CV or résumé — which one do you need?

The words mean different things depending on where you apply. In the UK, Ireland, most of continental Europe, Australia and South Africa, a CV is the standard two-page application document. In the United States and Canada, the same document is called a résumé, and a CV means a long academic record of publications and teaching.

This builder produces the European-style CV: a concise professional document, typically one to two pages, listing your profile, work history, education, skills and languages. If you are applying to a US employer, the same output works — just call it a résumé.

What European recruiters expect on a CV

Conventions vary by country, and getting them wrong is a quiet way to lose a shortlist place. A German CV is expected to be complete and gap-free; an Irish or British CV is expected to be short and achievement-led; a Dutch CV sits somewhere between the two.

• Photo: normal in Germany and Austria, avoided in the UK and Ireland
• Date of birth and marital status: still common in parts of the DACH region, omitted elsewhere
• Languages: always listed, with a level such as C1 or 'professional working proficiency'
• Work permit or nationality: worth stating when applying across borders