nl-BE
Writing a CV for Belgium
Belgium is three hiring markets. Write in Dutch for Flanders, French for Wallonia, and English or French for Brussels and the EU institutions. Everything else follows standard European norms.
The norms
- Language
- Match the region: Dutch (Flanders), French (Wallonia), English/French (Brussels).
- Length
- Two pages.
- Photo
- Common but optional.
- Personal details
- Name, email, phone, city. Languages section is essential.
- Languages
- List CEFR levels for Dutch, French and English — often decisive.
- Dates
- Month and year.
What gets CVs rejected
- Sending a Dutch CV to a Walloon employer, or vice versa.
- Understating language levels — bilingual capability is frequently the hiring criterion.
- Using the Europass template by default for private-sector roles; it reads as bureaucratic.
Template & type
Classic or Modern, with a prominent languages section.
Language: Dutch, French or English depending on region and employer
Finding the roles
- Brussels concentrates EU institutions, NGOs, lobbying and international bodies.
- EU-institution routes (EPSO) run their own structured application process.
- Antwerp and Ghent lead logistics, chemicals and tech hiring in Flanders.
Build a Belgian CV in minutes
Import what you already have, pick the template that matches local norms, and export an ATS-ready PDF with the photo on or off.
Related guides
CV vs résumé: what European employers expect
Length, photos, personal data, dates and language expectations across Europe — and the differences that matter when applying from abroad.
Tailoring your CV for each application (without rewriting it every time)
A repeatable system: keep one master career profile, then generate a targeted CV and cover letter per role in minutes instead of hours.