Profile — [Brief summary of your professional identity, key strengths, and what you’re looking for. 2–4 sentences.]
[Degree], [University] — [Year]
Belgium's language communities make CV conventions unusually context-dependent: the same document can be expected in Dutch, French or English depending on where and how the role is advertised. This page covers those expectations and how to fill the template on this page.
The rule that overrides everything else: write your CV in the language of the job advertisement. Dutch-language ads in Flanders expect a Dutch CV, French-language ads in Wallonia a French one, and international employers — especially around Brussels — often advertise and hire in English. A bilingual Dutch/French profile is a real asset; state both levels honestly rather than writing "fluent" twice.
Length is one to two pages, reverse chronological with month and year. Personal information is more included than in the UK or US: date of birth, nationality and address belong in the header, nationality being genuinely relevant because it signals your right to work. A photo is still fairly common in Belgian practice, though not mandatory — include a professional one unless the employer is an international firm that has dropped the convention. A cover letter (lettre de motivation / motivatiebrief) is normally expected, and references are usually stated as "available on request" or listed with contact details when the ad asks for them.
Fill the template top-down: contact and personal details first (including nationality and date of birth), then the experience entries with month/year dates, then education, languages and skills. Check the language block carefully — it is the section Belgian recruiters read earliest. Replace every [bracketed placeholder] and rewrite the sample bullets into achievements with numbers. Export with Print / Save as PDF on A4 (pre-set on this page) and name the file FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf. If you would rather edit in a form, the resume builder produces the same sections without touching the HTML.
The language of the advertisement. Flemish ad → Dutch CV; Walloon or Brussels French-language ad → French CV; English-language international ad → English is acceptable. If the ad is bilingual, a bilingual CV (or two versions) is the strongest move.
Yes — in Belgium it functions as a work-authorisation signal, particularly for candidates from outside the EU/EEA. List your current citizenship accurately; if you hold a residence permit that grants working rights, mention the permit type in your profile line rather than leaving the employer guessing.
Still fairly common, though not required and increasingly omitted by international employers. Include one if you have a professional headshot and the company reads as traditional; skip it for multinationals and roles advertised in English.
Two is the practical maximum for most roles — one if you are early career. Belgian recruiters favour compact, clearly structured documents, and a third page is usually ignored rather than read.