How to write a CV in English: structure, example phrases and common mistakes

An English CV is not only for jobs abroad. IT companies, offices of international brands, logistics and consulting firms ask for one, and so do local employers who work with foreign clients. This is where candidates most often make the same mistake: they take a resume written in their own language and translate it word for word.

An English-language resume follows different rules: a different section order, a different writing style and a different approach to personal data. This guide covers how to build one, what to write in each section and how to translate job titles and degrees so a foreign recruiter understands them.

Resume or CV: what is the difference

In the US and Canada a job application document is called a resume: a concise summary of one or two pages. In the UK, Ireland and most of the EU the same document is called a CV (curriculum vitae). In academia a CV is a long document listing publications, conferences and grants.

English CV structure

The standard section order is familiar to every English-speaking recruiter and ATS. Do not invent your own section names; use the conventional headings.

1. 1
   Contact Information

   Your name in Latin letters exactly as in your passport, city and country, phone number with the country code, email and LinkedIn. Date of birth, marital status and full street address are not needed.

2. 2
   Professional Summary

   Three or four sentences: who you are, how many years of experience you have, what you are strong at and what you can deliver. Do not confuse it with an "Objective", which describes what you want.

3. 3
   Work Experience

   In reverse chronological order: job title, company, city, dates. Under each role, 3–6 bullet points with achievements that start with a verb.

4. 4
   Education

   Degree, field of study, university and years. Experienced candidates should keep it short and leave out secondary school.

5. 5
   Skills

   Professional tools and technologies grouped by topic, plus languages with CEFR levels.

6. 6
   Certifications, Projects, Volunteering

   Optional sections when they strengthen your application: courses, certificates, personal projects and volunteering.

How to translate job titles, degrees and company names

Literal translations often make no sense to a foreign reader. The goal is to describe the role the way it would be named in the employer's country. A few common examples from Ukrainian resumes:

Do not translate company names; write them the way the company spells itself in Latin letters, such as "Nova Poshta" or "PrivatBank". If the company is not known abroad, add a short description in brackets: "Nova Poshta (Ukraine’s largest parcel delivery company, 30,000+ employees)".

Describing experience: action verbs and results

In an English resume each experience bullet starts with a verb in the past tense (present tense for your current job), without "I" at the beginning. Instead of listing duties, show what changed because of you.

• Results: achieved, increased, reduced, delivered, improved, saved.
• Leadership: led, managed, coordinated, supervised, mentored.
• Creation: built, designed, developed, launched, implemented.
• Analysis: analysed, researched, identified, evaluated, forecast.
• Communication: negotiated, presented, trained, resolved, collaborated.

How to show your English and other language levels

A foreign recruiter cannot interpret "fluent" or "with a dictionary". Use the CEFR scale, and if you hold a certificate, add its name and score.

• Ukrainian — Native
• English — C1 (IELTS 7.5, 2025)
• Polish — B1
• German — A2

Your level has to be accurate: if the resume says B2, the interview will most likely be in English. An honest B1 with a plan to improve is better than a C1 that falls apart in five minutes of conversation.

What to leave out of an English resume

In many countries employers are not allowed to consider age, gender or marital status, so this information looks out of place on a resume and can even hurt your chances.

• Date of birth, age, marital status, children and citizenship (unless it relates to your right to work).
• A photo for the US, Canada and the UK; in Germany, Poland and Austria a photo is acceptable.
• The line "References available upon request": it is outdated, and employers will ask for references separately.
• Personal pronouns: not "I managed a team" but "Managed a team of 8".
• Salary expectations, unless the job ad explicitly asks for them.

Common mistakes

• Machine translation without proofreading: "Was engaged in" instead of "Managed", "Main specialist" instead of "Senior Specialist".
• Mixing American and British spelling in one document.
• Inconsistent date formats. Pick one: "Mar 2023 – Present" or "03/2023 – 03/2025".
• A name spelled differently from your passport, which complicates document checks.
• A 3–4 page resume for a business role.
• Duties copied from a job description instead of achievements.

Checklist before you send it

• Your name matches your passport spelling.
• No date of birth, marital status or photo (unless the country expects one).
• Standard section headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills.
• Every experience bullet starts with a verb, and there are at least a few numbers.
• Job titles and degrees are translated by meaning, not word for word.
• Language levels use the CEFR scale.
• Grammar is checked and spelling is consistent.
• The file name is clear: "Olena_Kovalenko_CV.pdf".

Conclusion

A good English CV is an adaptation, not a translation. A standard structure, concrete achievements led by action verbs, an honest language level and no unnecessary personal data make your application easy to understand for a recruiter in any country.

Create an English resume in the [Rezume.org.ua builder](https://rezume.org.ua/en): choose a template, set the resume language to English and download a PDF.

Frequently asked questions