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How to write a CV for different European countries

The core of a good CV is the same everywhere: recent experience first, results rather than duties, and only what is relevant to the job. What changes from country to country is the personal detail employers expect, the closing lines, and a few conventions that can make a CV look out of place. This guide covers the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Greece.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-25

What every CV needs

Europass, the European Commission's CV service, gives advice that holds in every country: list your most recent experience at the top, highlight the skills and experience that match the job you are applying for, pay close attention to the vacancy notice, use clear language with strong action verbs such as "managed", "developed" and "increased", explain long gaps in work or study, use a professional email address, and check spelling and grammar carefully.

In practice, a CV is built from five blocks:

1. Contact details: name, phone, email, town or city, and a professional networking profile if you have one.
2. Profile or summary: two or three sentences on who you are and what you are looking for.
3. Experience: newest first, each role with dates, employer, place and two to four results.
4. Education and training: degrees, qualifications, relevant courses.
5. Skills and languages: languages with a level on the A1–C2 scale, software and other skills relevant to the job.

The resume builder follows this order, with a languages section, an optional place-and-date line and, for Italy, an optional data-processing consent line.

Country by country

United Kingdom

The UK government's National Careers Service says a CV should have a section for contact details, then an introduction, education, work history and references. Put education first if you are early in your career; with substantial experience, lead with work history. It is explicit about what to leave out: "You should not include your age, your date of birth, whether you're married or your nationality." Only add a references section if someone has agreed to be your referee, and do not put their contact details on the CV; write that references are available on request.

Germany

German employers expect a tabular CV (tabellarischer Lebenslauf): clearly dated entries, newest first. A photo, date of birth and marital status are voluntary. The General Equal Treatment Act (§ 1 AGG) aims to prevent discrimination on grounds including age, sex and ethnic origin, so you do not have to give these details. German CVs traditionally end with the place and date, and paper applications are signed. List language skills with their CEFR level (A1–C2). Our German guide, Lebenslauf für Deutschland schreiben, goes into more detail.

France

A CV for the French market usually contains name, phone, email and town; a photo and age are optional. Experience runs from most recent to oldest with concrete results, followed by education and diplomas and languages with their CEFR level. Early in a career, one page is common; later, two at most. If the employer asks for the European format, use the free Europass editor. See also our French guide, faire un CV pour la France.

Italy

An Italian CV typically ends with the place and date and, often, a line authorising the processing of personal data. That line is not legally required for CVs sent spontaneously: under article 111-bis of the Italian privacy code (D. Lgs. 196/2003), consent is not needed for unsolicited CVs. Many recruiters still expect it, which is why the resume builder offers it as a tick box. A photo and date of birth are optional. If an advert asks for the Europass format, use the Commission's free editor. Our Italian guide, come scrivere un curriculum per l'Italia, has a full example.

Spain

A Spanish CV usually includes name, phone, email and city; the photo and date of birth are optional. Experience runs from most recent, with concrete achievements, followed by education and languages with their CEFR level. One or two pages at most. Europass is accepted where an employer asks for it.

Greece

A CV for Greece usually contains name, phone, email and city, with photo and date of birth optional; experience from the most recent with concrete results; studies and certificates; and foreign languages with their CEFR level or the certificate you hold. One to two pages is usual.

Language levels: the A1–C2 scale

Across Europe, language skills on a CV are described with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which Europass uses. It has six levels, from A1 (the lowest) to C2 (the highest), and Europass publishes self-assessment grids that describe each level for listening, reading, speaking and writing, so you can place yourself honestly. Write "German — B2" rather than "good German". If you hold a certificate, add it in brackets with the year.

Duties vs results

The single change that improves most CVs is replacing duties with results. Compare:

These are examples of the form, not figures to copy: use your own real numbers.

Common mistakes

• One CV for every application, instead of adapting the profile and the first bullet points to each advert.
• Personal details the country does not expect (date of birth on a UK CV) or leaving out the closing line a country does expect (place and date in Germany).
• Language levels written as "fluent" or "basic" instead of A1–C2.
• Unexplained gaps. A one-line explanation ("2024: career break, caring for a family member") is better than a silent gap.
• Multi-column designs that applicant tracking systems read in the wrong order. The resume builder produces a single-column PDF with real, selectable text.

Build your CV

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Europass — Create your Europass CV · Europass — Common European Framework of Reference · National Careers Service — CV sections · § 1 AGG · Normattiva — D. Lgs. 196/2003, art. 111-bis