Like the classic CV, the European Curriculum Vitae (CVE) is a document that contains the personal data, skills, and work and training experiences of a candidate who is proposing for a job position. Ultimately, it constitutes a real business card to introduce yourself to the world of work.

After reading our tips for writing a perfect CV, let’s see how the European Curriculum is configured and when it is appropriate to choose this format.

What is the European Curriculum Vitae?

The European Curriculum Vitae was promoted and created in 2002 by the European Commission, in correspondence with the possibility for EU citizens to practice their profession in all states members and, therefore, to apply abroad through a clear tool for foreign employers.

The CVE was therefore born as a standardized curriculum model, which allows the presentation of qualifications, work experience, and individual skills to be standardized on a European scale.

The format of the European Curriculum Vitae is characterized by rigid graphic formatting: pre-set column layout, with the section names placed in the left column. The detailed information on the candidate is in the right column, corresponding to approximately 2/3 of the page.

How to fill in the European Curriculum Vitae step by step

Although this is a standard form to fill out, all fields in the CVE are optional. Therefore, remember to delete all the spaces that you do not intend to fill, with their headings.

Let’s see how to fill in the European Curriculum Vitae step by step:

Provide the required personal data, without forgetting your telephone number and e-mail address. Some items, for example, the website, can be omitted if not present or if not strictly relevant for the position for which you intend to compete.

The section relating to professional experiences must be completed in reverse chronological order, from the most recent to the oldest.

For each experience it is necessary to specify: start and end dates, company or employer name, business sector, main duties, and responsibilities covered.

As with the traditional CV, it is advisable to customize the list of work experiences according to the recipient, choosing those that can constitute an added value for the application and are in line with the required profile.

Internships, both curricular and extracurricular, are to be included among the work experiences.

Again, we start with the most recent degree and continue in reverse chronological order.

The stages of the course of study (diploma, degree, specializations, masters) and qualifications are to be included. Internships, which are already included in work experience, will not be included in this section.

It is appropriate to spend a few words to illustrate the degree thesis, especially if the topics and purposes are related to the position for which you are applying. Of course, as regards the degree, it will be necessary to specify the level.

To indicate the level of knowledge of foreign languages, it is necessary to refer to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR), specially developed by the European Council.

For each known language, the skill level of understanding, writing, and speaking.

A word of advice: do not overestimate your level of knowledge of languages, as all the problems will come to a head at the time of the interview.

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  • Communication and relational skills

Interpersonal skills are essential: the ability to work in a team to achieve common goals is increasingly important and required.

In this section, you must describe and highlight the skills acquired during the years of training or previous work experience.

Again, you can enter the managerial and organizational skills you have previously acquired, specifying the context in which you have experienced or learned them.

Enter in this space your IT skills (if you have it, indicate the ECDL certification) and your level of use of specific technical tools.

The section may be more or less detailed, depending on the relevance of the skills possessed for the position for which you are competing.

Please indicate in this field the artistic skills you possess or have acquired. Don’t go too far if your skills aren’t relevant to your application.

  • Other skills and competences

Use this section only if the skills have real relevance. Avoid entering generic personal interests that don’t add value to your CV.

Enter the reference of the driving licenses you own, specifying if you have personal transport.

This field is not essential, but it can be used to cite any “extraordinary” activities (publications, projects, participation in groups/associations). You can also indicate here the availability of references upon request.

When to use the European Curriculum: pros and cons

The opinions on the CVE are clearly divided into two factions: those who believe that it is useful for the rigorous structure with which the data of the candidates are presented, those who instead believe that this element makes the document impersonal and ineffective.

In reality, the European Curriculum Vitae has pros and cons, but above all its usefulness depends on the context in which it is placed.

Generally, it is expressly requested to work in public and academic institutions and in all situations where calls for the competition are envisaged for the assignment of professional assignments. It can also be chosen as a template to create a CV in a foreign language if you are looking for work abroad.

If you think the European CV is right for you, download and fill in the template on the official Europass website.