Resume vs CV: formats that work in the US, UK, France, and Germany
A US resume, a UK CV, a French CV, and a German Lebenslauf are not the same document. Match page count, photo, and personal fields to the market.
People search "improve your CV" and then send a US one-pager to Munich, or a two-page Lebenslauf with a photo to New York. The content can be strong and still look wrong. Format is part of How to improve your CV: a checklist that actually gets interviews. It is not decoration.
United States: resume, usually one page
Call it a resume. Keep it to one page unless you have 10+ years that all matter for this role. No photo, no date of birth, no marital status, no nationality. Lead with a title line and evidence. Two columns and icons often break first-screen filters.
United Kingdom: CV, two pages is normal
They say CV, not resume. Two pages is fine for mid-career. Still no photo for most private-sector roles. Spell in British English if the company is UK-based. A short personal statement can sit under the name. Keep headings plain: Experience, Education, Skills.
France: CV, one or two pages, photo is optional
Write in French unless the posting is in English. One page is common early on, two pages later. A photo is still seen on many CVs and is not required. Age and marital status are fading; skip them unless a form asks. Pair the file with a short lettre de motivation. That letter is a separate job from adapting the CV to the offer.
Germany: Lebenslauf, two pages, photo still common
Use reverse chronology and month-year dates (03/2021 - 08/2024). A photo is still common in many industries; a plain headshot, not a holiday crop. Place of birth and nationality appear less than they used to. Write in German for German-language postings. A US resume pasted into this market looks unfinished. If you need to improve a Lebenslauf, start with local layout, then keywords.
What Curribellum can and cannot fix
The rewrite follows the language you pick and can export a simple single-column file that filters read. It will not invent a German photo block or decide your nationality line. You still choose photo, address style, and page count for that market. Run the analysis on the offer in the language of the posting, then adjust the layout before you send.
Also useful: How to improve your CV: a checklist that actually gets interviews, Resume keyword checker: how to pass the filter and still sound human, How to tailor your resume to a job offer (in under 15 minutes).
