Europe has millions of job openings every year, especially in IT, engineering, healthcare, logistics and hospitality. A CV that follows European conventions shows employers that you understand their market, and it makes visa and work-permit applications smoother because recruiters can quickly see your qualifications.
- The European CV format
- Language levels (CEFR)
- Photo and personal details by country
- Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- United Kingdom and Ireland
- France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands
- Checklist before you apply
1. The European CV format
Across the European Union, recruiters are used to a clear, reverse-chronological CV with dates in a separate column on the left. This style comes from the official European CV format used by many universities, public bodies and employers. Our EuroCV template follows it: personal details as labelled rows, dates on the left, and language skills on the European scale.
- Keep it to two pages (three for senior or academic profiles)
- Write dates as month and year, for example 03/2022 – present
- Explain your qualifications: add the field and level, for example “Bachelor’s degree (4 years) in Computer Science”
- Add a short profile at the top that says what job you are looking for
- Mention your work-permit or visa status if it helps, for example “EU Blue Card eligible”
2. Language levels: use the CEFR scale
European employers rarely understand “fluent” or “good English” the same way. Instead they use the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR):
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A1 – A2 | Basic: simple everyday phrases |
| B1 – B2 | Independent: can work and discuss most topics |
| C1 – C2 | Proficient: near-native, professional and academic use |
| Native | Mother tongue |
Most office jobs ask for B2 or higher in the local language or English. If you have a certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, Goethe-Zertifikat, DELF), add it under Certifications. In HayaCV, choose Design → Language levels → CEFR; European templates use it automatically.
3. Photo and personal details by country
| Country | Photo | Date of birth / nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Germany, Austria, Switzerland | Common and often expected | Common |
| France, Belgium, Italy, Spain | Common, optional | Optional |
| Netherlands, Nordic countries | Optional | Usually left out |
| United Kingdom, Ireland | Do not add | Do not add (anti-discrimination rules) |
For non-EU applicants, nationality can be useful because it tells the employer whether a visa is needed. HayaCV lets you add or hide the photo, date of birth and nationality with one click, so you can keep one CV for Germany and a copy for the UK.
4. Germany, Austria and Switzerland: the Lebenslauf
The German CV (Lebenslauf) is famous for being tidy and complete:
- Professional photo at the top right
- Personal data as labelled rows (address, phone, email, date of birth, nationality)
- Dates on the left, without gaps; explain any break
- Copies of certificates (Zeugnisse) are often attached to the application
- Place, date and your signature at the bottom
Our Berlin template does all of this, including the signature line. Sign it by hand after printing, or add a scanned signature before converting to PDF.
5. United Kingdom and Ireland
UK employers prefer a two-page CV without a photo, date of birth, marital status or nationality. Start with a strong personal statement, use bullet points with results, and list references as “available on request”. Use the London or ATS Pro template.
6. France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands
- France: one or two pages, photo common, a short “profil” at the top; try the Paris template.
- Italy and Spain: photo common; Italian CVs often include a line authorising data processing under GDPR; try Milano.
- Netherlands and Nordic countries: direct, modern and concise; personality and results matter; try Amsterdam or Oslo.
7. Checklist before you apply
- CV in English or the local language, as the job advert is written
- CEFR levels for every language
- Photo and personal details adjusted to the country
- Qualifications explained (degree, field, years)
- Dates as month/year, no unexplained gaps
- A tailored cover letter in the same design
- File named Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf
Create a European CV for free →
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