Guide
How to write a CV for jobs abroad: format, language and keywords
A CV that works at home can fail in another country. The length, the personal details, the date format and even the language can be different. This guide covers what usually changes, how to translate a CV without losing the words the posting uses, and what to check when you apply for remote jobs. Always follow the posting first: if it asks for something specific, do that.
A 4-step process
Do these in order for each country or language you apply to.
1. Read the posting as a style guide
The posting shows the language, the job titles and the tone the employer expects. Note the exact words for the role, the tools and the requirements. They are the words your CV should use.
2. Look up the local conventions
Search for CV examples from the country, and from the employer if you can find them. Check length, photo, personal details, date format and paper size. Official job portals and university career pages are good sources.
3. Rewrite, do not only translate
A word-for-word translation often produces job titles and phrases nobody uses. Write each line the way a local person in your field would say it. Keep every fact the same: do not change dates, employers or results.
4. Ask a native reader to check it
Ask someone who works in that language to read the CV, or compare it with the posting. Mistakes in spelling or in job titles are easy to see for them and are costly for you.
What usually changes from country to country
These are general patterns, not rules. Employers differ inside the same country, so use them as a starting point and check the posting.
Photo
In some countries a photo is common on a CV. In others, such as the US, the UK and Canada, it is usually left out, and some employers prefer it that way to avoid bias. If the posting does not ask for one, leaving it out is the safer choice for those countries.
Length
One page is common for early-career candidates in the US, and one to two pages elsewhere. Longer CVs are normal in some academic and public-sector jobs. Keep what is relevant to the posting and cut the rest.
Personal details
Date of birth, marital status, nationality or national ID number are asked for in some countries and are unusual in others. Add them only if the posting or local custom asks for them. Always include a phone number with the country code and a professional email.
Date format and spelling
Dates can be day-month-year or month-day-year. Write the month as a word, for example «Mar 2023», to avoid confusion. Match the spelling of the country, such as «organisation» for the UK and «organization» for the US.
CV or resume
In the US and Canada, «resume» is the usual short document and «CV» often means a longer academic one. In the UK and many other countries, «CV» is the normal word for the document you send. Use the word the posting uses.
Education and degrees
Qualifications do not always have a direct equivalent. Keep the original name and add a short explanation, for example the type of degree and the country. Do not claim an equivalence you cannot show.
Work permit and location
Employers often want to know where you live and whether you can work in their country. If it is true and relevant, state it briefly, for example «Based in [city], with the right to work in [country]». Do not guess.
Remote jobs
For remote roles, mention your time zone, the languages you work in and the tools you use for remote work. State your location honestly: some employers can only hire in certain countries.
Common mistakes
Translating job titles word for word
Some titles have no direct equivalent. Search the posting or job boards in the target language and use the title that people really use for your work.
Losing the keywords in the translation
The applicant tracking system (ATS) and the recruiter look for the words in the posting. If the posting says «customer support» and your CV says «client assistance», you may not be found. Use the posting's wording for anything that is true.
Copying the home-country format
A CV with a photo, a long personal section and a two-page career summary can look odd where those are not expected. Adapt the format as well as the language.
Sending one translation to every country
A Spanish CV translated once into English will not suit both the US and the UK. Adjust spelling, length and details for each target.
Adding claims you cannot back up
Do not invent a language level, a degree equivalence or a work permit. State language levels honestly, for example with the CEFR scale (B2, C1), and be ready to show them.
How CVora helps
CVora rewrites your CV in the language of the posting, using the posting's own vocabulary, and does not invent anything. If your CV is in Spanish and the posting is in English, you get an English CV built from the facts you already have.
You still decide on the local details: photo, personal data and length are yours to set in the editor, with the templates. Start with the free checker to see which keywords from the posting your CV already covers and what is missing.
Read the full guide on how to tailor a CV to a job description.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I put a photo on my CV when applying abroad?
- It depends on the country and the employer. In the US, the UK and Canada a photo is usually not included. In other countries it is more common. If the posting does not ask for one, check examples from that country and choose accordingly.
- Should I write my CV in English or in the local language?
- Use the language of the posting. If the posting is in English, send an English CV, even if the company is in a non-English-speaking country. If you are unsure, check whether the company writes its postings in one language.
- How long should a CV be?
- There is no single answer. One page is common for early-career candidates in the US, and one to two pages is common elsewhere. Send the length that fits your experience and the local custom, and keep every line relevant to the job.
- How do I explain a degree from my country?
- Write the original name and add a short note on what it is, for example the level and the country. Do not say it is equal to a foreign degree unless an official body has said so.
- What should I put on a CV for a remote job?
- Your time zone, your working languages, the tools you use for remote work and your experience working with distributed teams, if you have it. Be clear about where you can legally work.
- Can a tool translate my CV for me?
- A tool can write the first draft. You should still read it, check job titles and spelling, and make sure every fact is correct. CVora rewrites your CV in the language of the posting and keeps your facts as they are, but you review the final CV.
Check your CV against a posting abroad
Paste your CV and the posting into the free checker to see which keywords you cover and what is missing. No account needed.
The checker does not save your CV or the posting.