Dear Editor,

Having read Matylda’s letter, I have to tell you that I completely understand her issue she has
come across. I know that it is highly difficult to find a good position if one is from a foreign
country with a different cultural background. She should not be exasperated, though. She will
be surprised how easily we can remedy her problem provided she observes some crucial
points.

First of all, it is imperative that she develop her crosscultural understanding. People from
different cultural groups must be perceived positively. As I understand from her letter, she
might have arrived at this country full of prejudices. It is also important to point out that the
way we perceive other people greatly influence the way they are going to behave toward us.
We work as a mirror; if we are negative, we will reflect the exact same thing back.

As regards her photo that she has attached to her CV, I have to tell you that it is definitely not
an adequate choice. If she selects such a picture accompanying her resume, she should not be
surprised that it will be ignored by possible employers. In the photograph, she does not face
the camera, which is the worst she could do. Her face reflects pessimism and negative
feelings. In addition, there are other people in the background. The picture is probably taken
in a park, and more than probably snapped by a friend of hers. Let me give some useful pieces
of information concerning a proper CV photo.

It must be taken by a professional photographer in a studio. We must forget annoying and

attention diverting details in the background. Besides, it is immensely important that we face
the camera. Our face should reflect positive feelings; we should use a little smile and some
modest makeup; of course, the latter goes only for girls. Physical appearance really matters
when we want to evoke favorable impressions. Also, we should wear a formal garment, not a
casual dress like the one Matylda is wearing in the picture. The first impressions are always
very important. Our facial features will tell a lot about our personality.

Once we have created a worthy CV, we will stand a bigger chance of being invited for an
interview. At the job interview, there are other issues we ought to pay attention to. We should
use proper language, it is advisable to be a little familiar with the cultural differences
pertaining to the given country, and finally, we should be aware of the importance of non-
verbal communication. The same gestures may trigger totally different emotions across
cultures. Such simple things as speech intonation, speed, the way we stress certain words, and
where we pause in our speech can really matter very much when we want to impress
someone. The same word if carefully uttered can convey a preferable message, but we should
bear it in mind that it can also reflect negatively on us.
If Matylda tries to pay attention to what I have mentioned above, I am certain that in the
future she will run a better chance of successfully landing a job, which will suit her and match
her qualification.