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Free CV examples for the UK, Europe, Africa and India

Choose the example closest to your stage, open it in the free CV builder and rewrite it with your own details. Under the examples you will find what to change for the country you are applying in: paper size, personal details, grades, references and declarations.

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CV examples by career stage

Each page has the full CV, notes on every section and a button that loads it into the builder. Switch the page size to A4 in the Customize tab if the example is in US Letter.

Adapting an example for your country

The content of a good CV travels well: clear sections, specific achievements, numbers where you have them. The details around it do not. These are common practices, not fixed rules. If a job ad asks for something specific, follow the ad.

UK and Ireland

  • Use A4 paper and British spelling (organised, programme, licence).
  • Call the opening paragraph a "personal statement" or "profile". Keep it to three or four lines.
  • Replace US GPA with your degree classification (First, 2:1, 2:2) or predicted grade, and list A levels or Leaving Certificate results if you are early in your career.
  • No photo, date of birth or marital status. Two pages is fine once you have a few years of experience.
  • Teachers: put Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and your DBS check near the top.

Europe

  • Write the CV in the language of the job ad, and set section headings to that language in the builder.
  • A photo is still common in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and unusual in the Netherlands and the Nordic countries.
  • List languages with a CEFR level (for example "German: B2").
  • Use Europass only when the employer or programme asks for it.

Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya

  • Two pages is normal for graduates; a career objective or profile opens the CV.
  • Nigeria: state your NYSC status (completed, exempted or ongoing) with dates and place of primary assignment.
  • Write your degree class in full, for example "B.Sc. Accounting, Second Class Upper".
  • Add date of birth, state of origin or marital status only when the job ad asks for them.
  • Two or three referees with phone numbers and emails are usually expected. Ask them first.

India

  • Freshers usually keep the CV to one page; two pages for experienced candidates.
  • List Class X and Class XII results with the board (CBSE, ICSE or state board) under your degree.
  • Show CGPA or percentage for your degree, and mention "no standing arrears" if it is true.
  • A short signed declaration at the end is still common for freshers and government roles.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Five checks before you send any CV

  1. Your name and contact details are on the first line. Phone with country code if you are applying abroad, and an email address you check daily.
  2. The first third of page one sells you. A recruiter who reads only your profile and latest role should know what you do and what you are good at.
  3. Every bullet has a result. A number, a before-and-after, or who benefited. "Organised a hackathon with 180 participants" beats "Event organisation".
  4. Dates are consistent. Month and year everywhere, most recent first, and gaps explained in a line if they are longer than six months.
  5. The file is a PDF named after you. "Ananya-Krishnan-CV.pdf" is easier to find in an inbox than "CV final (3).pdf".
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between these CV examples and the resume examples?

They are the same sample documents. The resume examples page explains them for US and Canadian applications; this page explains how to adapt each one for the UK, Europe, Africa and India, where "CV" is the usual word.

Are the CV examples free?

Yes. Open any example in the CompleteCV builder, edit it, switch between A4 and Letter and download a PDF for free with a free account. No watermark.

How long should a CV be in the UK?

Two A4 pages is standard once you have some experience. Students and school leavers usually fit on one page. Do not shrink the font to squeeze more in; cut weaker points instead.

Should I include my date of birth, nationality or a photo?

Not in the UK or Ireland. In parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia some employers still expect them. CompleteCV keeps these as optional fields you can show or hide. Follow the job ad. This is general information, not legal advice.

Will loading an example delete my own CV?

Not without asking. If you already have a CV saved in this browser, the builder asks you to confirm before replacing it. You can export a backup file first.

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