two reasons you fit.
• Your availability.

Example: "I am applying for the Junior Accountant role. I am a 2025 BS Accountancy graduate with OJT in accounts payable and I can start immediately."

Keep it under 150 words for online forms.

Once you have a college degree, list college first and keep high school to one line or remove it. Elementary school is not needed. Older Filipino resume templates list all levels with full details, but this takes space without helping.

Example:
"Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, Lyceum of the Philippines University, 2024
Senior High School, ABM Strand, 2020"

For senior high school graduates without college, list senior high school and junior high school only. Keep details like honors and strand, which are useful to employers.