By the Corvaj team · Updated
There’s no single European CV, but most employers across the EU expect a clear, two-page CV in reverse-chronological order, with your languages listed. The EU’s free Europass format is accepted everywhere, and a few countries have their own habits worth knowing.
What most European employers expect
- Call it a CV.
- One to two pages, most recent experience first.
- A short profile at the top, then experience, education and skills.
- A languages section with your level in each. The CEFR scale (A1 to C2) is widely understood.
- Contact details: name, phone, email, city and country, and LinkedIn if you have one.
- Write it in the language of the job ad. Many international companies accept English.
Europass: the EU’s standard CV
Europass is a free CV builder from the European Union, with a format recognised in every EU country. It’s a safe choice when you apply in several countries or to EU institutions. Keep it short: the template invites a lot of detail, and recruiters still prefer two pages that match the job.
How countries differ
- Germany: a CV (Lebenslauf) is often laid out in clear dated rows. A photo and date of birth are optional, and many applicants now leave them out. Applications usually include a cover letter (Anschreiben) and copies of references and certificates.
- France: CVs are often one page. A photo is still common but not required, and many younger applicants now leave it out.
- The Netherlands: short and direct. Two pages at most, with a focus on results.
- Ireland: similar to the UK. About two pages, no photo, with a personal profile at the top.
Work permits and languages
- If you’re from outside the EU, say briefly whether you already have the right to work there or will need a permit.
- Be honest about language levels. Interviews often test them.
- If your degree is from outside Europe, recognition services exist in each country; mention a completed recognition if you have one.
Tailor it to each job
- Search EURES, the EU’s job mobility portal, as well as national job sites and LinkedIn.
- Match the ad’s language: apply in the local language when the ad is written in it.
- Put the languages the job needs at the top of your languages section.
- Adapt the format to the country, using the notes above.
Cover letter
A motivation letter is expected in many EU countries. Keep it to one page, say why this company and this country, and mention your right to work or permit status if you’re from outside the EU.
Common mistakes
- Sending the same CV in English everywhere when the ad is in the local language.
- A Europass CV filled with every possible field, running to four pages.
- Leaving out language levels.
- Not explaining your right to work when you’re from outside the EU.
Sample CV
A fictional example in the local format. Use it as a pattern, not a script.
Inês Carvalho
Lisbon, Portugal · +351 9XX XXX XXX · [email protected] · linkedin.com/in/your-name
EU citizen (Portugal): free to work anywhere in the EU
Profile
Marketing assistant with two years’ experience running social media and email campaigns in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Looking for a marketing role in an international team in Lisbon, Madrid or Amsterdam.
Experience
Marketing Assistant, Atlântico Travel
- Plan and post content on three social channels in English and Spanish, growing followers by 25% in six months
- Run monthly email campaigns to 18,000 subscribers, with open rates above 30%
Marketing Intern, Costa Verde Hotels
- Wrote product pages in three languages for 12 hotel listings
Education
Licenciatura in Communication Sciences
Languages
Portuguese: native · English: C1 · Spanish: B2 · French: A2
Skills
Social media planning · Email marketing (Mailchimp) · Google Analytics · Canva · Copywriting
Why it works
- Two pages at most, most recent experience first.
- Each language with an honest CEFR level, and languages shown in use at work.
- Right to work stated in one line.
- No photo or personal details, which suits most EU countries.
Example: turning a duty into a result
Junior marketing assistant
Before
Helped with social media.
After
Planned and posted content on three social channels in English and Spanish, growing followers by 25% in six months.
The second version shows languages in use, a measurable result and the scope of the work.
By career stage
- Graduate or first job
- Lead with your degree, internships, exchange semesters (such as Erasmus+) and languages. One page is fine in many countries.
- Changing careers
- Use the profile to name the new field, then show transferable results and courses for it. Say which countries you can work in.
- Experienced
- Two pages. Lead with results that match the role, and adapt the layout to the country you’re applying in.
CV keywords for ATS
Applicant tracking systems and recruiters search for the skills a posting names. Examples for common roles; use only the ones that are true for you, in the posting’s own words.
- Marketing assistant
- social media, content planning, email marketing, Google Analytics, multilingual content
- Customer support (multilingual)
- customer support, ticketing (Zendesk), CRM, English C1, a second EU language
- Software developer
- Java, Python, cloud (AWS or Azure), REST APIs, Agile, English
Questions
Should I use Europass?
It’s accepted across the EU and useful for applying in several countries or to EU institutions. Keep it to two pages; many employers prefer a shorter, tailored CV.
How do I show my language levels?
Use the CEFR scale, from A1 to C2, for each language, and be honest: interviews often test them.
Should I write my CV in English?
Write it in the language of the job ad. Many international companies accept English, but when the ad is in the local language, apply in it.
Do I need a photo on a European CV?
Usually not. In some countries, such as Germany and France, a photo is still common but optional. Elsewhere, such as Ireland, leave it off.
What if I’m from outside the EU?
Say briefly whether you already have the right to work there or will need a permit, and mention any recognition of your degree.
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