How to Write a CV in English: Complete Guide, Phrases, and Templates

More companies now expect applications in English, even if the office is in Poland or another non-English speaking country. A well-prepared English resume proves your language skills before you even get an interview.

Simply running your local resume through a translator rarely works. Anglo-Saxon standards differ significantly from local ones. Here is a breakdown of how to build a document that actually meets the expectations of employers from abroad.

Key rules for an English CV

Creating an application in English means adapting to local legal and cultural norms. Elements that are common in European resumes can actually get your application rejected in Western markets.

1. No photo: In Anglo-Saxon countries, companies strictly follow anti-discrimination laws. Applications with photos often go straight to the trash to avoid any legal risks.
2. No date of birth or marital status: Employers do not need this information and prefer not to see it for the same anti-discrimination reasons.
3. Clean formatting: Stick to classic fonts, bullet points, and simple layouts. The cvprofiler builder offers ready-made templates that already meet these international requirements.

Companies also rely heavily on ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to scan incoming applications. This means you should drop graphic tables, skill progress bars, and unusual column layouts that scanners cannot read. Optimizing your CV for ATS is always a good move. With templates from cvprofiler, you can be sure the system will process your application correctly.

Step by step through CV sections

An English CV uses reverse chronological order. Always show your most recent experience first.

1. Personal Details

Do not write "Personal Details" as a header. Just put your first and last name right at the top in a large, clear font.

Below that, include:

• Phone number with the correct country code (e.g., +48 for Poland)
• Professional email address
• Link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio
• City and country (e.g., Warsaw, Poland - you do not need a full street address)

2. Professional Summary

This is a short paragraph at the very top of your document, usually taking up 3-4 sentences. While this section is still catching on in some European countries, it is standard practice in the US and UK. Briefly state who you are, what you have achieved, and what you are looking for.

Example: Results-driven Digital Marketing Specialist with 4+ years of experience managing B2B campaigns. Increased lead generation by 30% YoY for tech clients. Seeking to leverage SEO and SEM expertise to drive user acquisition at TechCorp.

3. Work Experience

This is the core of your application. Describe each position by focusing on measurable results instead of just listing duties.

• Job Title
• Company Name, Location
• Dates of Employment (e.g., Jan 2021 - Present)
• Achievements/Responsibilities (Use bullet points)

Instead of repeating "responsible for," use action verbs to start your bullet points.

Be careful not to literally translate local contract types. Terms like "B2B contract" might not make sense to a foreign recruiter, so sticking to the job title alone is fine. Avoid passive phrasing like "My duties included," focusing instead on the specific actions you took. For education, leave school names in their original wording or use the closest equivalent rather than creating awkward literal translations.

Action Verbs - words that build value

Pick verbs that show clear action and impact.

Management and Leadership:

• Directed
• Executed
• Facilitated
• Mentored
• Spearheaded
• Orchestrated

Finance and Analytics:

• Analyzed
• Forecasted
• Maximized
• Quantified
• Reduced
• Yielded

Sales and Communication:

• Negotiated
• Persuaded
• Pitched
• Secured
• Resolved

Development and IT/Marketing:

• Architected
• Deployed
• Engineered
• Optimized
• Overhauled
• Launched
• Upgraded
• Integrated

4. Education

Once you have professional experience, your education section only needs the university name, major, degree obtained, and years of study.

• Bachelor: Bachelor of Arts (BA) / Bachelor of Science (BSc)
• Master: Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MSc)
• Engineer: Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) / Master of Engineering (MEng)

Example: Master of Science in Computer Science Warsaw University of Technology | 2018 - 2023

5. Skills

Group these into Hard Skills and Soft Skills. Select the ones that actually match the requirements listed in the job posting.

Example:

• Hard Skills: Python, SQL, Agile Methodologies, Data Visualization
• Soft Skills: Cross-functional Team Leadership, Problem Solving, Time Management

6. Languages & Certifications

State your language proficiency clearly so a foreign recruiter knows exactly where you stand:

• Native
• Fluent
• Advanced (C1)
• Upper-Intermediate (B2)
• Intermediate (B1)
• Basic

Include any industry certifications that strengthen your profile, like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or PMP.

When you have no work experience

If you are applying for your first job, shift the focus to your potential. Move your education section above experience. Detail your student projects, academic clubs, volunteer work, or internships. Highlight the soft skills you developed along the way.

20 ready-to-use phrases for your CV

You have plenty of standard expressions available to help build professional sentences quickly:

1. Proven track record in...
2. Highly skilled in...
3. Successfully managed...
4. Increased sales by X%
5. Led a team of X members
6. Delivered projects ahead of schedule
7. Streamlined processes
8. Implemented new software
9. Awarded "Employee of the Month"
10. Adept at problem-solving
11. Consistently exceeded targets
12. Played a key role in...
13. Collaborated with cross-functional teams
14. Coordinated multiple projects
15. Designed and developed...
16. Fostered strong client relationships
17. Reduced operational costs
18. Resolved customer complaints
19. Trained and mentored junior staff
20. Seeking an opportunity to...

GDPR clause and foreign markets

If you are applying directly to companies in the US or UK, you do not need a GDPR clause. If the recruitment process involves a local European branch or a local job portal, add the clause at the bottom of your document.

Here is the standard English version:

I agree to the processing of personal data provided in this document for realising the recruitment process pursuant to the Personal Data Protection Act of 10 May 2018 (Journal of Laws 2018, item 1000) and in agreement with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation).

If an employer asks for specific wording in their job ad, use their exact formula. We discuss this in more detail in our guide on the GDPR clause for a CV in 2026.

Full example of an English CV

Putting all these elements together creates a clear, concrete document.

Alex Smith +48 123 456 789 | alex.smith@email.com | linkedin.com/in/alexsmith | Warsaw, Poland

Professional Summary Results-driven Marketing Specialist with 5 years of experience executing digital campaigns for e-commerce brands. Proven ability to increase ROI by 25% and manage ad budgets exceeding $100k. Seeking to leverage data analysis skills at GlobalTech.

Work Experience Digital Marketing Specialist E-Shop, Warsaw | Jan 2021 - Present

• Spearheaded the launch of 3 new product lines, resulting in a 40% increase in Q3 revenue.
• Optimized Google Ads campaigns, reducing cost-per-click (CPC) by 15%.
• Managed a monthly marketing budget of $20,000.

Marketing Assistant Retail Solutions, Krakow | Jun 2018 - Dec 2020

• Coordinated email marketing campaigns to a base of 50,000 subscribers.
• Analyzed website traffic using Google Analytics.

Education Master of Arts in Marketing Warsaw School of Economics | 2016 - 2018

Skills

• Hard Skills: SEO/SEM, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, Mailchimp
• Soft Skills: Project Management, Data Analysis, Client Relations

Languages

• Polish (Native)
• English (Fluent - C1)

Faster document creation

Once you have a solid local resume, you do not need to build your English version from scratch. The cvprofiler panel includes AI-assisted translation to quickly convert your content.

You can easily switch section headers to the target language and keep both versions saved in your account. After that, just review how to write an email with your CV and start applying to international roles.