How to Write a CV for Jobs Abroad

In many countries “CV” and “resume” mean the same document, while in others a CV is longer and used mainly for academic and research roles. If the posting says CV, send what it describes. If you are applying for research or graduate study, use our academic CV guide instead.

Norms differ between countries and even between industries. Do not assume that what worked at home will work abroad. Check each point below on the employer’s careers page, in the job posting and in advice from the destination’s official job or education services.

1. Header: name, city and country, email, phone with country code, and a professional link such as LinkedIn if you use one.
2. Short profile: two or three lines naming your role, your strongest skills and the type of job you want.
3. Work experience: reverse chronological, with employer, title, location and dates, followed by short bullet points.
4. Education: degree, institution, country and year. Add a short note if the qualification name will be unfamiliar.
5. Skills: tools, languages and certifications relevant to the role.
6. Optional sections: projects, volunteering, publications or awards, if they support the application.

Employers read quickly. Start each bullet with a verb, say what you did and, where you honestly can, what changed because of it. Use only numbers you can support and never invent them.

• Weak: “Responsible for customer emails.”
• Stronger: “Answered customer emails and resolved routine issues using the support knowledge base.”
• Strongest, when true: add a real result you can verify, such as the time you cut, the volume you handled or the process you improved.

A recruiter abroad may not recognize your university, grading scale or job title. Help them by writing the degree name in full, the country, and a short note where useful, for example the language of instruction. Do not convert your grades into another system yourself. If equivalence matters, use the official recognition service of the destination country and state the result only if you have it.

For work experience, add the employer’s sector or size in a few words if the name is not widely known, and describe your role in terms that are common in the destination market.

Write in the language of the job posting. Many employers use software to sort applications, so use a simple layout with standard headings, avoid text boxes and images for key content, and reuse the posting’s own wording where it truthfully describes your experience.

If you want a standard template, the European Union’s Europass service offers a CV builder, but a plain, well-organized document is just as acceptable unless the employer requests Europass.

A short cover letter should explain why this employer and this country, which two or three experiences fit the role, and your availability and work-authorisation position. If you are applying for an entry-level role, our guide to remote jobs for beginners shows how to present small projects as proof of skill.

• The CV matches the posting’s language, spelling and requested format.
• Every date, title and qualification is accurate and can be verified.
• Contact details include the correct country code.
• The file name is clear, for example your name and the role.
• A friend or mentor has proofread it.
• You are applying through the employer’s official page, and you have not paid anyone to be considered. See how to spot remote job scams.

• Sending the same CV to every country without checking local norms.
• Listing duties instead of results.
• Using unfamiliar abbreviations for degrees or employers.
• Including sensitive personal details that the destination does not expect.
• Leaving unexplained gaps without a short, honest line.
• Using a creative template that applicant tracking systems cannot read.

A short factual line is enough to explain a gap, such as study, caring responsibilities or a job search. Do not hide it or fill it with invented work.

Add references only if the posting or local custom asks for them. Otherwise keep them ready and offer them when requested, and tell your referees in advance.

Recruiters often check a public profile after reading a CV. Make sure job titles, dates and qualifications match, and that your profile and CV tell the same story.

Employers hiring across borders often need to know whether you can legally work in their country and when you could start. State this plainly and honestly, for example whether you already hold the right to work or would need sponsorship. Do not claim a status you do not have. For the rules themselves, use the official immigration website of the destination country, and avoid relying on forums or agents.

A technology employer may care about projects and tools, a hospital or school may care about registration and credentials, and a public body may care about formal qualifications and structured answers. Read the posting and a few similar ones, then reorder your sections so the evidence they ask for appears first.