Different Application Practices

I've looked at over a 100 CV's so far. It's absolutely clear that application submission and resume practices are different than they are in the states. In the states, we urge people to keep it to one page and to use action verbs that show leadership or management ability. It's not like this in Botswana.

We asked people to submit their CV's and references. Instead, commonly, people attach addendums to their CV's - pages and copies upon copies of transcripts, certificates, drivers licenses, etc....which make applications more than 10-15 pages.

Here are some other differences I've noted:

• Coverletters often start with: "I hereby declare my candidacy for the above post...." or "I do hereby apply for the aforementioned post...."
• Attaching school transcripts even though the grades were not good and even mostly fails
• Using more than 5 font styles
  
• Including as hobbies: watching TV, registered blood donor, listening to gospel music
• Listing and describing every class taken at school
  
• Highlighting text to accent the information
• Attaching 20+ files to an e-mail. The winner, so far, attached 27 documents
• Use of the term "referees" to refer to someone you are using as a reference
• Friending me on Linked In
• Including your age, gender, religion, and # children on the front page of your application
  
• Sending me a computer virus

The search goes on, though the closing date is tomorrow.