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Country guides

How to apply for jobs, country by country

The documents, the job sites, the interview style and even the follow-up email change from one country to the next. Each guide below covers one market in its own language and in English, with links to the official sources we checked.

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How do job applications differ between countries?

The steps are similar everywhere: find the posting, send a CV fitted to it, often with a cover letter, then interview and negotiate. What changes is the detail: CV length and photo, the personal data employers may ask for, which job boards and public employment services people use, and the visa or permit a foreign applicant needs.

Choose a country

Each guide is written for that market and cites official pages: public employment services, labour law and immigration sites.

The application, step by step, wherever you apply

  1. 01

    Read the posting closely

    List the requirements in the employer's words. They decide what your CV has to prove.

  2. 02

    Fit the CV to the country and the job

    Use the local format, then check your resume against applicant-tracking rules before you send it.

  3. 03

    Write a short, specific letter

    Where a letter is expected, name the role and back two or three requirements with results. The cover letter builder starts from your resume.

  4. 04

    Track and follow up

    Note where and when you applied. A job tracker shows which applications are due a polite follow-up.

Frequently asked questions

Should I write my CV in English or in the local language?
Follow the posting. If it is written in the local language, apply in that language unless it says otherwise. Each country guide says what is usual there, and the CV format guides by country go deeper into layout and personal details.
Do I need a work permit before I apply?
Usually you can apply first, but you need the right to work before you start. The rules depend on your nationality and the country; every guide links the official immigration page. Check it before you accept an offer.
Is a cover letter still expected?
In many European countries, yes, and public-sector applications often ask for one. In others it is optional. Each guide says what employers there usually expect.
Can one resume work for every country?
One base resume, yes; one file, rarely. Keep a master version and adapt it per country and per job. Ruubu can match your resume to a specific posting so you see what to change.

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