Why International CV Differences Still Matter
Posted 21st October 2026 • Written by Scott Winter on thehrdirector.com • • • • • •
Artificial intelligence has transformed how employers source candidates, breaking down geographical barriers and opening access to talent from around the world. Yet while AI is making global recruitment faster and easier than ever, with 77 percent of HR teams using AI regularly, human assumptions about what a ‘good CV’ should look like are still causing businesses to overlook highly qualified candidates.
For example, while including a photograph on a CV is generally discouraged in the UK and United States due to discrimination concerns, it remains common and expected across countries like Germany, Brazil, and much of the Middle East. Likewise, a three-page CV may be perfectly acceptable in Australia, while a one-page resume is typically expected for many early-career roles in the United States.
Notably, Japanese jobseekers often use a standardised national CV format, German applicants may include significantly more academic detail than UK employers expect, and candidates in countries such as India or the Philippines may include personal information that would rarely appear on a British CV.
Scott Winter, Chief HR Officer for Agility EOR, said: “Artificial intelligence is removing geographical barriers to recruit faster than before, but hiring decisions still rely on human judgement, with people bringing their own judgement to the process.
“A CV that looks unusual to a UK hiring manager may simply be following a normal process in another country. Unfortunately, those differences can sometimes be mistaken for a lack of professionalism, when they’re actually the opposite. If businesses want to benefit from global talent pools, they need to recognise that there isn’t a single international standard for what makes a good CV.
“Focusing on a candidate’s skills, experience and achievements, rather than whether their CV looks familiar, can help employers make fairer and more informed hiring decisions.”
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