Belgian CV
Typewrite your Belgian CV on maximum 2 pages and in reverse chronological order - mentioning the most recent activities first.
The aim of your Belgian CV should be to persuade the employer to invite you for a job interview. Therefore, your CV is a marketing tool, which should be customized to the market in which you intend to use it.
The Belgian CV is very factual, accurate and professional. Begin with your personal details, contact information including your telephone number with international access code and e-mail. Include your age, marital status, profession of your partner and the names and ages of your children (if appropriate) and citizenship.
Often CV are kept on file for long periods, so any contact details you give have to remain accurate in the long term. A daytime phone number, with the international access code and e-mail are most important.
Next comes your education, including high school. Educational results need only be given if there is a direct reference to the job. List schools with locations, dates attended, study emphases and degrees. Mention your linguistic abilities. They are considered of great importance and should be listed on your CV with reference to the spoken, written and reading levels. Include additional courses, internships and special skills such as computer programs in which you are proficient.
Then, under ‘Work Experience’ list responsibilities you had in each job with starting and leaving dates, the name, location and focus of each company. Include concise details of what the job entailed and your title. Make your CV more effective; provide examples that fit the job, to illustrate your achievements. Extracurricular activities are considered of great importance in Belgium so, list all your apprenticeships, holiday work and student jobs you did. Where possible, mention the number of employees for which you were responsible.
Use power words and action verbs to describe your achievements, such as contributed, organized, demonstrated, trained, managed, developed, coordinated etc. Bullet point these at the start of a sentence for maximum impact.
If you are male, indicate whether or not you have done any military service. If you come from a country where this does not exist, mention this fact.
It is common practice to send two references, including name, function, address and telephone number. Inform these people in advance, because references are usually verified.
Carefully consider what to leave out of your CV and exclude anything that might give prospective employers a chance to discriminate against you.
Some Belgian employers may request your photograph. Do not send testimonials and copies of diplomas, except when specifically asked for.
It is more common in Belgium to apply for a job through the Internet. However, you should be aware that an electronic CV does not look the same as a standard CV.
CV are often scanned by employers, so make your CV scannable by avoiding for example lines or italic fonts etc.
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Other Belgian CV Info
Now to finalize your belgian job search, if your belgian cover letter and CV are ready, you may email them through our job search engine to job recruiters and executive headhunters.
On a belgian job interview page you will find useful tips on a job interview and a job interview dress code in Belgium.
Good luck with your belgian CV.
