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CV template and résumé: how to write a good CV

A CV is often the first thing a recruiter sees of you. This guide explains what belongs in a good CV, in what order the information is presented and what a working CV template looks like. At the end there is an example structure you can copy.

Checked 14.10.2026 · Sources at the end of the article

What a CV includes

A CV describes your background: education, work experience and skills. According to the University of Helsinki's career services guidance, a CV includes the date, contact details, education, work experience, language skills, IT and other skills, positions of trust and voluntary work, and 1–3 referees. Hobbies and a photo are optional.

Job Market Finland advises keeping the layout close to a commonly used structure so that the recruiter finds the essentials quickly. An unusual layout may look good but slows down reading.

Order and length

Work experience and education are presented in reverse chronological order: most recent first. The most important experiences can be grouped under their own headings, for example by separating work experience in the field from other work experience.

The recommended maximum length of a CV is two pages. According to the career services guidance, the first page should contain contact details, the profile text, education and part of the work experience so that the essentials are visible immediately.

Profile text and description of work experience

A short profile text of about 4–5 sentences is written at the start of the CV, telling about your skills, strengths and goals. Adapt it to suit each application.

An example of putting it into words: instead of writing just "sales assistant", write that you were responsible for till functions and orders, inducted new employees and learned to handle customer complaints independently. A description like this tells the recruiter what you can do in the new job.

For each job, briefly describe what your duties were and what you learned. A plain list of duties leaves the reader guessing, so put your skills into words and mention results where you have them.

Template: CV structure

Below is a fictional example of a CV structure. Replace the parts in square brackets with your own details and delete the sections you do not need.

Template: Heading: Matti Meikäläinen, CV, [date]

Contact details: [phone], [email], [town], [LinkedIn or portfolio]

Profile: I am a [job title] with [x] years of experience in [field]. My strengths are [strength 1] and [strength 2]. Most recently I was responsible for [task], where [result]. I am now looking for a role in which I can [goal].

Work experience: [mm/yyyy]–present [job title], [company]. [2–3 lines on duties and results]

Work experience: [mm/yyyy]–[mm/yyyy] [job title], [company]. [2–3 lines on duties and what you learned]

Education: [yyyy] [degree], [institution]

Language skills: Finnish native, English [level], Swedish [level]

IT skills and other skills: [programs, cards, permits]

Positions of trust and volunteer work: [role, organisation, year]

References: [name, position, company, phone] or References on request

Europass CV

Europass is a European Union service where you can create, save and share CVs. According to the service's pages, a CV can be made in 31 languages. First you build a Europass profile from education, work experience and skills, and for each CV you choose the suitable details and layout from them. A cover letter can also be made in the same service.

According to a Europass release, the CV and cover letter tool is free of charge, and creating a profile is not required to make a CV. The Europass format is especially suitable when applying for work or a study place in another EU country. For a Finnish employer, an ordinary, concise CV usually works equally well.

Finishing and file format

If you apply for several different kinds of jobs, maintain one broad base version and edit a CV tailored to each application from it. Bring forward in the profile text and job descriptions the things the advertisement emphasises, and cut out the less relevant parts.

Save and send your CV as a PDF so the formatting is preserved, and give the file a clear name, for example CV Matti Meikäläinen. Finally, check your contact details, dates and spelling.

Ask someone else to read your CV before you send it. An outsider easily spots unclear abbreviations, missing dates and places where your skills go undescribed.

You can make a ready-made template yourself with a word processor or in Europass. Tutkat.fi also has a paid CV and job application template for those who want a ready-made layout. Using the same look in your CV and application makes the whole consistent.

Frequently asked questions

How long may a CV be?

The recommendation is a maximum of two pages. It is worth placing the most important information on the first page.

Is a photo needed on a CV?

Not necessarily. According to the career services' guidance, a photo and hobbies are optional details.

Do you have to ask referees in advance?

Yes, you should always ask the referee for permission and tell them which job you are applying for. According to career services guidance, 1–3 referees are usually listed on a CV.

Is the Europass CV free?

Yes. Europass is an EU service, and its CV and cover letter tool is free of charge.

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Sources

  1. University of Helsinki, career services: Tips for job hunting
  2. Job Market Finland: Tips for job hunting
  3. Europass: Create your Europass CV
  4. Europass: New Europass CV and cover letter online tool

The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.

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