CV Format: Which One to Use and How to Set It Out

The three basic orders

• Reverse chronological: work history first, newest job at the top. This is the standard in most countries and the order all our formats use.
• Education first: the same order, but with education above work. Use it as a student or recent graduate.
• Skills first: a summary and a skills block above the work history. The Canadian and Australian formats follow this order.

How to format a CV step by step

1. Use one clear font. The UK National Careers Service suggests Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri at size 11 or bigger.
2. Put contact details at the top, then an introduction, then work history and education.
3. Use headings and bullet points so a reader can scan the page.
4. Keep the same style for every heading, date and bullet.
5. Leave out age, date of birth, marital status and nationality, unless you apply in a country where the format includes them.

Country formats at a glance

• United Kingdom: no age, date of birth, marital status or nationality, and references on request.
• United States and Canada: resume on Letter paper, no photo, no personal details.
• Australia: one to three pages, with referees.
• Germany: a table with dates on the left. A photo is often expected, with big differences between industries.
• European Union: the Europass CV is the official EU format, made on the Europass website.

Sources for each country are listed below and on the page of each format.

Sources

• National Careers Service (UK Government): How to write a CV
• Job Bank (Government of Canada): How to write a good resume
• Queensland Government: How to write a resume and cover letter
• Make it in Germany (portal of the German Federal Government): Applying for a job
• US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices
• Europass (European Union): Create your Europass CV
• Template files: made by Dev Global Jobs and opened in Microsoft Word before publishing.

Sources last checked: 2 October 2026.