The word CV does not mean the same thing everywhere, and sending the wrong version abroad quietly costs you interviews. In the United States a CV is a long academic document, while across much of Europe and the Commonwealth it is simply what people call a job resume. Before you apply, learn what the destination country expects and adapt the file, not just the cover letter.
Regional conventions that actually differ
The biggest divides are length, personal details, and photos. Getting these wrong signals that you did not do your homework.
- North America: no photo, no date of birth, no marital status, one to two pages for industry roles.
- Continental Europe: a photo and some personal details are common, and the Europass format is widely accepted.
- United Kingdom and Ireland: two pages, no photo, no personal identifiers.
- Asia and the Middle East: expectations vary widely, and a photo plus nationality is often requested.
Localize the details, not just the language
Translation is only the first step. Convert dates to the local order, spell out qualifications that do not travel, and give an equivalent for any degree the reader will not recognize. State your work authorization or visa status plainly if you need sponsorship, because a recruiter should not have to guess whether they can legally hire you. Use a professional email and an internationally dialable phone number with the country code.
Keep the file portable and readable
Whatever the region, an ATS still has to parse it. Save as a PDF unless a portal specifies otherwise, use one column, and avoid fonts or characters that may not render on another system. A clean, correctly localized document beats an elaborate one that a foreign recruiter cannot open.
See how conventions map to a resume in resume vs CV, and start a portable version in the CV maker. To confirm it parses cleanly abroad, run the ATS checker.