Asia-Pacific Resume Formats: Country Guide

The Asia-Pacific region is booming with opportunity.

Singapore consistently ranks among the world's top financial centres. Hong Kong remains a gateway to Greater China. Regional hubs like Tokyo, Sydney, and Seoul offer thriving job markets.

But if you're applying with your American or European resume format, you're already making mistakes you don't know about.

Let's fix that.

TL;DR

Photos are optional in Singapore, common in Hong Kong
Personal data norms differ — research before including
2 pages standard, 3-4 acceptable for seniors
Highlight APAC/regional experience prominently
Language skills (especially Mandarin) are major differentiators
Conservative, professional formatting is preferred
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Singapore Resume Norms

Global financial centre ranking

Singapore's talent market is internationally competitive. Your resume needs to match.

Source: Global Financial Centres Index, 2024

The Photo Question

Singapore has a complicated relationship with resume photos.

The official line: The Fair Consideration Framework discourages photos to prevent hiring discrimination.

The reality: Many employers still expect them, especially for:

Client-facing roles (sales, consulting, relationship management)
"Gahmen" (government-linked) positions
Hospitality, retail, and service industries
Marketing and PR roles

My recommendation: If applying to multinational corporations or tech companies, skip the photo. For local SMEs, government roles, or client-facing positions, consider including one.

If You Include a Photo

Professional headshot, not a selfie
Neutral background, professional attire
High resolution, good lighting
Passport-style (approximately 2x2 inches)
Friendly but professional expression

Personal Data Guidelines

Include:

Full legal name
Singapore mobile (+65 format)
Professional email
LinkedIn profile
Location (suburb/district is sufficient)
Nationality (if relevant for work rights)

Optional:

Languages spoken (especially Mandarin, Malay, Tamil)
Date of birth (declining in importance)
Gender (rarely needed)

Never Include Until Offered:

NRIC number
FIN (for foreigners)
Passport number
Bank details

Data Protection (PDPA)

Companies must comply with Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act. Your data should only be used for recruitment purposes. But protect yourself by not oversharing sensitive information on your resume.

Singapore Resume Structure

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  NAME & CONTACT                     │
│  (Photo optional, Phone +65, Email) │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY               │
│  (3-4 sentences, APAC-focused)      │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  KEY SKILLS / COMPETENCIES          │
│  (Technical + regional expertise)   │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE            │
│  (Reverse chronological, detailed)  │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  EDUCATION                          │
│  (Degrees, certifications)          │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  LANGUAGES                          │
│  (English + additional languages)   │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  ADDITIONAL                         │
│  (Work rights, certifications)      │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Hong Kong CV Norms

Hong Kong follows slightly different conventions, influenced by both British and Chinese business cultures.

Photos

More commonly expected than in Singapore. Many employers anticipate a professional headshot on the first page.

Element	Hong Kong Expectation
Photo	Commonly included (professional headshot)
Date of Birth	Often included (cultural norm)
Length	2-4 pages acceptable
Language	English (Cantonese/Mandarin a plus)
Format	Conservative, professional

Personal Data

Hong Kong CVs traditionally include:

Date of birth (still common, though declining among multinationals)
Nationality (relevant for visa purposes)
Languages with proficiency levels

HKID Protection

Never include your Hong Kong Identity Card number on your resume. Employers should only collect HKID after you've accepted an offer.

CV Length

Hong Kong accepts longer CVs than many Western markets:

Entry-level: 1-2 pages
Mid-career: 2-3 pages
Senior/Executive: 3-4+ pages

The key: be comprehensive but relevant. Detail matters.

Regional Experience: Your Competitive Edge

Working in APAC requires specific competencies that employers actively screen for.

What APAC Employers Value

1
Regional market knowledge
Understanding of APAC business cultures, regulations, and market dynamics.
2
Multi-timezone management
Experience coordinating across Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, and connecting to headquarters in London or New York.
3
Language abilities
English is assumed; Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, or regional languages are major differentiators.
4
Cross-border experience
Projects spanning multiple APAC countries, regional P&L responsibility, or international client management.
5
Stakeholder management
Experience navigating complex organizational structures across cultures.

How to Highlight Regional Experience

In your summary:

Regional Finance Director with 12+ years of experience across APAC markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Greater China. Led P&L restructuring across 8 countries, achieving $5M annual savings while maintaining local compliance.

In your experience bullets:

• Managed stakeholder relationships across 6 APAC markets, adapting communication styles for Japanese, Chinese, and Western counterparts
• Led product launch across APAC, coordinating teams in Singapore (HQ), Sydney, and Seoul (16-hour time zone spread)
• Increased regional revenue by 35% through market-specific pricing and localized go-to-market strategies

Language Skills: A Key Differentiator

In APAC's multilingual business environment, language abilities matter more than in most Western markets.

What to Highlight

Language	When It Matters
Mandarin (普通话)	China market access, Greater China roles, many Singapore positions
Cantonese (廣東話)	Hong Kong roles, Southern China
Japanese (日本語)	Japanese clients, Japan-based roles
Bahasa Indonesia/Malay	Southeast Asian expansion
Korean (한국어)	Korean clients, Seoul-based roles
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	Thailand operations

How to List

Languages

English: Native

Mandarin: C1 (Professional working proficiency; HSK Level 5)

Cantonese: B2 (Conversational; can conduct meetings)

Japanese: A2 (Basic; studying)

Pro Tip

If you have language certifications (HSK for Mandarin, JLPT for Japanese), include them. They add credibility to your claims. Use our Resume Summary Generator to craft a compelling APAC-focused professional summary.

Industry-Specific Considerations

Financial Services

Emphasise regulatory knowledge (MAS in Singapore, SFC/HKMA in Hong Kong)
Highlight specific product experience (equities, fixed income, derivatives)
Include licenses (SFC Type 1-9, MAS RNF)

Technology

More flexibility on format (can be more modern)
GitHub/portfolio links valuable
Startup vs. corporate experience differentiated
Remote work experience increasingly valued

Professional Services (Consulting, Legal, Audit)

Conservative formatting expected
Emphasis on client relationships
Regional practice area experience
Language abilities for client service

Formatting and Design

General Guidelines

Clean, professional design — Conservative is safer
Standard fonts — Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman
Clear section headings — Easy to scan
Bullet points — Not paragraphs
A4 paper size — Not US Letter

Things to Avoid

Don't Do This

Overly creative or colourful designs (unless in creative industries)
Cramped formatting to fit on fewer pages
Non-standard fonts or graphics
Emojis or informal language
Tables that ATS can't parse

Work Rights for APAC Countries

Singapore

Visa Type	What to Write
Citizen/PR	"Singapore Citizen" or "Singapore Permanent Resident—no sponsorship required"
Employment Pass	"EP Holder (valid until MM/YYYY)" or "Eligible for Employment Pass"
S Pass	"S Pass Holder (valid until MM/YYYY)"
Dependant's Pass	"Dependant's Pass (LOC eligible)"
Work Holiday	"Work Holiday Pass (valid until MM/YYYY)"

Hong Kong

Visa Type	What to Write
PR/Resident	"Hong Kong Permanent Resident — no sponsorship required"
Employment Visa	"Current HK Employment Visa (valid until MM/YYYY)"
Dependant	"Dependant Visa with unrestricted work rights"
IANG (Graduates)	"IANG Visa (post-graduation work authorisation)"

Singapore vs. Hong Kong: Quick Comparison

Element	Singapore 🇸🇬	Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Photo	Optional (FCF discourages)	Common (expected)
Date of Birth	Generally omit	Often included
Length	2 pages ideal	2-4 pages acceptable
Languages	English + Mandarin valued	English + Cantonese valued
Formality	Conservative	Conservative
Personal Data	Minimal (PDPA)	More traditional (PDPO)

APAC Resume Checklist

Before You Apply in APAC

Photo included if appropriate for role/market
Personal data appropriate for target country
Work rights / visa status clearly stated
Phone includes country code (+65, +852, etc.)
2-3 page length (or appropriate for seniority)
Regional/APAC experience highlighted
Language skills listed with proficiency levels
Conservative, professional design
A4 paper format
No sensitive data (NRIC, passport) included

Your Move

Asia-Pacific is one of the world's most dynamic job markets. But success requires understanding local norms.

A resume that works in New York won't necessarily work in Singapore. What impresses in London might miss the mark in Hong Kong.

Do your research. Adapt your format. Highlight regional experience.

That's how you stand out in APAC.

Build your APAC-ready resume

Our AI Resume Builder helps you create properly formatted resumes for Singapore, Hong Kong, and the broader APAC market. Professional, ATS-optimised, and tailored for regional employers.

Create My Resume

Australian Resume Format — Part of the APAC region
Expat Resume Guide — For international job seekers
European CV Format — Compare with Western norms
Bilingual Resume Tips — For multilingual professionals
Keyword Scanner — Match your resume to APAC job descriptions
Resume Summary Generator — Craft an APAC-focused summary
LinkedIn Bio Generator — For your APAC networking
Resume Templates — A4-formatted, professional designs
Resume Examples — See proper APAC formatting in context

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include a photo on my Singapore resume?

It's optional but often included, especially for client-facing roles. The Fair Consideration Framework discourages photos to prevent bias, but many employers still expect them. When in doubt, check the company culture.

Do I need to include my age or date of birth?

In Singapore, age is generally not required and can be omitted. In Hong Kong, date of birth is more commonly included. Never include NRIC, passport, or ID numbers until you've received a formal offer.

How long should my resume be for APAC roles?

2 pages is standard for most professionals. Senior executives may extend to 3-4 pages. Hong Kong traditionally accepts longer resumes than Singapore.

Should I highlight APAC-specific experience?

Absolutely. Regional experience is highly valued. Highlight any work with APAC markets, time zone management, language skills (especially Mandarin), and cross-border projects.

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