How to Use Your Credential Evaluation to Support Your Job Search
Navigating the job market with an international degree can be challenging. Employers in the United States and Canada might not understand the value of your education. The most objective thing to do this is to obtain a credential evaluation from a reputable credential evaluation provider, like WES.
This article discusses how a credential evaluation can help you at nearly every stage of the hiring process—from job search to job offer.
Why should I obtain a credential evaluation?
Having a credential evaluation reassures both you and prospective employers that you meet a job’s educational requirements. A credential evaluation report provides a U.S. or Canadian equivalency of your international education and helps employers understand your qualifications. This can also help to ensure that you are being fairly assessed in comparison to other candidates. Even having your secondary school diploma or certificate evaluated can open doors to entry-level jobs that lead to more opportunities.
How can I use my report to support my job search?
Beyond being a requirement for some job applications, a credential evaluation report can be a useful tool in your job search in at least four ways:
- Identify suitable jobs: Use your degree equivalency to determine which jobs match your qualifications. For example, if your degree is equivalent to a bachelor’‘s, you might skip jobs requiring only a high school diploma.
- Enhance your résumé and cover letter: Add your evaluation to your résumé and cover letter. Mention that you have had your international education evaluated and verified and meet the job’s education requirements. You can even include the degree equivalency in the education section of your résumé.
- Boost your interview confidence: Bring a copy of your evaluation to show the interviewer. And remember to highlight your language skills and international experience.
- Negotiate your salary: If you receive a job offer, you can suggest having your official evaluation report sent directly by the credential evaluation agency to the employer. This is a good step to help ensure that you are compensated appropriately for your skills and education.
How do I obtain a credential evaluation report?
If you are applying to a specific job or employer, ask if it has guidelines for internationally educated applicants, such as a report type or preferred credential evaluation provider.
If there are no guidelines, or if you are not yet focused on a specific employer, you can obtain a credential evaluation from an agency accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
WES is a member of NACES, and its reports are accepted by thousands of institutions in the U.S. and Canada. WES credential evaluations verify and evaluate high school and post-secondary credentials from more than 200 countries. You can also preview the equivalency of your international education in the U.S. and Canada with our free Degree Equivalency Tool.
The next step in your job search
Don’t let your international education go unrecognized. A credential evaluation provides essential benefits to your job search, such as helping to ensure that you are considered for a position fairly and compensated appropriately for your skills and education. Many applicants have also told us that a credential evaluation report increased their confidence, helping them to pursue their professional goals with greater assurance.
Ready to obtain your evaluation and boost your job search? A WES credential evaluation will unlock more job opportunities in the U.S. and Canada. Get started on your application today!
Related Readings
What is a credential evaluation?
What to Expect After You Receive Your WES Credential Evaluation
