How to write an Europass CV?

What can be a good solution?

Here in Europe, the most well-known CV format is called Europass. It was created by an initiative of the European Union to support transparency in qualifications and mobility across Europe. As a part of this process, they developed an easy-to-use online CV maker, available in multiple languages, where users can create a digital portfolio. Based on the provided data, the system can automatically generate CVs in different styles. 

At Bányai & Partners Consulting, we believe that Europass is an ideal format to request from third-country applicants as well. 

What should be included in a Europass CV?

In the following section, we have outlined the 4+1 essential segments that every CV must include.

Personal information

When candidates from a third-country fill in their personal details, they must include their full name, phone number, e-mail address, nationality and address. Additionally, providing information about their marital status, age or date of birth is optional. The question may arise: should they attach a photo? The answer is yes, a self-portrait should be attached. In Hungary, most HR specialists expect to find a photo in a CV and may find it strange, or even suspicious, if an applicant does not include one. 

Work experience

It is arguably the most important part of a CV. It is not enough to merely list the positions, employers and duration of employment for each role; detailed descriptions of job duties must also be included. For transparency, we recommend using an outline format with short keywords based on the job description, primarily focusing on the requirements. This makes it easier to customize and optimize the CV. 

In today’s world, using keywords is critical, as more HR software tools start to use Artificial Intelligence to screen CVs. One function of AI in this context is to search for relevant keywords based on the job advertisement. It can highlight and categorize these phrases, allowing HR professionals to screen candidates much faster. In some cases, if these keywords are absent, a candidate’s file may not even be reviewed. 

Another important piece of advice is to only include relevant work experience, as detailing jobs or tasks that are over 10-15 years old is usually redundant.

Education and training

When listing education, except for individuals newly entering the workforce, the main focus should be on the highest levels of education. Older academic achievements are unnecessary most of the time. For example, if someone holds a university degree, listing secondary school details becomes irrelevant. New graduates, due to their lack of professional experience, should provide more information about their education, such as extracurricular activities, study projects and competitions, as well as any training they have completed. 

For professionals who have been already working for years, training programs can be essential in setting them apart from other applicants.

Skills

Aside from work experience, showcasing relevant skills is one of the most important aspects of a CV. Once again, selecting the most pertinent keywords is crucial. 

For those aiming to work in another country, language skills are particularly important. In Hungary, foreign workers are usually required to speak in English, so listing the level of English proficiency is fundamental. 

Digital skills are another key category, especially for office jobs. However, in industries like manufacturing, transportation the usual digital skills (such as knowledge of Microsoft or other business programs and social media usage) may be irrelevant. This is why, while listing digital skills, the focus should be on programs that are commonly used by workers in those fields.

In Europass, other important soft skills for third-country workers are often included under ‘Communication skills’. Qualities like adaptability, flexibility, resilience can be categorized under a ‘Job-related skills’ section, using the ‘Other’ category. 

In most job descriptions, certain qualities, skills or knowledge highlighted as advantages. If the applicant possesses these, including them in the CV is highly recommended. For instance, having an international driving license and being able to drive on the roads of Hungary, can help the applicant to stand out from other candidates.

+1 Other optional elements

In addition to the mandatory elements, candidates can choose to include other information, depending on the length of the CV as it should not surpass 2 pages, but the most ideal is only 1 page. For example, hobbies and career goals can personalize a CV, but they should be aligned with the position being applied.