Expat and International CV Writing Services in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne and across Germany.
European Formats: The format of a CV varies from country to country. In some European countries, the CV is relatively short for an application. In case a foreign company shows interest, it sends the applicant an application form in which he or she has to enter his or her details in detail. The filling in of the application form, depending on the company, can be done online or on paper.
Photo: In Germany, and especially if you are targeting German Companies, a photo on a CV is almost essential. A CV without photos often ends in cancellations. Expectations on the quality of the photos are very different. Depending on the profession, passport photos and special business photos are an option. In any case, good quality professional images is important.
International Formats: As a rule of thumb, the length of a CV should be two pages, A4 size. Recruiters won’t have time to read more. If a job doesn’t require much preparation or experience, a one-page CV is ideal.
While the choice of format is yours, the main thing is to show how you meet the requirements of the job. Focus on relevant information and use space well. Try to present the most relevant information at the beginning of the CV, so the recruiter doesn’t have to search for it. Sell yourself in a clear and succinct manner by giving examples of the skills and qualities required, either through your studies, work experience or interests. Don’t list everything you’ve done, instead provide some detail.
Consider using bullet points rather than paragraphs when describing your experiences and skills. Instead of using “I” every time, start each bullet point with a verb, e.g. “organised…”, “kept in touch with…”. Emphasise your actions and achievements. It is important that you use simple language; avoid jargon and acronyms that cannot be understood. You also need to be sure to include dates and places (town/city) in the education and work experience sections (if there are “gaps” explain in your cover letter). Write in the past tense if it is something you have completed. Use regular fonts and black text on a white background to make it easy to read Last but not least, check your spelling, grammar and punctuation – any mistakes will put your CV in the rejection pile.