CV
A CV (curriculum vitae) is the standard document a candidate uses to summarize their work history in Europe. The European equivalent of the American resume — different format, similar purpose.
What a European CV usually includes
Conventions vary by country, but a standard European CV runs 1-2 pages with:
- Header: name, contact, sometimes a photo (still expected in DACH, frowned on in UK).
- Profile / summary: 2-3 lines on what kind of role the candidate is looking for.
- Work history: reverse-chronological. Company, role, dates, 3-5 bullets per role.
- Education: institution, degree, year.
- Skills, languages, sometimes references: tail sections.
CV vs. resume
A CV in Europe ≈ a resume in the US. The vocabulary mainly differs by geography:
- In the EU, candidates write a CV for any role.
- In the US, candidates write a resume for industry roles and a CV for academic/research roles (which are then long, 4-10 pages).
For European SMB hiring, “CV” is the right canonical word.
What recruiters actually read
A first CV pass is 30-60 seconds. The reader looks at the most recent role, then jumps to the relevant past role. Everything else is reference material. A CV that fails this 30-second test usually fails because it buries the lede or is over-designed.