Europe is not a single market, but there are common threads that employers across the EU understand. First, a CV should be simple and well-organised — no photo in most countries, no loud colours. Second, dates must be precise and continuous, with no unexplained gaps. Third, any claim on your CV may be checked in the interview or against official documents. Accuracy and honesty are not cosmetic choices here; they are baseline requirements.
Germany values a highly structured format, often with a formal cover letter. France accepts one or two pages with attention to credentials. The Netherlands leans practical and direct, favouring skills and results over long narratives. Research the convention of your target country before sending.
Anti-discrimination laws in many European countries make photos unwelcome on CVs. Best to leave them out — they are also unreadable to ATS software and can break formatting.
Europe uses the CEFR framework. State your level clearly: A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. 'Good' means nothing to a European recruiter. If the role requires a specific language, mention your official certificate if you have one.
Large European employers run systems like SAP SuccessFactors and Workday. These hate tables, symbols and multi-column layouts. Write plain text with clear headings and save as a PDF with selectable text. That alone greatly raises your chance of being read.
In most European countries, no — it may even conflict with anti-discrimination norms. Best to omit it.
A standardised European framework for presenting skills, qualifications and experience, widely recognised across the EU.
In Germany and some countries, yes, it is often expected. Keep it short and tailored to each role.
Build an American-style resume — one page or two — that passes the ATS used by US employers. Strong action verbs, quantified achievements, and a free keyword check before you apply.
A professional Canadian CV compatible with ATS screening and Canadian employer standards. Clean design, clear skills, English and French support, and a free keyword check.
A complete guide to understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and how to pass them. Learn how systems parse your resume, the fatal mistakes, and the ideal formatting — with a free resume check.
Learn how to choose the right keywords for your resume, with ready-made lists by industry and role. Smart integration lifts your ATS ranking without keyword stuffing.
Create a clean, machine-readable CV in minutes, with a smart keyword check.
Start free now