In the US, a résumé is a one-page marketing document and “CV” means an academic record. In most of Europe, “CV” means the ordinary job-application document and two pages is unremarkable. If you learned CV writing from American advice, a few habits will read as odd here — and vice versa.
Photos
Common and often expected in Germany, Austria, and parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Unusual in the UK and Ireland, and generally discouraged in the Netherlands and the Nordics on anti-discrimination grounds. When in doubt for an international employer, leave it off — no employer rejects a CV for lacking a photo.
Personal data
Older European templates ask for date of birth, nationality and marital status. You are not obliged to provide any of it, and reputable employers do not want it. Keep city, country, email, one phone number, and one link.
Length and detail
- UK and Ireland — two pages is standard, one for early career.
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland — structured and thorough; certificates and references are often attached separately.
- Netherlands and Nordics — concise, factual, minimal decoration.
- France and Spain — one to two pages, with a clear title line at the top.
- Academia everywhere — as long as it needs to be, with publications listed in full.
Language
Apply in the language of the posting. If the ad is in English, an English CV is correct even in a non-English-speaking country. State language levels using the CEFR scale (A1 to C2) rather than vague words like “fluent” — it is the standard European recruiters read.