c.v. and cover letter advice

new roots6 minutes

Your CV and cover letter are often your first introduction to an employer, so make them clear, concise and relevant to the role.

  • Keep your CV focused: aim for 1–2 pages and prioritise relevant experience, skills and achievements
  • Tailor your application: adapt your CV and cover letter to each role rather than sending the same documents everywhere
  • Make international experience easy to understand: explain unfamiliar job titles, qualifications and employers where needed
  • Show what you can bring: focus on relevant results, skills and experience rather than simply listing responsibilities
  • Keep your cover letter short: use it to explain why you are interested in the role and why your background makes you a good fit
  • Make language skills clear: state which languages you speak and your level of proficiency

When you are applying for a job from another country, have recently graduated or have worked in a different market, your CV and cover letter are often the first chance an employer has to understand your experience. 

A strong application isn't about making your experience sound different. It's about presenting it clearly, showing what you can bring to the role and giving the employer enough context to understand qualifications, job titles and experience they may not recognise.

The following tips cover how to structure your CV, write a focused cover letter and present international experience in a way that is easy for employers to understand.

A good CV gives an employer a quick picture of who you are, what you have done and what you can offer. This is particularly important when you have international experience.

There is no single format that every employer expects. Requirements can vary between industries and employers, but a clear and straightforward CV is generally a good place for newbies to start.

europass 
  • Europass is best understood as a starting structure, not a final mandatory format
  • Many candidates use it to organise their CV, but then simplify and adapt the layout to make it more direct, readable, and tailored
  • Swedish recruiters prioritise clarity and relevance over strict template formatting

For most roles, 1–2 pages is enough. Focus on experience and skills that are relevant to the position rather than trying to include everything you have ever done.

A typical CV can include:

  • name and contact details
  • a short professional profile
  • relevant work experience
  • education and qualifications
  • key skills
  • language skills
  • relevant certifications or training
  • other relevant information, such as volunteer experience or professional memberships

You do not need to include every job, qualification or responsibility if it does not help demonstrate your suitability for the role.

International experience can be a strong asset, but employers may not immediately understand unfamiliar job titles, qualifications or organisations.

Make your experience easy to interpret.

For example, if your previous job title is not commonly used locally, you can add a short explanation of what the role involved. Similarly, if you have a qualification from another country, make the level and subject clear rather than assuming the employer will recognise the institution or terminology.

You can also briefly explain:

  • what an unfamiliar company or organisation does
  • the market or industry you worked in
  • the scale of your responsibilities
  • international or transferable skills
  • qualifications that may not have a direct local equivalent

The aim isn't to explain your entire career history. Give the employer enough context to understand the value of your experience.

Language ability can be particularly important when applying for jobs in a new country.

List the languages you speak and give an honest indication of your level. For example:

  • Swedish — conversational
  • English — native
  • German — intermediate

If a job advertisement specifically asks for Swedish, make your current level clear rather than simply writing “Swedish” in a list of languages.

If you are actively learning the language, you can mention that too.

  • If you know your CEFR level, such as A2, B1 or B2, consider including it alongside the language rather than using broad terms such as “conversational” or “intermediate”

A photo is not essential for most applications. Unless the employer specifically asks for one or it is common in your particular industry, leaving it out is generally fine.

Use the space to showcase your experience, skills and qualifications instead.

Europass provides a recognised CV format that can be useful, particularly if you are applying across European countries or are unfamiliar with CV conventions.

However, you do not need to use Europass. A simple, well-structured CV tailored to the role can work just as well.

A cover letter gives you an opportunity to add context that your CV cannot.

It should not repeat your CV word for word. Instead, use it to explain why you are interested in the particular role and what makes your experience relevant.

A useful structure is:

1

☐ start with the role

Say which position you are applying for and why it interests you.

Avoid generic openings such as “I am writing to apply for the position...” if you can make the opening more specific.

2

☐ connect your experience to the role

Choose two or three examples from your background that demonstrate skills the employer is looking for.

Focus on the connection between what you have done and what the employer needs.

3

☐ explain your motivation

Show that you understand what the organisation does and why you would like to work there.

This doesn't need to be long. A specific reason is usually more effective than general statements about being “passionate” or “hard-working”.

4

☐ finish clearly

Briefly reinforce your interest and invite the employer to discuss your application further.

5

☐ keep it short

A cover letter does not need to be a detailed account of your career.

Aim for around half a page to one page, depending on the role and employer. Every paragraph should help answer 1 of 2 questions:

  1. Why this role?
  2. Why you?

If the answer could apply equally to dozens of employers, make it more specific.

Sending the same CV and cover letter to every employer is tempting, especially when you are applying for many jobs. But small changes can make your application much more relevant.

Before applying, look at the:

  • skills and experience mentioned in the job advertisement
  • employer's priorities
  • language used to describe the role
  • responsibilities you would actually be taking on

Then adjust your CV and cover letter to highlight the parts of your background that match.

You don't need to rewrite everything. Often, changing your profile, prioritising different experience and adapting your cover letter is enough.

Not having previous local experience does not mean your international experience has no value.

Think about what is transferable to the role. This could include:

  • Industry knowledge
  • Project or team management
  • Customer experience
  • Technical skills
  • International market knowledge
  • Problem-solving
  • Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Working across cultures

If you have recently graduated, internships, university projects, volunteering and relevant part-time work can also demonstrate useful experience.

The goal is to help the employer see how your existing experience connects to the role — even if it was gained somewhere else.

A few issues can make an otherwise strong application harder to assess:

  • Sending the same CV for every role
  • Making the CV too long
  • Listing responsibilities without showing impact
  • Using unexplained job titles or qualifications
  • Including irrelevant personal information
  • Writing a generic cover letter
  • Repeating the CV instead of adding context
  • Making claims that are difficult to support
  • Not checking spelling and formatting
  • Making language ability unclear

Keep the focus on what the employer needs to know.

building a strong application

☐ CV is 1–2 pages
☐ Strong Profile & Key Highlights section
☐ First bullets match the job description
☐ Clear bullet points and structure
☐ Tailored cover letter
☐ Swedish level included
☐ LinkedIn updated

  • There is no single “Swedish CV” that every employer expects. Requirements vary by industry, employer and role
  • The most important thing is that your application is clear, relevant and easy to understand. If you have international qualifications or experience, take a little extra time to explain anything that may be unfamiliar to the employer
  • A strong application won't guarantee an interview, but it can make it much easier for an employer to see the value you could bring

  • Recruiters often scan CVs in 7–10 seconds, so your top section must be immediately relevant
  • Tailor your CV slightly for each job — especially your first 1–2 bullets per role
  • Keep your CV simple — Swedish hiring managers prefer clarity over design
  • Use keywords from the job description naturally in your CV (especially in Key Highlights and job bullets)
  • Focus on collaboration and teamwork in your examples, not just individual achievements
  • Make sure your email address and phone number are correct and easy to find
  • Ask someone to read it: a second pair of eyes can spot unclear wording, errors or information that needs more context

↗︎ Europass CV and application tools

how long should a c.v. be?

For most roles, 1–2 pages is a useful target. Senior professionals with extensive relevant experience may need more, but avoid adding information simply to make the CV longer.

do I need a cover letter for every job?

Not necessarily. Follow the employer's instructions. If a cover letter is requested, tailor it to the role rather than sending a generic version.

should I include my personnummer on my c.v.?

No. Your personnummer is generally not needed on a CV. Keep personal information to what is relevant for the application.

should I include a photo?

A photo is generally not necessary unless the employer specifically requests one or it is standard practice in your industry.

can I use my existing c.v. from another country?

Yes, but review it before applying. Make sure the format, terminology and descriptions are clear to employers who may be unfamiliar with your previous country's education or employment system.

is europass required?

No. Europass is one option for creating a CV, but you can use your own clear and professional format.

should I translate my qualifications?

If your qualifications or job titles are unfamiliar to local employers, provide a clear English or Swedish explanation where appropriate. Don't change the official name of a qualification, but you can add context so its level and subject are easy to understand.