CV in English

A CV in English is now close to mandatory for international, remote, and many multinational-company roles — even when English isn't the working language of the country you're applying from. But a CV that reads as translated, rather than natively written, quietly works against you.

Why "translated" is the wrong goal

If you write your CV in your native language first and then translate it, certain phrases usually don't transfer well: idioms, job titles without a direct English equivalent, and sentence structures that are grammatically fine but simply aren't how a hiring manager in an English-speaking market would phrase things. The safer approach is to think in English from the header down, using shorter, plainer sentences than you might default to.

Practical fixes for a non-native CV

• Job titles: use the closest recognized English equivalent, not a literal translation. If unsure, describe the role in one line rather than inventing an odd-sounding title.
• Verbs first: start bullets with strong English action verbs — "led," "built," "reduced," "negotiated" — which read more naturally than noun-heavy constructions.
• Numbers over adjectives: "increased sales by 15%" is unambiguous in any dialect of English; "significantly increased sales" invites the question "how much?"
• Keep sentences short: one idea per bullet point. Long, clause-heavy sentences are where translation artifacts show up most.

Formatting conventions differ by country

US-style resumes generally omit date of birth, marital status, and photos; many European CVs still include them. If you're applying to a US or UK company, drop personal details beyond name, contact info, and location — including them can actually raise unconscious-bias concerns for employers in those markets.

Build your English CV

Our generator is entirely in English and structured around the conventions international recruiters expect. Pair it with our guide on CV vs. resume terminology if you're not sure which term your target market uses.

Write your CV in English