Resume Formats by Country: US, UK, Europe, Middle East, and Asia

A resume that works perfectly in New York might get rejected in Berlin. Not because of your qualifications, but because of the format. Every region has its own expectations for what a resume, or CV, should look like, what information to include, and what to leave out.

If you are applying for jobs outside your home country, or even applying to multinational companies, understanding these differences is not optional. Submitting the wrong format tells an employer you did not bother to research their market. That is not the first impression you want.

Here is a straightforward breakdown of resume expectations in every major region, so you know exactly what to change before you hit send.

United States and Canada

In the US and Canada, a resume is a short, focused document. The standard is one page for most professionals, two pages if you have 10+ years of experience. Anything longer gets sidelined.

What to include:

• Full name and contact information (phone, email, city/state, no full address needed)
• Professional summary or objective (optional but useful)
• Work experience in reverse chronological order
• Education
• Technical skills
• Certifications if relevant

What to leave out:

• Photo. Never include a photo on a US or Canadian resume. Many companies will immediately discard resumes with photos due to anti-discrimination policies.
• Date of birth, age, marital status, nationality, or gender. None of these belong on a North American resume.
• References. Do not list them and do not write "references available upon request." Everyone knows that.

Format notes:

• Use standard letter size (8.5 x 11 inches)
• PDF is the preferred file format
• Clean, minimal design. No graphics, icons, or sidebars
• ATS compatibility matters. Most large US companies use applicant tracking systems

The US resume is all about relevance and brevity. Every line should answer the question: "Why should we interview this person for this specific role?"

United Kingdom

In the UK, the document is called a CV (curriculum vitae), but it functions like a US resume, not like the long academic CVs used in some other countries.

Standard length: Two pages. One page is acceptable for early-career professionals, but two pages is the norm.

What to include:

• Full name and contact details
• Personal statement (a short paragraph about who you are professionally)
• Work experience with achievements
• Education and qualifications
• Skills section
• Hobbies and interests (optional but common, keep it brief and relevant)

What to leave out:

• Photo. Not expected and could work against you.
• Age, date of birth, marital status, nationality. UK equality laws make these irrelevant.
• Salary information. Never include current or expected salary.

Format notes:

• A4 paper size
• PDF or Word format, depending on the employer
• British spelling throughout (organisation, not organization; analyse, not analyze)

The UK CV is slightly more personal than the US resume. The personal statement and hobbies section give a bit more personality. But the core principle is the same: demonstrate your value clearly and concisely.

Germany and Continental Europe

This is where things change significantly. European resumes, especially in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia, have different expectations than the English-speaking world.

Germany specifically:

We cover this in detail in our guide to the difference between a CV and a resume.

A German Lebenslauf (resume) follows structured conventions:

• Photo: Expected. A professional headshot in the upper right corner is standard. Some progressive companies are moving away from this, but most still expect it.
• Personal details: Include date of birth, nationality, and sometimes marital status. This would be unusual in the US or UK but is normal in Germany.
• Length: 1-2 pages for most professionals.
• Structure: Strictly reverse chronological. Germans value order and completeness. Gaps in your timeline will be noticed and questioned.
• Education: More detailed than a US resume. Include specific grades if they were strong, thesis topics, and relevant coursework.
• Signature and date: Some German applications still expect a handwritten signature at the bottom with the current date. This is becoming less common for digital applications but is still appreciated.

Europass Format:

The European Union offers a standardized CV template called Europass. It is used across EU countries, especially for academic positions, government roles, and cross-border applications within Europe.

The Europass format includes sections for language proficiency (using the Common European Framework, A1 through C2) and digital competences. It is functional but plain. Some employers in Western Europe consider it outdated, while in Eastern and Southern Europe it remains widely accepted.

France: Similar to Germany, photos are common, personal details are expected. The French CV tends to be exactly one page. Brevity is valued.

Netherlands and Scandinavia: More relaxed. Photos are becoming optional. The overall approach is closer to the UK style, but with more emphasis on language skills and international experience.

Middle East

Resumes in the Middle East, particularly the Gulf countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman), follow their own conventions.

What to expect:

• Photo: Common and often expected. Professional headshot, business attire.
• Personal details: It is standard to include nationality, visa status, date of birth, and sometimes religion. Visa and residency status is particularly important because work permits are tied to sponsorship.
• Length: Resumes tend to be longer, 2-3 pages is normal, sometimes more for senior roles.
• Nationality and visa status: Employers need to know your current status. Are you already in the country? Do you have a transferable visa? Are you applying from abroad? This information affects hiring costs and timelines.
• Language skills: Arabic and English are both important. If you speak both, say so prominently. Other languages like Hindi, Urdu, or Tagalog are valued in industries with diverse workforces.

Format notes:

• Use a professional, clean template. Nothing too creative.
• Include a career objective or summary at the top.
• List experience in detail. Middle Eastern employers often want more description than US employers would.
• References are sometimes included directly on the resume, or a note that they are available.

Industry variation: In multinational companies operating in the Middle East, the resume expectations may lean closer to US or UK standards. For local companies and government entities, follow the regional conventions.

Asia

Asia is not a single market, and resume expectations vary dramatically across the continent.

Japan:

Japan has one of the most unique resume formats in the world. The standard is called a rirekisho, and it follows a fixed template that you can buy at stationery stores or download online.

• It is traditionally handwritten, though typed versions are increasingly accepted
• Includes a photo (formal, with suit)
• Requires personal details: date of birth, gender, marital status, number of dependents
• Has a fixed grid layout, you fill in boxes rather than writing freely
• Education and work history are listed in chronological order (oldest first, not newest)

For international companies in Japan, a Western-style resume may be accepted. But for Japanese companies, use the rirekisho.

China:

Chinese resumes typically include a photo, date of birth, gender, marital status, and sometimes political affiliation (CPC membership is relevant for government and state-owned enterprise roles). Resumes tend to be 1-2 pages. For international companies, follow Western conventions.

India:

For more on this topic, read our guide on resume formatting best practices for ATS.

Indian resumes are often called CVs and tend to be 2-3 pages. Personal details like date of birth, father's name, and marital status are traditionally included, though this is changing with younger professionals and multinational companies. A professional summary and detailed project descriptions are valued.

South Korea:

Similar to Japan in many ways. A photo and personal details are standard. There is also a strong emphasis on educational background, including the name of your high school in some cases.

Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, etc.):

Generally follows a blend of US and UK conventions. Photo inclusion varies. Personal details are common but becoming less expected at multinational companies. Resumes are typically 1-2 pages.

Australia and New Zealand

Australian and New Zealand applications use the term CV, but the format is similar to a US resume with a few differences.

Standard length: 2-3 pages. Australians tend to include more detail than Americans.

What to include:

• Contact details
• Professional summary
• Key skills section
• Work experience with achievements
• Education
• References (2-3 professional references with contact details are sometimes included directly on the CV, this is more common than in the US)
• Professional memberships if relevant

What to leave out:

• Photo (not expected)
• Personal details beyond contact information
• Salary expectations

Format notes: Similar to the UK format. A4 size. Professional but not flashy.

What to Do When Applying Internationally

If you are applying to a country other than your own, here is a practical approach:

Research the specific company. A multinational with headquarters in London but offices in Dubai may prefer UK-style resumes even for their Dubai positions. Company culture often overrides regional norms.

Check the job posting language. If the posting says "CV," they likely expect the regional format. If it says "resume," they may be open to US-style formatting.

Ask a local contact. If you know anyone working in the target country or company, ask them what format is expected. First-hand advice beats any guide.

Prepare multiple versions. If you are applying across regions, maintain two or three versions of your resume tailored to different format expectations. The content stays mostly the same, it is the structure, personal details, and formatting that change.

Translate carefully. If you are submitting a resume in a language other than your native one, have a native speaker review it. Google Translate will not catch the nuances that matter in professional documents.

When in doubt, lean toward the US/UK style. For international companies, the US and UK formats are the most widely recognized. If you cannot determine the local expectation, a clean, achievement-focused, two-page CV without personal details or a photo is a safe bet.

Understanding these differences takes a bit of research upfront, but it prevents your resume from being dismissed for the wrong reasons. You want employers to evaluate your qualifications, not your formatting choices.

If you need help tailoring your resume for a specific market, Sira can optimize your content for any job posting regardless of where it is located. Getting the keywords and structure right is half the battle, the regional formatting is something you layer on top.

Ready to improve your resume? Upload your resume to Sira and get it checked for ATS compatibility.