Resume Format by Country: USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Germany, Gulf, South Asia & Australia

The same resume can look professional in Dubai and odd in New York. Paper size, photos, personal details and even the name of the document change between countries. Here is what recruiters expect in eight markets.

United States

• Called a “resume”; one page early-career, two pages senior.
• US Letter paper (8.5 × 11 in).
• No photo, date of birth, marital status or nationality.
• Heavy ATS use — single-column layouts recommended.

Canada

• Follows US norms: Letter size, no photo or personal details.
• Mention French and any bilingual skills.
• Volunteer experience is valued.

United Kingdom

• Called a “CV”; usually two pages on A4.
• No photo or date of birth; a short personal profile at the top.
• “References available on request” is common at the end.
• Use British spelling.

Continental Europe

• A4; a professional photo is common in many countries.
• Show languages with CEFR levels (A1–C2).
• The EU-standard CV layout with labelled rows is widely recognised.

Germany

• A tabular “Lebenslauf” with a date column on the left.
• Professional photo and personal details are customary.
• Explain gaps; many candidates sign and date the CV.

UAE and the Gulf

• A photo is common and usually expected.
• Include nationality, visa status, driving licence and notice period.
• Two pages is normal; English is the working language for most roles.

South Asia

• A photo, a short career objective and personal details (date of birth, nationality) are customary.
• Freshers should lead with education and CGPA.
• For multinational companies, keep an ATS-friendly version without personal details.

Australia

• A4, two to three pages, no photo.
• Finish with two referees and their contact details.
• Mention working rights if you are not a citizen or resident.

Use the right template for the right market

Our template gallery has a country filter. Each country set follows these conventions — paper size, photo, personal details and sections — so you start from the right structure.