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If you’re ever applying for a job outside the UK then you might have queries about whether there are any differences in CV formats… In this guide we’ll cover the European CV format questions that candidates often ask us about.
In many ways, writing a CV for a job application in Europe is not significantly different to creating one for UK-based employers. You may have heard that it’s more common to include a photo or personal details on a CV in Europe though – we’ll come to that later.
And you may also have heard about a standardised CV document for European countries called Europass… And sometimes, incorrectly, the Euro Pass CV.
It is certainly a popular document, with Europass users reportedly downloading 9 million CVs from the platform in 2023 alone.
It’s a European Union initiative, aiming to provide a standardised format for creating CVs used throughout Europe (including in non-EU member countries).
But do you have to use it? This is a key question when exploring European CV guidelines, so let’s start by explaining what the Europass CV format is in detail.
The idea is to allow job seekers a means to present their qualifications and experiences in a clear and comparable way across different countries in a European CV template. We’ll explain how this works shortly.
In a nutshell, a Europass CV template provides:
Europass provides an online platform to build a CV, using drop-down menus to give candidates a list of pre-determined sections to choose from.
This means hiring managers or recruiters familiar with Europass CVs should not be in for any surprises, as it’s not possible to create your own section heading, for example. It’s also easy to change the section headings into a different language using a drop-down menu.
So, how does Europass try to ensure some standardisation and ease of comparability for candidates from different countries? After all, the CV sections you can choose from match those you would use in the UK, i.e.:
Other sections include driving licence on CV, digital skills, awards, publications – useful on a scientist CV – projects, volunteering and so on, but every category is optional.
In short, the Europass platform steers you when filling in some of the sections if you click on the ‘i’ buttons by empty boxes. For example:
But you don’t need Europass for such guidelines. This begs the question…
No – unless the employer mentions on the job description that it’s a requirement, but that will not be common.
If you’re applying for a job in Europe then it’s worth browsing through the Europass website and playing around with its platform though. Try creating a Europass CV example to see what it looks like.
It should provide some reassurance that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel when writing a CV for a job in Europe.
When thinking about how to write a CV for Europe, use the same sections you would for UK employers. In other words:
Whether you write that CV using Europass or start from scratch in a Word / Google doc is up to you.
Employers are looking for the best candidates, they won’t mind if you use their ideal format and layout or not. They want to read about your experiences and achievements – as you do in the UK, focus on presenting these as well as possible and selling yourself well.
But whether you use Europass or not, there are a couple of important potential differences between UK and European CVs worth thinking about before you submit a copy…
If you’re applying for a job in Europe outside the UK, it’s common to include a photo on CVs but it is rarely – if ever – mandatory.
It’s also common to include some personal details on CVs such as date of birth or nationality whereas we don’t recommend doing this for UK applications.
There is no rule set in stone and employers will not reject your CV in Europe purely on the basis of whether they were expecting you to include a photo or not.
But in countries where the norm and best practice is to include a photo, it’s worth doing. How do you know when that’s the case though? Here is some advice from comprehensive research by StudentNews.eu including the following recommendations for these European countries:
Again, the Europass CV online tool provides some reassurance here. It lets you upload a profile photo, date of birth and nationality on your CV, reflecting the fact that it’s common to include these elements in European job applications.
However, don’t include a photo on your CV for Ireland unless the employer specifically asks for one.
Remember that in terms of a photo on a CV for UK applications, we don’t recommend this due to the strict anti-discrimination laws in place.
For more detailed information check out our guide to the photo on a CV guidance for UK job applications.
Looking beyond the UK and Europe briefly, are there any major differences to CV formats in the rest of the world?
Well of course in the US the document is called a resume – you don’t put a photo on this either. It’s often only one page long whereas in the UK, after a few years of work, you can struggle to keep a CV to just two pages.
We explore this in more detail in our guide on the difference between a resume and a CV. In this article you’ll also find an interactive map showing which countries use the standard CV format.
Applying for a job in Japan? The name for a Japanese resume is a Rirekisho, with only basic information included, and then there’s the much more detailed Shokumu-keirekisho!
We hope you have found this guide useful – and to read other informative articles, check out the PurpleCV blog. Recently we have provided a CV checklist – useful for both UK and European job applications.
And we can also help you with interview preparation. For example, read our how do you work under pressure example answer!
Check whether it’s common practice to include a photo and personal details in the country you’re applying for a job in.
Where relevant and possible, use standardised European frameworks to describe your skills and qualifications, such as languages.
But while Europass is a common European CV format, it is not essential to use – feel free to create your own in a Word or Google doc as per your UK applications.
If you try making a test CV on the Europass platform, you’ll quickly see that there is no one standalone rigid European format or layout.
Your priority needs to be writing a CV that does justice to your abilities, skills and career achievements so far.
Think carefully about the information your potential employer needs, plus what makes you stand out – then work out how to convey these details quickly and effectively.
It’s easier said than done, we know. But if you need a hand, we’re here to help.
We are a team of professional CV writers capable of making your job application stand out from the crowd – in Europe too.
You’ve done the hard work in your studies and career – don’t hold yourself back with a CV that’s selling you short.
We have written many CVs for applications in European countries. If you’d like some support with CV writing then please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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