Guide
CV in English: the rules that change
A CV in English follows different conventions from a CV written elsewhere in Europe. Knowing them makes your application read naturally to an English-speaking recruiter, well beyond a word-for-word translation.
CV or resume?
- United Kingdom and Ireland: it is called a CV, usually two pages.
- United States and Canada: it is called a resume, one page up to ten years of experience, two beyond that.
- International companies in Europe: the British format is the most common.
Follow the country of the offer and the vocabulary of the advert.
What changes in the content
- Photo, age, marital status: remove them for the UK and the US, where recruiters set them aside to prevent discrimination.
- Summary: a three-line "Professional summary" at the top.
- Bullets: start with an action verb in the past tense (Led, Built, Reduced) and add a figure when you have one.
- Dates: abbreviated months, for example "Mar 2022 – Jun 2024".
- Degrees: give the equivalent or a short explanation, for example "Master's degree (5 years after secondary school)".
Translating job titles
A job title translates into its equivalent on the target market: a French "chargé de clientèle" becomes "Account Manager", a "contrôleur de gestion" becomes "Financial Controller". Keep tool and certification names exactly as they are. See translating your CV into English for an offer.
Frequently asked questions
Should I translate the name of my school?
Keep the original name and add a short description if needed, for example "ESSEC Business School, leading business school in France".
Do I need a cover letter in English?
In the UK and the US, the cover letter is common and short: three paragraphs, one page at most.
How do I show my level of English?
In a CV written in English, the level shows in the CV itself. Add a score (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge) when the advert asks for one.