european format cv and cover letter

European CV + Cover letter with the free Europass service, Templates 2021

• Published on 13/01/2021
• Modification : 06/04/2023
• 6 Commentaires

If you are looking for a job in your country or abroad you need to know that CV is the key document and your first contact with the employer. In a way, it represents your identity card. To an employer, you don't exist without a CV.

Human resources managers, and even more so company directors, don't like to waste a lot of time. A Comprehensive CV that highlights your skills and training in a clear, precise and standardized way will be a major asset in increasing your chances for initial selection.

With this in mind, following an initiative by  the European Union  (through the Directorate-General for Education and Culture), the Europass system was launched in 2004. A system that has evolved over time.

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What is the Europass CV?

Europass is a free service for creating a European-standard CV and cover letter online. This will simplify the job search for candidates in Europe, but the CV can also be used in any country.

Europass is a European action aimed at increasing the transparency of European systems in terms of national education systems, employment and improving their compatibility across Europe. Europass documents and the Europass portal are designed to promote mutual understanding of skills and qualifications in Europe.

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The five Europass documents are the CV, the Language Passport, the Europass Mobility, the Certificate Supplement and the Diploma Supplement, which share a common brand and logo. Since 2012, users have been able to merge all Europass documents into the European Skills Passport.

Who can use the Europass service?

Although this service was originally designed for European citizens, anyone can now use it. You can create your CV easily on the Europass website, without even registering if you wish, although to take full advantage of the site's various features in addition to the CV, registration is compulsory.

The editor takes you step-by-step through the process of filling in your CV, providing detailed instructions and helping you to a successful CV . This ensures that you don't forget to include any important information, and that you can create a clear, up-to-date CV in a minimum of time. This CV is of course particularly suitable for applicants who wish to submit application documents abroad.

Languages supported on Europass

The system covers all the languages used in Europe:

Basque - Bulgarian - Catalan - Croatian

Czech - Danish - Dutch - English - Esperanto - Estonian

Finnish - French - Galician - Gaelic

German - Greek - Hungarian - Icelandic

Italian - Latvian - Lithuanian - Maltese

Moldavian / Romanian - Norwegian - Polish

Portuguese - Russian - Slovak - Slovenian

Spanish - Swedish - Turkish

How to create a Europass CV and cover letter

The Europass website lets you create a CV in just a few minutes, without having to install any programs or applications on your computer or smartphone. Using the website is easy:

• Visit the Europass website: https://europa.eu/europass/fr
• Click on the "Create a CV" link. You will then be invited to register on the site. If you wish to continue without registering, click on "continue".
• A new page will appear for you. Simply enter your details.
• Once you've completed your details, don't forget to click on "Save". You can now download the CV in PDF format. However, if you wish to download it in other formats, click on "Other formats" and then choose the format you prefer.

To create a cover letter To create a cover letter, follow the same steps by clicking on the "Create a cover letter" link instead of creating a CV.

Another alternative to the Europass site is EuroCV: https://www.eurocv.eu

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6 responses.

Hello, It's really an excellent system!

Thank you for your comment

I'd like to do my master's in German language and didactics in France.

I'm really interested How to get the VIS

hello, i have a problem, i can't generate my cover letter, when i download it when i've filled in everything, it says error, please try again; this has been going on for 4 days. i've used my smart phone and my computer, still the same thing.

Hello , MY NAME IS ABDELHAKIM MHAMDI NÈ LE 27/09/1975 MAROC NATIONALITE MAROCAINE ,QUASIER JUDICIAIRE NEANT ,MARIÈ ET J'AI UN PTIT GARCON ,JE TRAVAILLE DANS MON MAGASIN D'ARTISANAT ,JE CHERCHE ADRESSE PATRON QUI FAIT MOI CONFIANCE ET M'ENVOYERA UN CONTRAT TRAVAIL AU SECTEUR DE RECOLTE FRUITS ET LEGUMES COMME OUVRIER SAISONIER . THANK YOU

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Europass cover letter

The Europass cover letter is the most popular CV template in Western Europe, as it was designed by the European Union in order to promote accessibility and transparency across member nations. If you intend to apply for jobs in an EU nation, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the Europass cover letter. Here’s what you need to know.

What is a Europass cover letter?

The Europass cover letter template is a standardized CV and cover letter format. It helps you present your qualifications and skills in an easy-to-digest format. For employers, the Europass cover letter offers standardization, which promotes faster application processing and hiring. You can access the customizable document on the European Union’s official website ( 1).  

While a CV is technically the equivalent of a resume , the EU template lets you create a matching CV and cover letter , hence the term “Europass cover letter.” 

The document is best known for its timeline-style format, where your most recent work experience is listed at the top of the document, followed by your subsequent role, and so on, until you cover all relevant positions and education. The EU template has a line along the left border of the document, with bullet points marking the start of each job or educational experience. 

Overall, the Europass cover letter represents an excellent tool for making applying for jobs in the EU easier and more efficient. However, the layout of the template can lead to lengthy or bloated CVs and cover letters. Fortunately, you can use other resume templates to streamline your application.

Other products for jobseekers by Europass

The European Union has built on the success of the Europass cover letter and CV template by creating several other products for job seekers. Like the original resource, these tools are free to use and are designed to promote a more open and accessible hiring process across member nations. These products include: 

Europass profile

Before you can create a Europass cover letter, you’ll need to make an account on the platform first. Fortunately, this is quite easy — and free. When setting up your profile, make sure to include all relevant work, training, and educational experiences. Also, list any volunteer work, language proficiency, and digital skills.

You can always go back and edit this information later or add new work experience. Additionally, you can pull information from your profile to create cover letters and other Europass documents. 

“The Europass cover letter template is a standardized CV and cover letter format. It helps you present your qualifications and skills in an easy-to-digest format.”

Europass Mobility

Europass Mobility is a supporting document that provides more detail about your educational experiences. As with all Europass tools, this feature is totally free. 

If you have acquired a diverse education from multiple nations across Europe, this tool can be a great addition to your job application. Just make sure to avoid making your cover letter too long or bloated, as doing so can make reviewing your documents cumbersome for hiring teams. 

Europass Language Passport 

The Language Passport allows you to showcase your linguistic talents. If you are proficient in two or more languages, you can create this document and use it to bolster your application. 

This is especially important when applying for jobs where the native language is different from your own. After all, employers want to know that you can effectively communicate with team members if you earn the job. 

Europass Certificate Supplement

The Europass Certificate Supplement provides employers with insights about your certifications or specialty qualifications. This document is especially popular among tech professionals due to the wide range of add-on certifications available in the field. However, you can use it anytime you need to outline non-traditional educational experiences. 

Europass Diploma Supplement

The Europass Diploma Supplement provides a deep dive into your higher education. If you attended a prestigious university and were highly involved in extracurricular activities like clubs or sports teams, use the Europass Diploma Supplement. 

Should I use the Europass cover letter?

Overall, the Europass cover letter template can be a great tool when applying for jobs abroad. The various add-on tools provide even more value to your job-hunting process. However, the template itself can be a bit dated and rigid. While you can customize it with your personal experiences, many of the formatting aspects cannot be changed. 

If you aren’t sure if the Europass cover letter is a good fit for you, consider exploring other cover letter examples and resume articles from Jobseeker. Our growing library of resources can help you compare different options and decide the best way to showcase your skills and talents to European businesses.

Expert Tip:

Keep in mind that almost everyone applying for jobs in the EU uses the Europass cover letter template, which makes it difficult to stand out in competitive hiring processes. Using a more dynamic template can differentiate you from other job seekers and increase your odds of landing an interview.

The pros of a Europass cover letter

There are some undeniable benefits associated with using the Europass cover letter, including:

You enjoy access to complementary tools

If you use the EU’s free platform, you’ll have access to a range of complimentary tools, including Mobility, Language Passport, and Certificate Supplement. These add-ons allow you to go into greater detail about your abilities, work history, educational experience, and background. 

Conversely, generic CV templates can be a bit limiting. That’s where the Europass template shines. 

You benefit from standardization

If you have never applied for a job in Europe, using the Europass platform can make the entire process much easier. The standardized format takes the guesswork out of creating your cover letter and CV, as you can simply fill in the blanks. 

Standardization also makes life simpler for hiring teams, as they know what order your information will be presented and where to find key details. 

You have the opportunity to share a lot of information

If you have an extensive educational or professional background, the Europass cover letter can be expanded to suit your needs. You can add supplementary documents via the EU’s free tools and tell employers everything they need to know about who you are as a candidate. 

The cons of a Europass cover letter

Before you create a Europass profile and get to work on your standardized cover letter, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks of these templates. Here are three of the biggest shortcomings: 

The U.K. doesn’t use the Europass

The United Kingdom doesn’t use the Europass cover letter. After Brexit, the U.K. made a concerted effort to differentiate itself from EU member nations. 

The transition away from Europass cover letters was a relatively small change compared to some other post-Brexit changes. But if you are seeking a job in the U.K., it’s important to know that employers don’t expect a Europass CV.

The good news is that you can still nail your U.K. job application with a little help from Jobseeker. Our resume examples and cover letter articles offer real-world insights into what your U.K. documents should look like and how to make them stand out. 

The template is restrictive

Perhaps the biggest shortcoming of the Europass cover letter is that it can be restrictive and rigid. You don’t have much freedom to change the overall layout of the document, only the information it contains. This can lead to your application blending in when it should be standing out. 

Your CV may be too long

Another downside to the Europass template is that it can yield a long, multi-page document that obscures important information. 

If you have a dynamic professional history and extensive educational background, you justifiably want to showcase it. But if you rely on Europass tools, your CV and cover letter could have a combined length of four pages or more. 

You need a concise and engaging way of putting your skills on display. That’s where Jobseeker can help! Our matching CV and cover letter templates offer conciseness and standardization while also making applications stand out. 

Stand out with Jobseeker 

When it comes to writing a great cover letter, Europass alternatives like Jobseeker’s resume and cover letter templates represent a better option. Check out our Europass CV , a modern and highly customizable alternative designed to help you stand out and land your dream job. 

Ready to get started? Connect with Jobseeker for personalized support.  

References: 

(1) Europass Cover Letter Editor: https://europa.eu/europass/eportfolio/screen/cover-letter-editor  

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Cover Letter

What is the Europass cover letter?   With the various templates of the Europass cover letter editor, you can draft a structured, attractive and professional cover letter. As with the Europass CV Editor, you can create the application letter online in 30 languages. It is very easy to structure the letter, as the most important elements are already predefined in the editor. There are no mandatory elements. You can adapt the letter to your own style and preferences.

Create your CV and cover letter online

What is a Europass CV [Examples, Template & Usage in 2023]

In This Guide:

What is a europass cv, how to write a europass cv, advantages and disadvantages of a europass cv, writing tips for europass cv, example of a europass cv.

If you want to apply for a job in any country in Europe, you need to take into account all the differences there are between the US and European application documents.

In the US, what you typically would send out when applying for a job is a resume. In Europe, the document you would send out to potential employers is similar to a resume, but there it is called a CV (which is not the same as the US CV format)

A popular option in Europe is using the Europass CV format.

We are here to help, in this article, we are going to answer some of the most important questions about the Europass CV:

• What are the advantages of the Europass CV?
• What are the disadvantages of the Europass CV?

And once we are done, we are going to leave you off with some great writing tips , and an example of a Europass CV to get you going.

So, if you are ready to learn about Europass CV, let’s dive in.

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The Europass CV is a popular CV template that is often used Europe. It is the European equivalent of what we call a resume in the US.

It provides an easy way to create a CV that would be recognized all over Europe, and it also lets you create a matching cover letter for your application .

When it comes to layout & design, though, the Europass format can be lacking, since it results in VERY long CVs (resumes). It also defaults to including some unnecessary information and can look quite dated. There is more on the advantages and disadvantage of the Europass format, but let's take a look at a more modern alternative, with the same timeline layout that Europass is known for.

Europass has provided a specialized website that allows you to build your standardized European CV for free, you can check it out right here .

The only thing you need to do before start using their free tool is create a profile, which should consist of your personal information , work experience, education and training, and personal skills .

But all that is not in vain, as that helps you create as many Europass CVs you want by selecting the information you want to include in each document.

To get the best out of your Europass CV, you need to do 5 things:

• Present your experience clearly – highlight examples of your skills and experiences matching the job you are applying for and pay close attention to the details published in the job offer
• Tailor your Europass CV – make sure you update the ‘About Me’ section to highlight why you are the best person for the job and focus on facts and main points that match the job you have in mind, rather than listing your full detailed history
• Make your document readable – make sure your Europass CV is easy to read, use clear and simple language, and strong verbs (e.g., managed, developed, increased)
• Use reverse chronological order – always list the most recent experience on the top, followed by previous ones. In case of long gaps in working or learning, include an explanation
• Polish and proofread – check for spelling and grammar mistakes, provide a professional e-mail address, and add a professional photograph of yourself.

Now that you know what a Europass CV is, and how you can write one , let’s look at its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Europass CV

Even though Europass CV is widely criticized, it has some key advantages that we need to take a look at.

First, it is completely free to use, and allows you to create, store and share CVs in 29 different languages . The Europass format also allows you to create a matching cover letter for your application.

Furthermore, the format is recognized internationally among hiring managers, which means that they understand the format, structure, and layout the second they open your CV.

Last but not least, it helps you create your application documents quickly without omitting any important information, like your work experience, volunteer work , academic background, skills, etc.

However, the advantages of the Europass CV are quite limited. Other than the ones specified above, that format can be considered as an advantage only if a candidate has no time or resources to invest in a good CV, or the hiring manager is not interested in the quality or design of the document.

Disadvantages of Europass CV

Now that we know the advantages of Europass CV, let’s take a look at why is it so criticized.

The most common Europass CV disadvantages, described by many sources, are:

• Outdated CV designs
• Questionable CV builder interface
• Bugs on the website

But the biggest deal-breaker for users is usually the design, which has the following issues:

• Questionable text formatting
• Gapping white spaces that leave lots of space unused
• A way too big logo of Europass that takes up a great deal of space
• Huge spaces between bullet points and text
• Justified text that spaces words out in a weird way
• Most of the information is displayed on the left side of the page, which leaves the right one almost completely blank

Using a Europass CV can leave you at a disadvantage from other candidates, as it make your CV less memorable, so you should carefully consider using it.

However, if your potential employer requires you to send out a Europass CV, you should not hesitate to create one.

If you are determined to create your Europass CV, or your potential employer requires you to provide one, you need to get the best out of it.

That’s why you should follow a few simple writing tips to get the best results.

Make your writing compelling

The first thing you need to do with your Europass CV is really grab the hiring manager’s attention with your words.

Make sure you use strong action verbs and vivid adjectives to describe why you are the right person for the job through your qualifications, achievements, and skills.

Don’t forget to scan the job listing for any important keywords . You need to use those to both grab the hiring manager’s attention, and pass through any ATS (Applicant Tracking System) the company may be using for pre-selection.

Avoid clichés

As your design won’t help you get the job, you need to make your words do it for you.

And clichés are definitely something to avoid anywhere in your CV.

You need to make your CV sound original, so make sure you use language that hiring managers haven’t seen a thousand times before.

Be specific

A great way to stand out from the crowd of candidates is showing your qualifications in a detailed manner.

Using facts and hard numbers to quantify your work-related accomplishments makes them stronger and more memorable for the hiring manager.

Consider the CV length

Just like with a US resume, you should limit your Europass CV length to a one-pager .

In this case, it would be a bit more difficult because of all the white space issues, but you can make it work by keeping your text as short as possible.

The best way to go is removing any words that cause your text to go over to a new line with a single word standing on the second line.

By trimming such words, you can effectively eliminate the white-space problem from your Europass CV and show everything you need to in just one page.

You can go for a two-pager if you think it’s better , but you need to make sure you have enough experience and skills for such a long document.

Lastly, there is still one thing you need to do, and you should never forget about it.

What you should be particularly on the lookout for are:

• Spelling and grammar mistakes
• Inconsistent punctuation
• Broken website links
• Incorrect contact information
• Long or unclear sentences

If you want to be extra careful, you can always ask some family and friends to proofread it for you as well.

And, as promised, we are going to leave you off with an example of a Europass CV to get you going.

We are all done, now you know what a Europass CV is, and all its pros and cons.

If you have decided you need to write your Europass CV, make sure you follow all the important steps in writing one:

• Present your experience clearly, so that the focus would fall on your most relevant skills and experience
• Tailor your Europass CV to the job you are applying for, just like you would do with a standard US resume
• Make sure your document is easy-to-read, and uses clear and simple language, along with strong verbs
• Use reverse chronological order (your most recent entries come first)
• Make your writing compelling, so that you would grab the hiring manager’s attention with your words
• Avoid clichés, as they are widely disliked and the chances of your CV being remembered would sink
• Be specific and use some examples and hard numbers to quantify your work-related achievements
• Make sure your Europass CV does not exceed one page (unless you have lots of relevant work experience)
• Proofread it to eliminate any spelling and grammar errors

Take a look at our example of Europass CV, and create your own for your next job opportunity in Europe.

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CVs & Résumés

• Dec 16, 2021

How to Create a Europass CV (Tips and Example)

The Europass CV is great for applying for jobs within Europe — here’s everything you need to know!

Nikki Vivian

Careers Coach and Writer

Reviewed by Chris Leitch

When it comes to writing a CV , there are so many templates and formats to choose from that it can get confusing. Do you choose a chronological or a skills-based format ? Do you keep the design simple or use a fancy template? The choice can be overwhelming.

To keep things simple, if you’re applying for a role within Europe, you can overcome the confusion by using the Europass CV. Rather than worrying about what type of CV to choose, working with a Europass CV template means your CV will be easy to put together and easily recognisable by EU employers and educational institutions alike.

In this article, you will learn what a Europass CV is, what to use it for and how to put one together with our top tips, as well as see an example in action.

What is a Europass CV?

The Europass CV is one of the best-known résumé formats within Europe. Like a standard CV, its purpose is to present your work history, education, skills and other important information to potential employers.

It is part of the online Europass platform , an incentive set out by the EU to help create some uniformity and transparency of experience and qualifications so that they’re clearly understood by employers throughout Europe.

As well as offering an online CV editor, the Europass platform provides four other tools:

• The cover letter editor , which helps you create a structured cover letter from different templates.
• The Diploma Supplement , a document that describes the skills and knowledge you acquired through a higher education degree.
• The Europass Mobility document, which records any skills and knowledge you acquired through work placements, traineeships and internships in another country.
• The Certificate Supplement document, which details the skills and knowledge you acquired through vocational training.

Pros and cons of a Europass CV

While the idea of having a uniform system for assessing candidates has been praised, others find the process very restrictive. There are different views on its effectiveness. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of the Europass CV.

Those who support the Europass CV believe it holds many advantages over a less structured CV approach, including:

• It’s free: Creating a Europass CV is as easy as creating an account and inputting your details. It doesn’t cost anything, so no need to pay a résumé writer or fork out for expensive CV templates.
• It’s easy for employers to compare: If everyone applying for a role uses a Europass CV, it’s easy for an employer to compare candidates and data. When different CV formats are used, and information is presented differently, it can take a long time to pick out relevant achievements and skills to score candidates against each other.
• It can be used outside of the EU: The Europass CV can be used by anyone and is available in 24 languages, regardless of where you’re from or where you’re applying to work.

While Europass has support and is widely accepted, it does have its disadvantages, such as:

• It’s harder to stand out: While being uniformed has some advantages, it makes it very difficult for candidates to stand out from their competition. It doesn’t allow you to add sections for things that may be unique for you, and the overall look of the CV is bland and clumsy.
• It lacks flexibility: Along the same lines as above, the Europass CV is so structured that information needs to be input into the appropriate sections , even if it isn’t relevant. This can make for a very long CV, lacking the creativity of combining sections. The structure also often gets split across two pages, making sections difficult to read, so vital information could be missed.
• Website errors are common: There have been reports that the Europass CV builder is very buggy and in need of some review. Dates often get changed, and if an error is presented, the website doesn’t allow you to change it. All of this can be very frustrating and makes the process much more complicated than it should be.

How to create a Europass CV

Creating a Europass CV is a fairly simple process, and it can be broken down into four steps:

1. Create your own Europass Profile

Setting up a Europass Profile is completely free. You don’t have to create an account but it’s a good idea that you do so that you can save your information and progress and return to the website later to make any changes. If you don’t create an account, it’s important to note that any information you enter on the platform will be deleted after 48 hours and so you’ll need to start all over again.

2. Add your details

Once you create an account, head over to the Europass CV editor , where you’ll be invited to complete the different sections of your CV, specifically your personal details, a summary, your professional experience, education and training , and skills and competencies. You can also add additional sections language skills, publications, volunteer work, and hobbies and interests .

3. Select a template

When you’ve added all your information to your CV, you can select an appropriate design for it from a selection of templates. In this step, you can also edit your CV’s colour palette, change font size and add page numbers. There’s also an option to remove the Europass logo from your CV here, which is automatically added to the first page.

4. Save and download your CV

All you have to do now is save your CV in your Europass Library or publish it on EURES (a cooperation network of employment services aimed to facilitate employment mobility among EU member states) — provided that you’ve created a Europass Profile. You can also download your CV as a PDF file. (Make sure to give it an appropriate name, like ‘John Smith CV’.)

Tips for writing a Europass CV

As with writing any type of CV, there are certain things you can do to make yours stand out from other candidates and mistakes to avoid making . Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Be concise

When describing your experience, make sure that you use short statements — this makes your CV more readable and easily understandable, and it shows that you respect the reader’s time. On that note, it’s a good idea to avoid clichés like ‘excellent problem-solver’ and to start statements with action words like ‘oversaw’ and ‘supervised’.

2. Tailor your experience

Rather than just including everything and anything in your CV, make sure the information you pick is relevant to the role you’re applying for . A good idea here is to look at the job description to identify key words and phrases and any relevant details, and incorporate these into your CV.

3. Use measurables

Make sure your CV highlights your results and achievements with facts and figures. Use percentages to show improvement and numbers to indicate things like how many people you manage, how much money you saved a company and how you scored in an appraisal.

4. Focus on transferable skills

It’s not all about skills that feel very specific to the job you’re applying for. Employers want to know about your transferable skills, too — so, make sure you highlight things like communication skills , leadership abilities and a desire to collaborate.

5. Use the correct tenses

A common mistake people often make with a CV is getting tenses muddled. Your current role should be written in the present tense (although some achievements that have passed may be in the past tense). Previous roles should always be written in the past tense.

6. Proofread

It may sound like an obvious thing to do, but make sure you give your CV a thorough proofread before submitting. A CV with lots of errors will give a bad impression, even if your experience is amazing. It shows a lack of attention to detail or, worse, a lack of effort. Grammar must be checked, as well as spelling and formatting.

Europass CV example

Want to see a Europass CV in action? Check out this example!

Final thoughts

A Europass CV is a great option for having a recognised CV format, accepted and approved, all over Europe. There are many pros and cons to using this format but, overall, it’s easy to create and it saves the hassle of designing a CV yourself or paying for the service. A well-thought-out Europass CV can look professional and give you a solid basis for any future CVs you need to write.

Have you ever used a Europass CV in your job search? Do you think it’s worth creating one? Let us know in the comments section.

This article is an update of an earlier version published in September 2014.

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Europass Cover Letter: 05 Samples & Templates ideas

Are you looking for a way to improve your resume and make it more appealing to potential employers? And want Europass Cover Letter? Cover letters are an important part of the job application process, and can be a great way to show off your skills and qualifications. The Europass cover letter format is a great option if you’re looking for a simple, straightforward way to create a professional-looking letter.

When it comes to finding a job, the cover letter is an important part of your application. It’s your chance to introduce yourself and show the employer why you’re the perfect candidate for the job. So If you’re not sure how to write a cover letter, we can help. our website has templates and tips for writing a cover letter that will stand out from the crowd. Today, we’re going to look at some of the best ideas for europass cover letter. So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been applying for jobs for years, these tips will help you create a cover letter that will make employers want to hire you! Therefore, We’ve provided some tips on how to write cover letter and examples to help you get started. So keep reading to learn more!

Europass Cover Letter Template

Respected HR Manager,

Application for the post of working with your esteemed company has been submitted.  I am very much confident to fit in this role as my educational qualifications, work experience and skills are matchless with that of the desired profile.

In my enclosed resume you will find that during the past five years I have been working as a  and now I am looking for an opportunity to work in your esteemed company. In my career, I have also worked as a  and currently, I am managing a team of 15 employees and we are producing more than our capacity. Earlier, I have also worked as a  and I am confident that these skills will be useful for this job.

With regards to my academic qualifications, I have done MBA in Health Care and completed BBA from ____ School of Business and Finance. Additionally, I have done a Ph.D. in Social Sciences from the University of ______. During my studies, I had an internship at  HR Department where I got a chance to learn many business skills.

I am an experienced candidate who is ready to take up any challenge. I assure you that if given a chance, I will prove myself worthy of your trust and make this association pleasant for both parties. Thanking you in anticipation, hoping that you will find my application worthy of your valuable time and consideration in advance, I remain.  

Best Regards, Name: Email: Address: Contact:

Europass Cover Letter Sample

Dear Sir / Madam,

I’m writing to apply for the post of ____ that I saw advertised on (website) / ((advertisement in newspaper or magazine).

Since my studies at university, I’ve developed (insert the skills/knowledge that matches the requirements of the job).

I attach my CV for you to consider. I would be grateful if you could arrange for an interview at your convenience so we can discuss this opportunity in more detail. However, before that happens, I would like to ask you a few questions about the company and outline how my qualifications and experience match what you are looking for.

Please find my CV attached. If you need any further information please contact me on (insert your contact details).

Thank you for your time and consideration, I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, Name & Contact info

Europass CV Cover Letter

I would like to express my interest in the Trainee position advertised on JobPilot.dk. I’m very familiar with your company and its products, as well as their development strategy within the European market.

As you may know, I am currently working at XYZ, a German company that has an extensive experience of working with companies like yours. Last year I wrote a Master Thesis about the industry, which I believe brings me very close to your business.

I will start by introducing myself briefly explaining why your company can benefit from hiring me. You will find my academic qualifications, job-related skills, experiences, and achievements below. And now, I would like to share my motivation and expectations with you.

I’m looking forward to learning more about you and how I can contribute to your success. I’ve enclosed my Curriculum Vitae which you are welcome to circulate if you wish.

Thank you for your time and consideration, best regards, Your Signature

Yours sincerely, Name, Email, Address, Contact#

Europass Cover Letter Example

Respected Sir,

I am writing for the purpose of presenting myself as a candidate for the position of Engineer advertised in your esteemed weekly. Would like to bring to your notice that I have completed my Bachelors degree in Engineering and now pursuing Masters degree from an Institution approved by AICTE.

I possess core knowledge and competencies required for this position as I am an Engineer specialized in the field of Manufacturing and Production. My Bachelors degree is from Xxxxxx College. The knowledge and practical skills acquired during my academics helped me to attain this position today.

I am looking for a full-time position in a company that would be the best place to work and learn for me – user-friendly, open and with opportunities to grow. So I want to become a part of your team and help you achieve the success you’ve been aiming at. Also Paying attention to details and striving for the best results is what I do in my everyday life. It is exactly what will make me an excellent employee.

I can assure you that if given a chance, as well as I will prove my mettle and not let your organization down. Look forward to joining your company as soon as possible. I am enclosing my resume along with this letter.

Yours Sincerely, Name & Email

Cover letter Europass Example

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing this letter with the motivation to apply for the available position of Senior Executive. I have done MSc in Economics and have a strong banking experience that makes me appropriate for this role.

My resume speaks about my accomplishments, but it doesn’t show how dedicated I am to the job. Moreover, it is sometimes difficult to choose the right words to express my feelings. That’s why I am sending you this letter with the intention to convince you about my seriousness and dedication towards work.

I am looking for a job in the sphere of business administration. So where I can enhance my skills, gain some valuable experience and be able to use my language skills in communication with foreign partners. As an MBA graduate, its most important for me to gain more expertise which will allow me to increase my long-term prospects. I would like to work in an environment that challenges me continuously and provide opportunities for professional growth.

I am confident that your company can help me to achieve the goals I set for myself because it has a great reputation in the market and produces various kinds of business equipment. Also motivated by your promise of financial benefits and career development of employees. My resume shows that I have a three-year of experience in the banking and financial sector. I started working as a Secretary and then switched to accounting and finance and finally finished as a personal assistant to the CEO.

Sincerely, Name, Personal Information

For More: Good Cover Letter Examples: 07 Sample ideas

You’ve just read about some of the most effective ways to write a Europass cover letter. So If you want more, we have tons on our blog with tips and tricks for success in your job hunt! We hope you have found our top tips for writing a Europass cover letter useful. So If you are struggling to find the right words, it may be time to take a break and come back with fresh eyes! Remember that your CV is not just an academic document. Use these tips to make sure it reflects who you are as a person too. So What do you think? let us now in the comment section. Let us know what you think by commenting below or on social media – any feedback is always appreciated!

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European CV Format: How To Write A CV For Jobs In Europe

If you’re ever applying for a job outside the UK then you might have queries about whether there are any differences in CV formats… In this guide we’ll cover the European CV format questions that candidates often ask us about.

In many ways, writing a CV for a job application in Europe is not significantly different to creating one for UK-based employers. You may have heard that it’s more common to include a photo or personal details on a CV in Europe though – we’ll come to that later.

And you may also have heard about a standardised CV document for European countries called Europass … And sometimes, incorrectly, the Euro Pass CV.

It is certainly a popular document, with Europass users reportedly downloading 9 million CVs from the platform in 2023 alone.

It’s a European Union initiative, aiming to provide a standardised format for creating CVs used throughout Europe (including in non-EU member countries).

But do you have to use it? This is a key question when exploring European CV guidelines, so let’s start by explaining what the Europass CV format is in detail. 

What is the Europass CV?

The idea is to allow job seekers a means to present their qualifications and experiences in a clear and comparable way across different countries in a European CV template. We’ll explain how this works shortly.

In a nutshell, a Europass CV template provides:

• Standardised structure: A consistent format for presenting information
• Multilingual options: Available in many different languages
• Online platform: To create, store, edit, copy and share your CV digitally

Europass provides an online platform to build a CV, using drop-down menus to give candidates a list of pre-determined sections to choose from.

This means hiring managers or recruiters familiar with Europass CVs should not be in for any surprises, as it’s not possible to create your own section heading, for example. It’s also easy to change the section headings into a different language using a drop-down menu.

So, how does Europass try to ensure some standardisation and ease of comparability for candidates from different countries? After all, the CV sections you can choose from match those you would use in the UK, i.e.:

• Contact information
• Personal statement
• Work history
• Hobbies and interests

Other sections include driving licence on CV , digital skills, awards, publications – useful on a scientist CV – projects, volunteering and so on, but every category is optional.

In short, the Europass platform steers you when filling in some of the sections if you click on the ‘i’ buttons by empty boxes. For example:

• Fill in the Education and Training section and you’re prompted to mention the EQF level if you know it
• Enter your CV Languages and it encourages you to rate your fluency using A1-C2 i.e. the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

But you don’t need Europass for such guidelines. This begs the question…

Do I have to use Europass?

No – unless the employer mentions on the job description that it’s a requirement, but that will not be common.

If you’re applying for a job in Europe then it’s worth browsing through the Europass website and playing around with its platform though. Try creating a Europass CV example to see what it looks like.

It should provide some reassurance that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel when writing a CV for a job in Europe.

When thinking about how to write a CV for Europe, use the same sections you would for UK employers. In other words:

• Sell yourself in your personal statement
• Go into detail about your work history so far, highlight your most impressive skills and achievements
• List your education and qualification details
• If there’s enough space and you have some relevant things to write about, include your hobbies and interests

Whether you write that CV using Europass or start from scratch in a Word / Google doc is up to you.

Employers are looking for the best candidates, they won’t mind if you use their ideal format and layout or not. They want to read about your experiences and achievements – as you do in the UK, focus on presenting these as well as possible and selling yourself well.

But whether you use Europass or not, there are a couple of important potential differences between UK and European CVs worth thinking about before you submit a copy…

Personal details and your photo on a CV in Europe

If you’re applying for a job in Europe outside the UK, it’s common to include a photo on CVs but it is rarely – if ever – mandatory.

It’s also common to include some personal details on CVs such as date of birth or nationality whereas we don’t recommend doing this for UK applications.

There is no rule set in stone and employers will not reject your CV in Europe purely on the basis of whether they were expecting you to include a photo or not.

But in countries where the norm and best practice is to include a photo, it’s worth doing. How do you know when that’s the case though? Here is some advice from comprehensive research by StudentNews.eu including the following recommendations for these European countries:

• France: It’s common to include a CV photo
• Germany: Most employers like to see a photo
• Spain: Standard to include a photo but not required

Again, the Europass CV online tool provides some reassurance here. It lets you upload a profile photo, date of birth and nationality on your CV, reflecting the fact that it’s common to include these elements in European job applications.

However, don’t include a photo on your CV for Ireland unless the employer specifically asks for one.

Remember that in terms of a photo on a CV for UK applications, we don’t recommend this due to the strict anti-discrimination laws in place.

For more detailed information check out our guide to the photo on a CV guidance for UK job applications.

CVs worldwide – what other formats are there?

Looking beyond the UK and Europe briefly, are there any major differences to CV formats in the rest of the world?

Well of course in the US the document is called a resume – you don’t put a photo on this either. It’s often only one page long whereas in the UK, after a few years of work, you can struggle to keep a CV to just two pages.

We explore this in more detail in our guide on the difference between a resume and a CV . In this article you’ll also find an interactive map showing which countries use the standard CV format.

Applying for a job in Japan? The name for a Japanese resume is a Rirekisho , with only basic information included, and then there’s the much more detailed Shokumu-keirekisho !

We hope you have found this guide useful – and to read other informative articles, check out the PurpleCV blog . Recently we have provided a CV checklist – useful for both UK and European job applications.

And we can also help you with interview preparation. For example, read our how do you work under pressure example answer !

Final thoughts: How to write a European CV

Check whether it’s common practice to include a photo and personal details in the country you’re applying for a job in.

Where relevant and possible, use standardised European frameworks to describe your skills and qualifications, such as languages.

But while Europass is a common European CV format, it is not essential to use – feel free to create your own in a Word or Google doc as per your UK applications.

If you try making a test CV on the Europass platform, you’ll quickly see that there is no one standalone rigid European format or layout.

Your priority needs to be writing a CV that does justice to your abilities, skills and career achievements so far.

Think carefully about the information your potential employer needs, plus what makes you stand out – then work out how to convey these details quickly and effectively.

It’s easier said than done, we know. But if you need a hand, we’re here to help.

We are a team of professional CV writers capable of making your job application stand out from the crowd – in Europe too.

You’ve done the hard work in your studies and career – don’t hold yourself back with a CV that’s selling you short.

We have written many CVs for applications in European countries. If you’d like some support with CV writing then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Europass CV: How to Get a Job in Europe

If you’re looking to apply for jobs in Europe, you may be wondering if the process is any different from that in the United States or other regions. While they have some things in common, some companies and institutions require a  specific type of resume.  Or as it’s called in Europe, a CV or  curriculum vitae .

Though there are numerous types of  resume formats  you can use in Europe, the Europass, also known as the “European resume”, was developed by the European Commission in the 1990s as a  standardized format .

It has a user-friendly structure and is  accepted throughout Europe , (except in the UK).

Keep reading to find out what a Europass CV entails and  how to write one .

What is the Europass Resume for Europe?

The Europass CV  aims to simplify  the job application process for candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds who want to  apply for jobs in Europe .

It is a resume format that can be  easily understood by European employers  throughout the continent.

The great news is that it’s  not exclusive to Europeans .

Americans can also use the Europass  to create their own European CV to properly demonstrate their qualifications to employers in Spain, Germany, and just about any country in Europe.

In the following sections, you’ll learn how to format and write your own Europass CV with the help of  examples and actionable advice .

Europass CV Format

The Europass is a resume format with a specific structure that makes it simple for employers to compare candidates.

It has  5 basic sections :

• Personal information
• Work experience
• Education and training
• Personal  skills  and competencies
• Additional information

As you see, this European-style resume offers a straightforward approach to presenting your qualifications and work experience and is similar to a U.S-style resume except for the languages section.

European resumes focus more on this section by providing more detail about the different fluency levels.

How to Write a Europass CV

With its 5 sections and simple design, writing a Europass CV is  very easy.

To create yours,  follow the steps  below:

• Use a template : Start with our  online resume builder  by selecting the European Format. It provides a clear structure to follow and ensures you configure your resume correctly.
• Fill in your personal information : Include your name, date of birth, and contact details.
• List your work experience, education, and training : Mention your most recent experience first, followed by the previous ones. If you have  gaps in your work  or education history, provide an explanation for them.
• Highlight other qualifications : Include any relevant courses, certificates, or diplomas.
• Add any additional information : List your language skills, volunteering experience, or any other relevant details.
• Proofread your resume : Check for any spelling or grammatical errors before submitting it. Ask a friend or colleague to review your resume and provide feedback.

Example of a Europass CV

Below, you’ll find a  European   resume example  that follows the standardized Europass format. This sample can serve as  a helpful guide  when creating your own.

Samantha Johnson

123 Main Street, New York, NY 10001

555-555-5555

[email protected]

WORK HISTORY

Laboratory Assistant, 04/2019 – Current

ABC Research Institute – New York City, NY

• Conducted over 200 laboratory tests and experiments following established protocols and procedures under the supervision of senior researchers.
• Maintained and calibrated laboratory equipment, resulting in a 30% decrease in equipment malfunctions and increased efficiency in experimental procedures.

Laboratory Assistant, 07/2014 – 04/2019

XYZ Pharmaceuticals – Boston, MA

• Prepared over 500 laboratory samples for experiments, resulting in the successful completion of numerous research projects and product development initiatives.
• Conducted quality control checks on laboratory samples, leading to a 20% increase in accuracy and reliability of experimental results.

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, 2011

New York University – New York City, NY

• Mother tongue – English
• Languages – French C2
• Interpersonal – Collaborated with laboratory teams of 5+
• Organizational – Maintained meticulous records and documentation of laboratory procedures, inventory, and experimental data.
• Job-specific – Demonstrated proficiency in operating and maintaining laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, centrifuges, pipettes, and spectrophotometers. Developed expertise in various laboratory techniques, including cell culture, protein purification, and chemical synthesis.
• Digital – Utilized various computer software and databases to analyze and visualize experimental data, including Microsoft Excel, GraphPad Prism, and ImageJ

Europass CV Writing Tips

Even though a Europass CV has a very specific design with a simple format you can follow, you still need to pay careful attention to  how you word the different sections .

Read the following advice to  create a powerful Europass CV :

• Be brief : Keep your Europass CV brief and to the point. Avoid including irrelevant information or details.
• Be specific : Use specific examples to illustrate your skills and experience.
• Use action verbs : Begin your sentences with action verbs, such as “managed,” “created,” or “developed.” This will make your CV more dynamic and engaging.
• Tailor your CV to the job : Customize it to the job you’re applying for by highlighting the skills and experience that match the job requirements.
• Avoid using complex terminology : Although European recruiters are often proficient in English, using industry-specific language may result in confusion or misinterpretation. Communicate your ideas in accessible language.

Now, let’s put this advice into action with  a few examples :

How to be specific

Managed email marketing campaigns, resulting in a 25% increase in open rates and a 15% increase in click-through rates compared to the previous year.

This is a very good example of being specific because it provides  concrete and measurable results , which gives the employer a clear understanding of the candidate’s achievements and capabilities.

How to use action verbs

Led the development and execution of a strategic project plan, resulting in a 10% increase in project success rates.

It starts with a strong action verb “lead” which  emphasizes the candidate’s leadership abilities  and active role in the project. The verb “developed” conveys the candidate’s  strategic thinking and planning skills , while “executed” highlights their  ability to follow through  and implement the plan effectively. Using active verbs like these helps you feature your accomplishments, strengths, and abilities

How to be brief

Managed cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of projects within budget constraints. Conducted risk assessments and developed contingency plans to mitigate potential issues.

This example  conveys important information  by using simple language and avoiding unnecessary details. The candidate has effectively communicated their skills and experience without overwhelming the reader with information.

How to Submit Your Europass CV

The method of submission may vary depending on the employer’s requirements, but the following guidelines will help ensure a smooth process:

• Save the file in the desired format : Ensure you save it in the appropriate file format. Typically, employers prefer PDF or Word (.docx) files.
• Follow employer guidelines : Always follow the specific instructions provided by the employer. This may include attaching the CV to an email, uploading it to a job portal, or submitting it through an online application form.
• Customize for each application : Tailor your Europass CV to suit the requirements of each job application. Highlight the most relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications based on the job description. Customizing your CV will demonstrate your attention to detail and increase your chances of being considered for an interview.
• Include a cover letter : While not always required, including a well-crafted cover letter can significantly enhance your application. Be sure to customize your  cover letter , just as you would with your Europass CV.
• Double-Check your application : Carefully review it for any errors or inconsistencies. Proofread for spelling and grammar mistakes, and ensure that all information is accurate and up-to-date.

The 5 Documents of the European Skills Passport

The  European Skills Passport  consists of 5 documents which together form a personal profile. The  Europass  is one of these documents.

• Europass CV : It’s the main document of the European Skills Passport and our main focus in this post.
• Language passport : This part showcases the different languages you speak and the levels of ability. Your speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities are all ranked separately.
• Europass mobility : In this document, you record experience acquired in different European countries, including work placements,  voluntary work , and academic experience (such as exchanges and years abroad).
• Certificate supplement : With detailed information about your  education  and qualifications, It makes it easier for employers to better understand the courses that you’ve taken.
• Diploma supplement : Similar to the Certificate Supplement,the only difference is the type of certification it focuses on.

Differences between Resumes & Europass CVs

There are  several key differences  between an American resume and a Europass CV, primarily in terms of formatting, content, and purpose.

Below are some of the main distinctions:

• Formatting : American resumes have a flexible format tailored to individual preferences and job requirements, while Europass CVs follow a standardized 5 section format for consistency across European job markets.
• Length : CVs are more comprehensive, covering a wider range of skills and experiences. Resumes are brief and focus on the most relevant qualifications.
• Content : A  personal summary or objective  is an essential part of any resume. This is not the case with Europass CVs. These focus on language and digital skills in dedicated sections and include extra sections not found in American resumes.
• Personal Information : Resumes omit personal information to prevent discrimination, but CVs include such details due to their relevance in the EU labor market.
• Photos : Including a photo in resumes is uncommon due to potential discrimination, while in certain European countries, photos on CVs are more prevalent and may be expected depending on the industry and culture.
• Purpose and geographic scope : Resumes are tailored for the U.S. job market, whereas Europass CVs are designed to meet the needs of job seekers within the EU and EFTA (European Free Trade Area) countries.

Choosing the correct document type is crucial, depending on the job and location you’re targeting.

Pros & Cons of the Europass CV

While the Europass CV can have its benefits, there are also potential drawbacks to consider.

Take a closer look at the pros and cons and  decide if it’s the right choice  for you.

Let’s start with the  Pros :

• Emphasis on skills and competencies over experience can be beneficial for those with limited experience
• Recognized throughout Europe, making it useful for those seeking work in multiple countries
• Includes a section for language proficiency, which is important for international applicants

Now, let’s look at the  Cons:

• May  not be suitable for certain industries  or job positions that require a more creative or non-standard format
• Limited to 5 basic sections, which may not allow for much customization or detail
• It may not stand out as much as a unique or visually appealing CV design.

As you can see, depending on your specific situation, you may want to think about using other resume formats.

Remember that just because you’re applying for a job in Europe, you don’t necessarily have to use the Europass CV format unless they specifically mention it in the job description.

Europass CV FAQs

This is a list of the most commonly asked questions that will help you when writing your Europass CV.

How long should my Europass CV be?

According to the EU, a Europass CV should be  no more than two A4  pages long. It should include only relevant information about your work experience, education, skills, and qualifications.

Be brief and avoid irrelevant details that may make your resume longer than necessary.

What is the difference between a Europass CV and a traditional resume or CV format?

Traditional resumes  and CVs can vary in format and structure, while  the Europass CV  follows a standardized structure with 5 main sections and is widely accepted in Europe.

The Europass emphasizes the candidate’s skills and competencies, in contrast to traditional resumes and CVs, which may focus more on work experience and achievements.

How can I ensure that my Europass CV stands out to potential employers?

To ensure that your  Europass  CV stands out to potential employers,  tailor it to the specific job  you’re applying for by highlighting the skills and experience that match the job requirements.

Use  action verbs  to describe your accomplishments. Be concise while providing specific examples.

Should I include a photo in my Europass CV?

Including a photograph on a European resume is  common practice . It is acceptable to place a suitable headshot at the top of your resume, along with your name and contact details.

Your photo should have a  plain background  and feature only your head and shoulders, with a simple pose. Avoid using selfies or photos with other people in the frame.

Should you decide to add a photograph to your resume, our  resume builder  is enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. It will select for you the most suitable image, ensuring it adheres to all human resources standards.

Important notice :  ResumeCoach’s Europass CV builder is a private service subject to the payment of a small fee. Our Europass CV builder is available in several languages and offers you step-by-step guidance and expert advice with the goal of increasing your job prospects in Europe. Please note that you can find the official service on the European Union’s website  here .

By utilizing our services and completing the payment, you confirm your understanding and acceptance of the above information.

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Europass CV: pros and cons for creating a European resume

The Europass CV template is famously unattractive

Europass cv editor: our own experience, a resume / cv by any other name, how else are european cvs different, how long should a european cv be.

“Europass” can mean two things — a European train ticket or a system for producing a resume/CV to get a job in Europe — and either way, you’re going to see lots of wheels spinning round and round. 

Let’s take an in-depth look at the Europass CV and its relevance to some job seekers. What we’ll cover:

What is the Europass CV?

• Origin story of the Europass CV online: why a standardized European CV format was deemed a good idea

What does the Europass CV template look like?

How to create a europass cv.

• Advantages and disadvantages of the Europass CV template

Europass CV writing tips

• How to prepare a great European CV: general considerations

The Europass curriculum vitae (CV) system is a well-intentioned initiative to standardize the paperwork that people use to look for jobs in Europe. It’s a web-based system for producing a free electronic document that contains your contact info, work experience , education and other credentials that qualify you to obtain employment.  

In other words, it’s an online generator of what Americans and Canadians call a resume, and what Europeans call a CV. And, sadly, it’s a mess. This may be our subjective opinion, but it's also based on considerable experience developing and working with various online resume/CV instruments. The Europass CV is often described as having bad visual design and being outdated. It’s what many people call a “discount resume,” and it looks like it.

It’s an attempt by a sprawling, multilingual European organization to standardize a one-page document that should be all about the job skills of one individual. Theoretically, this free, web-generated document would give anyone in the world equal footing to compete for any job in Europe. But it falls far short of its goals. 

It’s as if all of Asia, or all of Africa, or all of Latin America, decided on a one-size-fits-all solution for millions of individuals on those vast continents to search for a job. It’s a fine idea, but it doesn’t necessarily work.  

Europe is a diverse continent with a market economy, which means resumes are more effective when they follow the quality standards of the job market, rather than bureaucratic unification. Not to mention the fact that the job market reacts quickly to change … and government services rarely do.

The idea behind the Europass CV template

The concept of a uniform European CV format may have some merit. The Europass CV template exists, in part, because the continent of Europe has engaged in many laudable efforts to unify its disparate parts by removing unnecessary boundaries. In 1999, the European Union achieved the amazing goal of retiring national currencies in favor of the universally accepted euro. Just try that on any other continent!

Europe has become a commonwealth of nations, with different languages, cultures and customs, yet border controls and most other barriers between individual EU countries no longer exist. So why not standardize a system for Italians to seek employment in Germany, or for the Swiss to find work in Spain? That’s the idea behind the Europass CV, to normalize the process of Europeans reaching across borders to get a job.

In 2004, the European Parliament adopted the European Commission’s proposal for “a single framework for the transparency of qualifications and competences,” which became the Europass CV. Since then, more than 100 million Europass CVs have been created online. In fact, the Europass CV template is only one component of the entire portfolio. It consists of five Europass documents to use as your digital credentials:

• The Europass Curriculum Vitae template provides a standardized format for CVs/resumes to use in job applications.
• The Europass Diploma Supplement provides information on your education, the type of degree you hold and the institution that granted it.
• The Europass Certificate Supplement provides information on any vocational training you’ve received and any certification earned.
• The Europass Language Passport provides information on your language skills, though it’s now been incorporated into the Europass profile to be used as a section on your CV.
• The Europass Mobility document provides information about skills you have gained while traveling, studying or working in a foreign country.

If that sounds like information overkill, it probably is. Most employers prefer a ONE-page resume/CV. Hiring managers care about effectiveness and brevity, not a tiresome list of bureaucratic requirements.

Below is a Europass CV template example.

You can access the Create your Europass CV builder directly or via the home page of Europass , an official website of the European Union . The welcome message affirms that the online process is easy for creating your CV to apply for a job, education or training, or volunteering opportunity. 

In fact, the first step is to create your Europass “profile,” consisting of personal information, work experience, education and training, and personal skills . This becomes the basis for creating as many CVs you want by selecting the information to include and preferred design. 

Advantages of the Europass CV format

• Is the Europass CV free? Yes. The fact that it’s free is possibly the biggest advantage of the Europass, despite its many disadvantages. It’s a CV format often used throughout Europe, and you can create, store and share CVs in 29 languages. Europass can also help you write a cover letter.   
• The Europass CV is touted on its own website as “the best-known CV format in Europe.” Certainly, the Europass CV format is often used throughout Europe.  
• Although the Europass system to create a CV or resume is designed for use in Europe, you don’t have to be from Europe to use it. Some European employers may be used to its format, and may even prefer it. But a Europass CV is never required to apply for a job in Europe (and in fact it turns many employers off).

Truth is, the main scenario where Europass provides an advantage is when a candidate has no time or resources to invest in a good resume — and the hiring manager doesn’t care about resume quality or design as much as about other factors.

Does that sound like a situation you want to be in? Not really. A good resume makes recruiters pay attention to your candidacy … and a bad resume may heavily damage your career prospects.

So let’s look now at some of the downsides.

Disadvantages of the Europass CV

Numerous experts disagree with how the Europass CV is designed as a document and a service. The disadvantages of the Europass, as described by many sources, include: outdated resume design, questionable resume builder interface, bugs on the website and questionable text formatting. These criticisms can be seen as subjective, but with the amount of innovative CV creation services and templates (including free ones) on the web, it's hard to argue that a government-created resume service may have become outmoded. 

Here are some article headlines you may find if you search for online info about the Europass:

• “Why should you avoid Europass CV like plague?”
• “Your Europass CV is Ruining Your Chances”
• “Why the Europass is bad for your career”
• “Why I don’t like Europass CVs”
• “Why you should not use the Europass CV”

Let’s explore why.

There's a lot of criticism related to the design of the Europass CV. Gaping blank spaces that eat up precious real estate. A large logo that uses up even more. Huge spaces between bullet points and text. Justified text that spaces words out weirdly. A page where almost all the info appears on the left and the right is blank. Ugly fonts and other odd typography choices.

We hope the creators will forgive us for saying (based on decades of experience in the professional world): it’s a very questionable design standard for a good European CV. There’s just no way around it, as harsh as it may seem. Google “ Europass CV images ” and you’ll see what we mean. The Europass CV may be a huge visual turnoff that will put a bad taste in employers’ mouths before they even read the first word.

The modern world is highly visual, and we can’t pretend that design doesn’t matter. It does. We like apps with nice interfaces. Websites with sleek menus. Phones with modern curves and colors … and employers like well-designed resumes.

We tried to create a personal Europass CV online and found the experience extremely frustrating. Once again, this may be subjective, but try it yourself and see if you agree. 

In hindsight, we probably could have saved ourselves some time by watching a video tutorial on Europass CV preparation like this one. If you’re still stuck, go to YouTube, search for “Europass CV tutorial,” and you’ll find plenty. 

Here are some of the challenges we encountered. Frustrating interface First you have to create a profile with your contact info, work experience, education, languages — and a LOT of unnecessary categories that you can fortunately skip. If you filled out all the options, you might end up with a 10-page CV.

Once your profile is done, you reach an apparent dead end. There is no “Next” or “Download CV” button, so you have to go searching for it. We spent almost half an hour trying to figure out what to do next, and we almost gave up.

We finally figured out that you have to click on the “Me” button — which provides a drop-down menu that offers no help. By pure accident, we discovered that you have to click on the “Me” button TWICE to find the “Create A CV” option. 

On the next page, if you miss the instruction that you have to select the parts of your profile to include on your CV, you’ll download a document that contains nothing but your name! Why would anyone create an option that allows you to download a CV that contains nothing but your name?

Nearly an hour had passed with no resume in sight. Just a blank document. At this stage, we were pretty frustrated and questioning our decision to sign up for the Europass CV service.

Buggy website

In three places, the website changed the dates we entered. A birthday on June 13 was changed to June 12, and when we insisted on June 13, it was changed to June 11!  

A college start date in 1986 was changed to 1985, and although we corrected the error, it refused the change. A job start date in 1989 was changed to 1988, and then the website refused to correct that too.  

For some reason the website also asks if you have a “motto.” But if you enter one, it never appears on the CV, so it’s anyone’s guess what the point of this is.

Trial-and-error editing

If you want a resume/CV that doesn’t exceed one page — which is highly recommended unless you're applying for a very senior position — you’re going to have to work at it. Or, more accurately, you’re going to have to fight the website to achieve this.

The website does provide a preview of sorts, but it doesn’t show page breaks. So you may have to download a two-page resume multiple times, each time deselecting some of the info you want included, before you produce a final product that fits on one page.

Because of all the wasted space built into the CV design, we ended up deleting a mailing address, website, LinkedIn page, languages and a past job. Yet all of this information would have fit if the page was intelligently designed.

Tons of wasted space

The flagrant waste of space in the CV templates is often seen as very questionable design and CV formatting.  In one template, all information was aligned along the left margin , squandering an enormous amount of horizontal space by leaving the entire right side of the pages blank. For example, there was one line each for 1) name, 2) nationality, 3) phone number, 4) date of birth, 5) gender , 6) email address, 7) website and 8) mailing address. All of these were flush left, and all had generous spaces between them. This took up one-fourth of the page!

Why is there so much space between the bullet points? Why does it take two lines to say “San José, Costa Rica”? Is it necessary to tell people that San José is a “city” and Costa Rica is a “country”? Why can’t all of these things be named in a single line? Why is so much space wasted on the right side of the page? There was plenty of room to put “San José, Costa Rica” in the blank space to the right of the employer’s name.

This is an absurd amount of space to dedicate to telling people that you speak German, Dutch and English. We just wasted five or six lines of our resume to say we speak three languages. And what is “speaking production,” anyway?

When we tried making our own adjustments, everything was aligned left, squandering a lot of space on the right that we really could have used elsewhere.  

Your resume may be the most important page you write in your life. Follow our top 20 resume writing tips to make yours a success.

Design questions aside, you at least have full control over the text you provide on a Europass CV. Make your writing concise but compelling, using strong action verbs and vivid adjectives to describe your qualifications for the job, your past job-related achievements and your special skills. We’ve actually compiled a list of 300+ powerful action verbs you can use in your CV. 

Avoid clichés like “self-starter,” “team player” or “thinking outside the box.” Strive for fresh, original language that recruiters haven’t seen a thousand times before. And avoid “fluff,” which is language that sounds fancy but conveys no real information.

Be specific, using facts and figures where possible to quantify your accomplishments in past jobs. And try to avoid repeating words, especially in close succession, like “ Improved work-flow processes, among other productivity improvements .”

Short is sweet with a Europass CV. Try to limit your Europass CV to one or two pages. Keep it simple and focus only on the necessary elements of your skills and experience.

Given the space-wasting design of the Europass CV, you’ll need to keep your text as short as possible if you hope to make everything fit on one page. One solution is to trim your text to eliminate “widows,” which are solitary words at the end of a text block or bullet point that spill over on an additional line, making the entire document one line deeper. By trimming a word or two somewhere in these text blocks, you can usually eliminate these space-eating fragments at the bottom.

How to prepare a great European CV

Many employers seeing another Europass CV cross their desk may choose to set it aside in favor of a professionally designed CV that actually looks nice . So at times, using the Europass can actually do more harm than good. Its design flaws explain why there are so many articles on the web with titles like “Why Europass is harming your career chances.”  

You’re better off with just about any other plan. Use a professional resume preparation service, where you’ll pay a fee, but it’s well worth it. You’ll find more template options , more intuitive builder tools and an easier editing process. Most important, you’ll get a much better final product.  

Or if you have any design skills whatsoever, do the job yourself. You can draw inspiration from multiple samples online . Fire up a laptop, launch Microsoft Word and go to work. It would be difficult to do a worse job than Europass does.

European CVs in general

Having focused specifically on the Europass CV template, let’s talk more generally now about the “European CV format”  — not necessarily Europass. How do European CVs differ overall from their counterparts elsewhere in the world?

If you’re accustomed to standards for resume design in North America, there are some differences to be aware of in Europe.

First, to clear up one confusing point: What Americans and Canadians call a resume is called a curriculum vitae, or CV for short, in Europe. This is typically a one-page document with a job seeker’s contact info, employment history, education and skills. So with minor differences, what’s called a CV in Europe and a resume in North America usually refers to the exact same thing.

However, there’s also such a thing in North America and elsewhere as an “academic CV,” sometimes called a “long-form CV.” This is a multi-page document used in academic settings to list scholarly achievements, publications, fellowships, grants, research experience and so forth. 

Outside academia, medicine and certain scientific fields, most people never have to prepare an academic CV. For more information on the long-form academic CV, consult our article on “ Resume vs. curriculum vitae (CV): What’s the difference? ”

But what we want to address here are the minor differences between “ordinary” European CVs and North American resumes. 

For example, it’s more common in Europe than in North America to include a photo of the applicant. (However, photos on CVs are uncommon in the United Kingdom.) 

In some countries, there’s a philosophy that job applicants’ looks should not influence their employability, hence the tendency to omit photos. In other countries, it’s seen as harmless to include a photo of the applicant in a page that’s all about that person.

The United States has strict rules against discrimination on the basis of gender, age or national origin, which is why American resumes will rarely specify the applicants’ gender, birthdate, nationality or other personal data. European countries generally have the same anti-discrimination rules, yet it’s not uncommon at all to include gender, birthdate or nationality on a CV. 

European employers may also be accustomed to CVs that are longer than one page, although the golden standard in North America is not to exceed one page except in unusual circumstances (such as senior management positions). But trust us on this: a busy European hiring manager who receives a one-page CV will never complain that it isn’t long enough! On the contrary, they will look more favorably on your candidacy for not wasting their time.

Want to make your cover letter stand out? Here’s how

The era of digital recruitment is here, and employers are receiving more responses to their job postings than ever before. What can you do to help boost your application to the top of the selection list? The answer may lie in the cover letter.

Connecting employers with jobseekers is now easier than ever. In a matter of minutes, you can scope out the positions that interest you online and submit your resume with the click of a button. In this almost automated process, applicants rarely give thought to the ‘old-fashioned’ cover letter, once a standard addition to a CV. However, if you want to improve your chances with a potential employer, you shouldn’t underestimate the power of a well-crafted cover letter to make you stand out from the crowd.

Here are some tips on how to create a cover letter that will get you noticed:

Do your research

Employers want to see that you are a good fit, not only for the job, but for their company as well. Before you apply, familiarise yourself with the skills they are looking for, but also with the company's philosophy and values. Make sure this is reflected in your cover letter by showing how your particular assets and personality align with the company’s ethos.

Know your ‘why’ and convey it clearly

Of course, you want the job for many reasons, which may seem self-evident to you. But a potential employer wants to know why you want the specific job within the specific organisation. Be clear about what draws you to that particular company and how your unique skillset will contribute to its success.

Don’t rehash your CV

Your cover letter is where you express your enthusiasm about the role you are applying for and show your suitability for it. This is not the same as your resume; rather it goes one layer deeper, showing exactly how your profile relates to the job description and requested qualifications.

Showcase your achievements

This is your opportunity to promote your accomplishments, so don’t shy away from a little bit of ‘good bragging’. Quantify your achievements, where possible, and bring up specific examples of how your skills contributed to previous employers’ success.

One size doesn’t fit all

Nobody likes to feel they are on the receiving end of a ‘canned’ piece of writing, and this is especially true for recruiters/employers. When applying for a job, you need to tailor your content to the specific position you are targeting. In the same vein, avoid addressing your letter ‘to whom it may concern’; find out who the hiring manager is and address them personally.

Use your own voice

You want to adopt a formal tone when drafting your cover letter; after all, it is a document that has a professional purpose. But you also still want to let your personality shine through and grab your reader’s attention. Consider an unconventional introduction, perhaps by including a personal anecdote or an engaging question that will pique your reader’s interest and make them keen to find out more about you.

Less is more

Three paragraphs is a good length for your cover letter, and enough to get your points across. A clear and concise format is key. Consider structuring your paragraphs as follows:

• Express your enthusiasm for the position and interest in the company.
• Showcase your top skills/accomplishments and state how they relate to the job.
• Mention how your contribution will bring value to the company and encourage a next step from the recipient’s end.

You are now ready to submit your resume along with your cover letter. Make sure you proofread it before sending or have someone else go over it; they might catch a mistake you have overlooked. Good luck!

Want to find out more about how you can improve your employability? Check out our tips on how to make yourself more hireable for employers .

Related links:

How to write an achievements-focused CV

5 tips for streamlining your CV

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Kreirajte propratno pismo

Europass vam pomaže da razvijete strukturisano, dosljedno i profesionalno propratno pismo koje će vas voditi kroz svaki korak. Možete da kreirate nova propratna pisma ili uređujete postojeća koristeći Europass alat za kreiranje i uređivanje propratnih pisama.

Kako Europass pomaže?

Europass će vas voditi korak po korak kroz proces kako bi vam pomogao da kreirate dobro propratno pismo sa svim bitnim informacijama. Možete da kreirate, čuvate i dijelite propratna pisma na 31 jezika , birate između različitih šablona kako biste prilagodili svoju prijavu i lako ih dijelite iz svoje Europass biblioteke . 

Kreirajte svoj Europass

Kako napisati dobro propratno pismo

Propratno pismo treba da istakne vašu motivaciju da se prijavite za konkretni posao ili priliku i da pokaže zašto smatrate da ste najbolji kandidat. Vaše propratno pismo treba da se odnosi na određene primjere vašem CV-ju i opiše zašto su oni relevantni za radno mjesto za koje se prijavljujete.

Čitajte pažljivo

Pažljivo pročitajte oglas za slobodno radno mjesto i u propratnom pismu istaknite vještine koje se odnose na zahtjeve te pozicije.

Koristite ključne riječi

Koristite ključne riječi kada navodite svoje meke vještine kao što je navedeno u oglasu za konkurs (tačan/na, organizovan/na, timski igrač, itd.).

Budite kratki

Pravite kratke i jasne pasuse koji jasno pokazuju različite aspekte.

Upoznajte poslodavca

Odvojite vrijeme da istražite poslodavca kako biste stekli vrijedne uvide u kulturu njihove organizacije i u svom propratnom pismu navedite jednu ili dvije ključne tačke.

Neka bude kratko

Vaše propratno pismo ne bi trebalo da bude duže od jedne stranice.

• Prvi pasus - zašto ste motivisani da se prijavite za tu poziciju,
• Drugi pasus - kako ste najprikladniji kandidat za tu poziciju, i
• Treći pasus - zašto je ta kompanija dobar izbor za vas.

Koristite formalni ton

Koristite formalan, ljubazan ton i uvjerite se da nema pravopisnih grešaka.

Koristite jednostavne fontove

Koristite jednostavne nedekorativne stilove fonta, normalne veličine fonta (11-12) i optimalni razmak (1 ili 1,5).

Korisne usluge EU

Eures - the european job mobility portal.

Find jobs from all over Europe

Working abroad in other EU countries

Information, help and advice on EU rights related to work

Education and training in other EU countries

Information, help and advice on EU rights related to learning

Možda će vas zanimati da pročitate

Kreirajte CV

Europass izjavu

Planirajte karijeru uz Europass

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