
Iran Resume Standards for the Job Application
Want to work at a local sector or multinational companies in Iran? Read this guide to understand all the resume standards followed by Asians.
What is the name generally used for the job application in the country of Iran?
The name which is used by the general public of Iran for the job application documents are CV and resume. CV is used as a short form of ‘curriculum vitae’, which is translated as the journey of a person’s life.
This word is used for job application documents around the world since its meaning relates to the document’s purpose. Meanwhile, the word resume which is also used by Persians, is derived from French terminology and means to summarize something.
The Persians use their own variant of the word, which is known as ‘rozome’ or ‘رزومه’. This variant is used interchangeably with the word CV by Persian job seekers.
Regional resume standards for candidates in Iran
The Islamic Republic of Iran, formerly known as Persia, is geographically known as a Gulf state. It is in the Western Asian region known as the Middle East.
Since the country is a part of the Asian continent, it follows the resume standards utilized by the Asian people. These standards include the following:
Resume Length
The length of the documents used by job applicants is ideally preferred to be between one to two pages. However, many experienced candidates often have extensive career details, leading to the use of an extra resume page.
The one-page resume is mostly used by the following kind of applicants in the following situations:
- A student who has just graduated and hasn’t worked before.
- A professional who wants to work in a different industry where they haven’t worked before.
- A professional who hasn’t worked for more than three to four years.
Moreover, according to the career experts, the applicants can only use two or three pages for their resume when:
- The job applicants work in the position of director, manager, or leader.
- The job applicants have worked extensively as part-time, freelance, or contract workers.
- The job applicants have over ten or fifteen years of experience.
- The job applicants who work in the technical, healthcare, and engineering industries.
Paper Size
When we talk about the standard of paper size for resumes in Iran, it is A4. This German paper size is used by all the countries of Asia leaving Philippines, which uses letter size.
The A4 paper size belongs to the A paper series, which is also standardized as ISO 216. Moreover, the A4 paper is used by the majority of countries for resumes and CVs because of the following:
- It is easily available at any stationery shop.
- It is spacious enough to contain the main career details on a single page resume.
- It is cost-effective since it is easily printed through any printing device.
- It is easily shared with employers or organizations through digital devices.
Moreover, the Iranian job application documents have the following dimensions as per varied measurement markers:
- Millimeters: 210 x 297
- Inches: 8.27 x 11.69
- Centimeters: 21 x 29.7
- Pixels: 2480 x 3508 (at 300 DPI)
Resume Format
Here’s a list of resume formats that are used in the Gulf states, including Iran:
Reverse-chronological: This format is among the most used and preferred for structuring a job application document. It is liked by employers since it is easy to scan and shows career progression. Moreover, it can be used by any kind of job applicant who has work experience in the target industry.
Functional: It is the least utilized resume format since it is used by applicants who don’t have much experience. Moreover, it is preferred by employers who give more importance to the skills of a job seeker.
Combination/ Hybrid: This format combines the style and structure of the earlier discussed resume formats. It is mostly used by experienced candidates who want to share both experience and skills in their application.
Languages used to write the content of the resume documents in Iran
The following languages are used for writing resumes in Iran, such as:
Persian
Farsi, known as Persian, is the main language of the country and used for professional documents like job applications. The Iranian resumes for the following jobs and industries are written in the Persian language:
- Private companies
- Local businesses
- Local sales and administration jobs
- Local customer-interaction roles
- Manufacturing and construction
- Agriculture
- Government and state-level jobs
Moreover, the resumes that are written in Persian utilize a blend of the Persian and Arabic scripts. It is also written from right to left, unlike English, ones that are written from left to right.
English
The Iranian job applications that are written in English utilize the British variety of the language. However, the resumes that are written in English utilize accurate UK spellings, formal tone, structure, and use of Georgian dates.
Moreover, these resumes are generally prepared to apply for opportunities in the following industries and roles:
- International companies
- Multinational firms
- Higher academic positions
- Technical sector jobs
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Is it important to add a photo to a resume or CV in Iran?
Yes, since the country is a part of the Asian region, where recruiters from many countries prefer resumes with pictures. However, even when photo inclusion is a common practice in the country, it still varies according to organizations and recruiters.
Many hiring managers from multinational organizations don’t expect a photo since they follow fair recruitment practices. Similarly, many local recruiters want photos for roles that require a good appearance as well, such as:
- Public-dealing jobs
- Tourism jobs
- Sales or administrative posts
However, the applicants should be aware of the following guidelines regarding the resume picture:
- The picture should use a background that is clear and simple with neutral colors.
- The applicant should be dressed similarly to the way they dress for interviews.
- The applicant should have professional yet warm facial expressions in the photo.
- The face of the applicant in the picture should not be edited with image-editing filters or tools.
- The picture used for the resume should be of passport size to avoid distractions and save space.
- The 60% of the picture should be covered with the job seeker’s face.
Are professional references required by applicants in their Iranian resumes?
Unlike the Western resume formats that omit references by considering it outdated, Iranian CVs include them. It is considered an integral part when applying for a job in companies that prefer strong professional affiliations.
However, many international companies and hiring managers don’t require them during the early stage of hiring. To avoid giving any negative impression, the applicants must confirm the requirements of an applicant before adding any extra sections.
Moreover, the following are the details that are mostly added by applicants in the references section:
- Full name of the referee.
- Their profession and work position.
- Their contact details include a contact number and an email ID.
- Their professional affiliation with the job applicant.
Note: It is advised by resume experts to get the permission of each referee before adding their contact details to your resume.
How many parts are used to create a job application document or resume in Iran?
Here’s a list of resume sections that are used to create a CV or resume in Iran:
Contact and Personal Information
This section of the resume is known as the header and covers the following details, such as:
- Full name
- Active phone number (Include country code as well)
- Professional email address
- Location
- Nationality (foreign applicant)
- Visa status (foreign applicant)
- Professional headshot
Here’s a list of personal details that should not be included in the Iranian job application:
- Marital status
- Religious views
- Political views
- Date of Birth
- House address
Professional Summary
The professional summary is considered the main part of most CVs and resumes in Iran. Applicants should take care of the following while writing their professional statement:
- The summary should be concise and written within 3-5 lines.
- It should highlight the applicant’s main skills, achievements, years of expertise, and career aspirations.
- It should highlight any work experience with GCC for local relevance.
- It should quantify the main achievement or years of experience using numbers or percentages.
Work Experience
This section of the resume is designed using the reverse-chronological format. Moreover, it includes the following details:
- Name and location of workplace
- Date of employment
- Work position and main responsibilities during each experience
- Major contributions and key achievements during each experience
- Any military experience for state-level jobs
- Any international work experience
Education
This section of the resume includes the following details:
- Name of degree
- Name of institute
- Year of graduation
- Main course or grades
- Professional certifications
- Academic honors
- International study experience
Additional Sections
The following are the extra resume sections that can be a part of the Iranian job applications:
- Skills (hard and soft skills)
- Hobbies (Only highlight relevant interests)
- Languages (Flunecy in Farsi, English, Kurdish, and more)
- Certifications (Licenses or certifications for getting a position)
- References (2 or 3 professional references)
Basic formatting guidelines for resume or CV documents in Iran
Here’s a list of some details that should be considered while creating a resume in Iran:
- The dates in a resume in Iran should be according to the Georgian calendar instead of the Persian one.
- The resume should be tailored according to the job description language and key terms.
- The applicants should not use a one-size-fits-all resume for applying to different positions without any customization.
- The fonts used in the resume should be compatible with automated systems such as ATS.
- The applicants should not use slang terms or informal language in the resume.
Excited to learn about the regional standard for resumes in your country? Explore ProResumes blogs.
| Resume Writing Standards | Checklist |
| Profile photo | Yes |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Spellings/ Language | Persian (Farsi) and UK English |
| Resume Length | The employer gives preference to the academic achievements of the applicant. |
| Document name | Resume (rozome) and CV |
| Personal Data | Yes |
| Hobbies & Interests | Yes |
| Country-specific Trend | The employer gives preference to academic achievements of the applicant. |
| References | Yes |