Photos are still quite common in France and Belgium, but they aren't required, and many international companies prefer none. What made the biggest difference for me was length: two pages maximum, the most recent job first, with results rather than duties. On language, I'd only send a CV in a language you can also be interviewed in. A Dutch CV that leads to a Dutch interview you can't handle does more harm than good.
Samir Benali 🌱 Newcomer
15 Aug 2026, 16:09
I'm applying for IT jobs in Brussels and I keep getting mixed advice about my CV. At home in Morocco the format is quite long, with a photo, date of birth and family status. A Belgian friend told me to remove all of that. Another friend says a photo is still normal here. Recruiters also seem to want a French version and a Dutch version, and my Dutch is basic.
Did you adapt your CV to the local format, and did it make a difference? What did you remove or add? And for bilingual countries, did you send your CV in a language you don't speak well?