- Keep it to one or two pages, with your strongest results first.
- A photo is optional; many international employers prefer none.
- A short profile of two or three lines works better than an objective.
- Say clearly that you need a highly skilled migrant permit, and target IND recognised sponsors.
Dutch recruiters are busy and direct. They want to see in seconds what you can do. A CV built for Indian job portals, with long objectives and every training course, gets skipped.
A structure that works
- Header. Name, city, phone, email, LinkedIn. No date of birth, religion or marital status.
- Profile, two or three lines. Your role, years of experience and two strongest skills.
- Experience, newest first. Three to five bullet points per job, each with a result.
- Skills. Tools and languages with levels, matched to the ad.
- Education. Degree, university, year. Add the Dutch equivalent only if you know it.
Style
- One page for up to five years of experience, two pages for more.
- Plain layout that applicant tracking systems can read.
- Numbers wherever possible: users, revenue, time saved.
- English is fine for international companies; use Dutch for Dutch language ads.
Mention your permit situation smartly
In the Netherlands, only IND recognised sponsors can hire you as a highly skilled migrant. Check the IND register before you apply, and add one line in your cover letter: you qualify for the highly skilled migrant permit and can start after the permit is issued.
Common questions
Should I add a photo?
It is optional. Many international companies prefer CVs without photos.
Do Dutch employers read cover letters?
Many do, especially for roles with many applicants. Keep it short.
Is a Europass CV good for the Netherlands?
It is accepted but often too long. A clean custom CV works better.
CV to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram.
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.