Writing a CV Overseas Employers Can Read

An employer abroad may read dozens of CVs for one role, and may spend less than a minute on each. A good CV does not need to be fancy. It needs to be clear, true and easy to scan. This guide shows a simple layout that works for trades, services and professional roles.

Your CV is also one of the documents on your checklist, so your specialist will read it before it reaches an employer. You can ask them to review it.

Keep it short and plain

• One page is ideal. Two pages is the most you need unless you have a long professional career.
• Use one simple font, a readable size, and plenty of space. Avoid colours, pictures of yourself on the page, and decorative boxes unless your specialist asks for them.
• Save it as a PDF so the layout does not change on another phone or computer.
• Use clear words and short sentences. Plain English is better than long or unusual words you are not sure about.

What to put at the top

• Your full name exactly as it appears in your passport.
• Your phone number, with the country code, and an email address you check every day. Use a sensible email address based on your name.
• Your city and country. You do not need your full home address.
• Your job title, in a short line, for example the trade you work in and how many years you have worked in it.

A short summary

Two or three lines: who you are, what you are good at, and what kind of work you want. Write it for the specific job, using words from the job description where they are true for you.

Your work experience

This is the most important part. List your jobs with the most recent first. - For each job: the job title, the employer's name, the town or city and country, and the month and year you started and left. - Under each job write three to five short points about what you did. Start each with an action word, such as operated, installed, repaired, trained, prepared, supervised or served. - Where you can, say how much or how many: the size of the team, the number of customers or machines, the type of site. Only include numbers that are true and that you could explain. - Explain any gap of more than a few months in one line, for example a period of study, family care or looking for work. Do not leave unexplained gaps.

Education, training and licences

• List your highest qualification first, with the name of the school or institute, the place and the year.
• Add trade certificates, licences and short courses relevant to the job, with the issuing body and year.
• Do not list a qualification you did not complete. Employers and authorities may check certificates, and a false entry can cancel an offer or a visa.

Languages and skills

• List the languages you speak and your level in simple terms, such as basic, good or fluent. Be honest. You may be asked to speak in the interview.
• List practical skills and tools that match the job, such as machines, software or safety training.

What to leave out

• Your passport number, bank details and your ID number. You will give those to your specialist through the secure parts of the platform when needed.
• Your religion, marital status and family details, unless a specific form asks for them.
• A salary you expect, unless your specialist advises otherwise.
• Anything that is not true. A CV is a record that can be compared with your certificates and your reference checks.

Check before you send

• Read it out loud, or ask a friend to read it, for mistakes in spelling and dates.
• Check that the dates in your CV match the dates in your certificates and your experience letters.
• Make sure the file opens and is readable on a phone.

This guide gives general information about CV writing.