CV format for abroad, country by country

Going to the Gulf or Europe?

Both have their own guides, because their formats differ the most from the rest: the CV format for Dubai, Qatar and Saudi jobs, with the photo and passport details Gulf employers expect, and the Europass CV that agencies hiring for Europe ask for.

CV format for the UK

Two pages, called a CV. No photo, no date of birth, no marital status — UK employers avoid them because of equality law, and many will set aside a CV that includes them.

Open with a short personal statement, then experience, then education. Use UK spelling. References can be "available on request".

For a student visa application, a university may ask for a CV listing education, work and any gaps; keep it factual and matching your other documents.

CV format for Canada

Called a resume, usually one to two pages. No photo, no date of birth, no marital status, and never your SIN.

Canadian employers read for results — each job with two to four lines of what you achieved, with numbers. Put a short summary at the top and skills that match the job advertisement, because many employers use applicant-tracking software that scans for them.

For a work permit, study permit or immigration application, follow the specific document checklist; a CV is supporting evidence there, not a job application.

CV format for Australia

Usually called a resume; two to three pages is normal. No photo and no date of birth.

Australian employers commonly expect two referees — names, roles and contact details of people who supervised you — at the end. State your visa and work rights clearly, for example the visa you hold and whether it permits work.

Lead with a summary and key skills matched to the job, then experience with results.

Nurses applying to Australia also go through registration with the Australian nursing regulator before practising; list your Nepal Nursing Council registration, wards and procedures clearly, as in the staff nurse CV example.

CV format for New Zealand

Called a CV; two to three pages. No photo, no date of birth.

Like Australia: a short profile, key skills, experience with achievements, and referees at the end. State your visa and right to work in New Zealand near the top — employers want to know before they read further.

Resume format for the USA

A resume of one page, two only with long experience. No photo, no date of birth, no marital status.

Short, results-led bullets with numbers. A "CV" in the USA usually means a long academic CV for university and research posts — for those, list education, research, publications and teaching in full.

CV format for Japan

Japanese companies use a standard form, the rirekisho (履歴書): personal details with a photo (3 × 4 cm), education and work history in date order, licences and qualifications — including your JLPT level — and your reason for applying. Many also ask for a shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書), a separate document describing your work experience in detail.

Ready-made rirekisho forms are sold in Japan and available to download; this site does not produce that form. What our CV maker does produce is a clear English CV, which companies recruiting in English — and many recruitment agencies — accept, and which is a good base for writing the shokumu keirekisho.

For the Specified Skilled Worker route, your skills-test and Japanese-language test results matter most; put them first.

CV format for Korea

Korean employers usually expect a resume (이력서) with a photo, personal details, education, experience and certificates, often with a separate self-introduction (자기소개서).

For EPS jobs, a CV is not how selection works. Workers under the Employment Permit System are selected through the EPS process — the EPS-TOPIK test and the skills test — not by sending a CV to employers. A CV matters for other routes: professional and skilled-worker visas, and students looking for part-time work.

CV format for Germany

Germany accepts the Europass CV, and many employers use their own tabular CV, the Lebenslauf: personal details, experience and education in clear date columns, usually one to two pages, often signed and dated at the bottom.

A photo is traditional but optional. For skilled-worker routes, your qualification's recognition and your German level (CEFR, for example B1) are the lines employers look for first.

CV format for Malaysia

Usually two pages with a photo, personal details including nationality, then experience, education and skills. Malaysian employers also commonly expect your expected salary and notice period.

For foreign-worker recruitment, as for the Gulf, go through a licensed agency and follow its checklist; the CV supports the process.

Which CareerKyt template to use

• UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA — Minimal or Compact: single column, no photo, safe for applicant-tracking software.
• Korea, Malaysia, the Gulf — Photo, with the photo at the top.
• Europe — the official Europass editor, or Minimal for a European-style CV.
• Japan — an English CV here as your base; the rirekisho itself on the standard Japanese form.