Europe · EMEA · region guide
How to write a CV for jobs in Europe
How to write a CV for jobs in Europe in 2026: what's common across the region, where photos are expected, Europass, GDPR clauses and which country guide to follow.
The short answer
Most European employers expect a one- to two-page, reverse-chronological CV with clear achievements, language skills on the CEFR scale (B2, C1, C2) and your right to work stated if you're not an EU citizen. Europe splits into two broad styles: the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and the Nordics prefer a lean CV with no photo and few personal details, while Germany, Austria and Switzerland favour a complete tabular timeline, where a photo is optional but still common.
Lead guides
The countries that set the rules in Europe.
Start with the guide closest to where you're applying. The table below shows which one each neighbouring country follows.
Common across Europe
- 1 to 2 pages, most recent role first
- Language levels on the CEFR scale (for example German B2, English C2)
- Right to work: EU citizen, or your permit type (such as an EU Blue Card)
- Apply in the language of the job ad
- Photo: no in the UK and Ireland, optional elsewhere, still common in German-speaking and southern Europe
Other countries in Europe
| Country | Follow | What's different |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | DEGermany | German-style tabular CV. A photo is common. State your permit (B, C or L) if you're not Swiss. Write in the language of the region: German, French or Italian. |
| Austria | DEGermany | Close to the German Lebenslauf: complete timeline, photo still common, certificates often requested. |
| Netherlands | UKUnited Kingdom | Short and direct, 1 to 2 pages. Photo optional. English is widely accepted at international employers. |
| Belgium | UKUnited Kingdom | 1 to 2 pages. Photo optional. Apply in Dutch, French or English depending on the region and employer. |
| Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland | UKUnited Kingdom | Concise, modest and factual. A photo is optional but fairly common. Local language helps outside international companies. |
| France | UKUnited Kingdom | 1 page is common early in your career, 2 for experienced candidates. Photo optional and increasingly left off. Apply in French unless the ad is in English. |
| Spain, Italy, Portugal | UKUnited Kingdom | 1 to 2 pages. A photo is still fairly common. Italian CVs often end with a personal-data consent line. |
| Poland | UKUnited Kingdom | 1 to 2 pages. A photo is common, and Polish CVs usually include a GDPR consent clause at the bottom. |
Reviewed by the PenworthCV writing team, October 2026. Always follow the instructions in the job ad.
FAQ
Europe CV questions
It depends on the country. Leave it off for the UK and Ireland. It's optional in most of Europe and still common in German-speaking countries, Poland and southern Europe. When in doubt, follow the company's own instructions.
Europass is accepted everywhere in the EU and common for public-sector and EU-institution roles. Private-sector recruiters usually respond better to a well-written standard CV.
A short line at the bottom consenting to the employer processing your personal data for recruitment. It's commonly expected in Poland and often added in Italy. Elsewhere it isn't needed.
The language of the job ad. English is widely accepted at international employers, especially in the Netherlands, the Nordics and in tech.
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