Recruiter-approved global development CV and resume templates

You may have invested a significant amount of time and money in your international development education, and have even gained years of relevant internship and work experience. But the global development industry is a highly competitive one, attracting many of the brightest minds from all over the world. With no shortage of qualified candidates, your success in standing out often depends on how well you can make a case for yourself on paper. “Remember that your CV is a marketing document,” said Maya Salomon, a senior recruiter from the Asia Foundation, in a previous interview with Devex. “And the purpose of that marketing document is to get you an interview.” Given the diverse nature of the development industry, most professionals may, at different points in their career, be interested in applying to various types of employers — multilateral banks, donor agencies, implementing NGOs, think tanks, and even government. They may seek positions in their home countries, or halfway across the world. Different types of recruiters may look for unique requirements, or have a strong, strict preference for a certain application or resume format. Knowing how to communicate your credentials and achievements the right way can sometimes be as important as having them in the first place. Below, Devex rounds up some of the most common and most important CV formats in international development, useful for consultants, entry level and mid to senior level applicants, as well as those interested in posts at the United Nations or stationed in Europe. Upgrade to a Career Account to access our downloadable templates, or contact our professional CV Writing Service team to help you land your dream development job. 1. Entry-level development CV. Those just breaking into the industry are advised to keep their resumes short and simple — but impactful. Aside from keeping them just one to two pages long, entry level candidates, or those with zero to two years of work experience, should start their CVs with a strong and clear career objective — a one or two-line statement that summarizes the applicant’s strengths, character, and what they would like to achieve or gain from a particular position. Download our entry level global development CV template here. 2. Mid- to senior-level development CV. For those with more experience, CVs naturally need to run a little longer in order to highlight all relevant qualifications, professional experience, and achievements. Mid-level professionals should typically keep their resumes to three to five pages while senior and executive level candidates can have their page count go up to five or six. In lieu of a career objective, these types of resumes should have a key qualifications section — tailored of course to the position being applied for — which will help highlight the candidate’s specific relevant skills. Download our mid to senior level global development CV template here. 3. Europass CV. In order to facilitate smooth professional recruitment and movement across the 28-member bloc, the European Union’s Directorate General for Education and Culture developed and launched the Europass initiative. Europass attempts to standardize CVs throughout most of the continent, allowing a candidate’s skills and qualifications to be more clearly understood regardless of where in Europe they live or work. This CV format is not industry specific, and can be completed in 27 different languages. Download our Europass CV template here. 4. EU development CV. Candidates interested in working on projects with the European Commission or EuropeAid must first become comfortable with the mandatory EU CV format. Simple and straightforward, this type of document pays special attention to a candidate’s spoken languages, as well as his or her previous country experiences. Compared to the Europass, the EU CV format is more specifically for those in the development arena. (Special tip: the official format does not include a section for your contact information. When using this template to apply to jobs, many professionals will add their email address and phone number at the end of the document. This makes it easier for recruiters to contact you if they find your CV). Download our EU global development CV template here. 5. United Nations P-11. Anyone who’s ever applied for a post at any U.N. agency is well aware of the mandatory P-11 or personal history form. While U.N. P-11 forms may vary slightly across agencies, they follow the same general format and are usually submitted along with a targeted cover letter and an accomplishment or achievement-oriented resume. To keep your application from being thrown out, ensure that you spell out all acronyms, use concise bullet points to describe your past work experience, and leave no element or section of the P-11 unanswered. Download our UN P-11 template here. 6. Development consultant CV. Because of the project-based nature of development work, many professionals work as consultants, frequently moving between projects. Displaying a wide range of short-term to long-term assignments in a concise document can be a challenge. When including your entire work history will push your CV beyond five pages, consider including highlights of your most impressive or relevant assignments. Also, pick assignments that show you have been consistently employed without major time gaps between jobs. Download our global development CV template for consultants here. Looking to make a career move? Visit our career center for expert advice on how to navigate your job search — all you need is a Devex Career Account to get started.