We start our CV comparison with an English (United Kingdom) CV.
Photo or no photo?
First, there should be a professional photo on the Dutch CV. It may sound peculiar for job hunters/expats from the UK, where almost all CVs do not contain a photo. It is considered that a photo on the CV will make a selection process biased and it is seen almost illegal to ask the candidates for one. Whereas in the Netherlands is quite important to have one.
Details, details, even more details?
Second biggest difference lays in details. English employees prefer to read a very broad elaborate description of basically everything: your job responsibilities, the content of courses and studies, achievements and even your interests/hobbies. It is also expected to mention the skills developed during the work experiences. Dutch employers on the contrary prefer your CV to be concise and kept to the point, with least numbers of words saying the most. Another contrast to English CV, in the Netherlands it is not expected to include everything you have done. Instead, your CV should contain only the most relevant and important information that will convince an employer to ask you for an interview.
Even though there are some obvious differences between Dutch and English CV, the general rules of a successful CV remain the same. These rules can be found here Top ten CV tips or here How to make a good resume.
By: Inna Iljina