CV guides
Practical advice for writing a CV that works in France, Canada, the Gulf, the USA and the UK: formats, photos, summaries, achievements and the mistakes that cost interviews.
- How to write a CV for Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the GulfWhat Gulf employers expect on a CV: photo, nationality, visa status, notice period, length and layout, with a checklist you can follow today.3 min read
- The French CV: format, photo, "accroche" and what to leave outHow French recruiters read a CV, from the title and "accroche" to dates, photo, personal details and interests, with the vocabulary to use.3 min read
- The Canadian résumé: no photo, no age, two pagesWhat Canadian employers expect on a résumé, why personal details are left out, how to show work authorization, and the difference in Quebec.3 min read
- The US résumé: one page, no photo, results firstHow to write a résumé for American employers: length, personal details to remove, the summary, quantified bullet points and formatting for applicant tracking systems.3 min read
- The UK CV: personal statement, two pages, no photoHow British employers read a CV: the personal statement, what the Equality Act means for personal details, right to work, length, references and spelling.3 min read
- Should you put a photo on your CV? A country-by-country answerWhen a CV photo helps, when it hurts, and how to take a professional one, for the Gulf, France, Europe, the USA, Canada and the UK.3 min read
- How to make your CV readable by applicant tracking systems (ATS)What an ATS does with your CV, the layouts and file formats it reads best, how to use keywords honestly, and a quick test you can run yourself.3 min read
- How to write a CV summary that makes recruiters keep readingA simple formula for the summary or profile at the top of your CV, with examples for experienced, junior and career-change candidates, and the phrases to avoid.2 min read
- From duties to achievements: writing CV bullet points that get interviewsHow to turn "responsible for" into results, with a three-part formula, action verbs, ways to find numbers and before-and-after examples from several professions.3 min read
- 12 CV mistakes that cost you interviews (and how to fix them)The most common reasons good candidates are passed over, from spelling and unprofessional e-mail addresses to missing results and the wrong format for the country.3 min read
- Your first CV with little or no work experienceHow students and recent graduates can fill a CV with real evidence: education, projects, internships, volunteering, part-time jobs and skills, with an example structure.3 min read
- Writing a CV for a career changeHow to present transferable skills, retraining and past experience when you move into a new field, with a structure, examples and mistakes to avoid.3 min read
- The skills section: what to include, how to group it and what to leave outHow to choose and present hard and soft skills on a CV, group them so recruiters and applicant tracking systems find them, and avoid empty buzzwords.3 min read
- How to describe your language levels on a CV (A1 to C2)The CEFR scale explained in plain words, how to translate "fluent" and "native" into levels, which tests to mention, and examples for English, French and Arabic.3 min read
- Cover letters: when you need one and how to write it in 250 wordsA simple four-paragraph structure for a cover letter or application e-mail, adapted for the Gulf, France, the UK and North America, with an example and common mistakes.3 min read
- How long should a CV be? One, two or three pagesThe right CV length by country and career stage, what to cut when you run long, and how to fill a page honestly when you are just starting out.3 min read