What is usually going wrong
You use the same CV everywhere
The document that worked in Milan underperforms in Munich and is unreadable in Malmö — norms on photos, length, and tone differ that much.
Your qualifications do not translate
Degree titles, grading systems, and certifications mean nothing to a recruiter who has never seen them — unless you translate them, literally and culturally.
You are unsure what is legal to share
Age, photo, marital status: expected in Germany, unusual in the UK, discriminatory to ask in the US. Guessing wrong either way costs interviews.
What actually moves the needle
- 1
Rebuild to local norms, not translated ones
Do not translate your old CV — restructure it. Photo, length, section order, and formality all change by country. A local-format CV reads as effort and cultural fluency.
- 2
Explain your qualifications inline
"Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to MSc)" or "8.5/10 (top 10%)" converts foreign credentials into terms the reader can rank in seconds.
- 3
Signal work-authorization early
If you have the right to work locally, say so in the header — "EU citizen, no sponsorship required". Removing the visa doubt moves you up the pile immediately.
Read the country CV guides
Country-by-country hiring norms — photo rules, length, format, tone — for Germany, France, the Nordics, and 30+ more markets.
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Straight answers
Should my CV be in the local language or English?
Match the posting's language unless it says otherwise. International companies hiring in English are common in tech and finance; local-language postings almost always expect local-language applications.
Do I include a photo when job hunting abroad?
Follow the country's norm, not your home habit: common and expected in Germany, Austria, and much of Southern Europe; unusual and often unwanted in the UK, US, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
How do I explain a foreign degree?
Add a brief equivalence in brackets — the local degree class it maps to, plus any notable ranking. One parenthetical converts confusion into a comparable credential.