How to Write a CV for International Job Applications

If you are applying for jobs in a different country, your standard CV may not be appropriate. CV conventions — length, format, content, and what employers expect — vary significantly across markets. Here is what you need to know for the most common destinations.

UK Applications

UK CVs:

Are called CVs (not resumes)
Run to two pages (graduates: one)
Do not include a photo
Do not include date of birth
Use a personal profile at the top
Use UK English spelling throughout
List qualifications using UK convention (degree class, institution)

If you are applying from the US or another country to UK employers, adapt your document to these conventions.

US Applications

US resumes:

Are called resumes (not CVs)
Are typically one page for early career, two pages for experienced professionals
Do not include a photo
Do not include date of birth, nationality, or marital status
Often include a brief professional summary rather than a longer personal profile
Are written in US English (different spelling, different terminology)
Typically use month/year date formatting

If you are applying from the UK, your two-page CV likely needs condensing for US applications.

European Applications

European countries vary significantly:

Germany: CVs (called Lebenslauf) traditionally include a professional photo and can be up to three pages. A formal, structured format is expected.
France: CVs (curriculum vitae) may include a photo and personal details including marital status — though practices are evolving.
Netherlands and Scandinavia: CV conventions are closer to UK norms — no photo, concise format.
Spain and Italy: More detailed CVs are common, sometimes including photos.

Research the specific country's conventions if applying for roles locally.

Australia

Australian CVs follow similar conventions to UK CVs — two pages, no photo, personal profile at the top. Terminology differs slightly ("resume" is more commonly used than "CV"). Australian employers often appreciate informal, direct language over formal British styles.

Key Adaptation Tips

Use the document name that is standard for the country ("CV" vs "resume")
Match the length convention for the market
Remove or add personal details as appropriate
Check spelling and terminology (particularly for US vs UK English)
Adjust your date and address formatting to local convention
Ensure qualifications are contextualised — an institution that is well-known domestically may be unknown internationally

Build your CV free at CVCircuit — and adapt it for whichever market you are targeting.