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Country guides

Resume and CV format by country

A resume that works in Chicago can look incomplete in Zurich and oversharing in London. These guides cover what employers in each country expect on the page, what the law says about photos and personal data, and what changes when you apply from abroad. Each rule links to the official source we read.

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Does the resume format change from country to country?

Yes. The core stays the same everywhere: recent experience first, clear dates, results you can prove. What changes is the photo, which personal details belong on the page, the length, whether a cover letter is expected and how references are handled. Pick the country you are applying to, not the one you live in, and follow its conventions.

  • Photo

    Left out in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and Singapore. Customary but never compulsory in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Optional in most of the rest of Europe.

  • Personal details

    Date of birth, marital status and nationality are best left out in English-speaking markets, where they touch protected grounds. German and Swiss public employment guidance still lists some of them, and Poland limits what an employer may ask for by law.

  • Length

    Two pages is the common ceiling in the US, UK, Canada and most of Europe. Australia accepts longer resumes, while France expects one page from junior applicants.

  • Cover letter and references

    The UK and Germany expect a letter written for each job; in the US it is often optional. Swiss and Austrian applications add employer certificates (Arbeitszeugnisse), and Australian government guidance suggests naming two or three referees.

Choose a country

Each guide covers layout, photo and personal data, a sample structure, the cover letter, where to find jobs and how to apply from abroad.

North America

UK and Ireland

Western Europe

Nordics and Central Europe

Southern Europe and Türkiye

Middle East and Asia-Pacific

South America

Questions about CVs for other countries

Is a CV the same as a resume?
In most countries the words mean the same document: a one- or two-page summary of your experience. In the United States and Canada, "CV" usually means the longer academic record, and everyday job applications use a resume. Each guide uses the word the country uses.
Should I use Europass when applying in Europe?
Europass is a free CV builder run by the European Commission, available in 31 languages, but it is a tool, not a requirement. Some employers, such as in Austria for certain posts, ask for it; many prefer a shorter CV in the local layout. Check the posting and the country guide.
Do I need to translate my CV?
Apply in the language of the job posting. If the ad is in English, an English CV is fine; if it is in the local language, write the CV in that language too. Translate your degree titles carefully and add the local equivalent when an official recognition body has issued one. The resume translator keeps your layout while you translate.
How do I show that I am allowed to work in the country?
Add a short line near your contact details only when it helps, such as an existing work permit or EU citizenship for an EU job. Never invent a status. Each guide links to the official immigration site of that country, which is the only reliable source for permit rules.

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Check your resume against the posting, then adjust it to the country's conventions before you send it.

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