When I began applying for jobs in the HR field, I already had experience studying and working in other countries. Naturally, I believed that when being selected for an interview, my CV would speak for itself—that anyone reviewing it would immediately recognize the value of my international background. However, I quickly learned that simply having the experience wasn’t enough; my story needed to be compelling both on paper AND in person.
During one interview, I was asked the seemingly simple question, “Tell me about yourself.” The detail-oriented side of me launched into a three-minute monologue about studying in the U.S., moving to Switzerland, working for a couple of UN agencies, relocating to Canada, studying my Masters in HR, and outlining every detail of my professional experience. By the end of it, the interview was significantly shorter than I had anticipated—and surprise… I didn’t get the job.
In my work today, I see many international professionals making the same mistake: failing to articulate their career stories in a way that resonates with their audience. This is especially true for those of us who’ve worked in different countries.
After facing this challenge multiple times in my own career, I developed a simple three-step framework to help anyone tell their international career story effectively in an interview:
- Begin by mentioning your years of experience, the industry you specialize in, and the countries or continents where you’ve worked.
- Ex: My name is John. I have 20+ years of experience working as a software engineer for multinational Tech Companies across the US and Mexico.
- Follow up with a brief overview of your relevant experience, focusing on your most recent role. Highlight up to two key responsibilities and mention the organization you worked for.
- Ex: In my most recent role as a Software Engineer at Google Inc., I had the unique opportunity to design, develop, and test innovative software applications while collaborating closely with my team to create cutting-edge software solutions for the organization.
- Conclude by stating your current work status (e.g., actively seeking new opportunities, recently laid off, etc.) and briefly explain your main motivation for applying to the role.
- Ex: As I seek for the next challenge in my career, I was particularly drawn to the Senior Software Engineer role at ABC. Your range of AI projects caught my attention, and I am eager to learn more and how I can contribute to these initiatives.
This introduction will take you no more than one minute to deliver and it will effectively convey the key points of your candidacy. Keep in mind that your interviewer already has your resume and can review the details of your job history and responsibilities. What they’re truly interested in is how well you present your qualifications and attributes in person.