Norway: Resumé/CV Guidelines
February 21, 2018
by Goinglobal
You can write your resumé/CV (curriculum vitae) in either Norwegian or English. Most Norwegians are comfortable communicating in English; however, knowledge of Norwegian is an asset.
Organize your information well and, in two to three pages, provide a clear picture of your education, career and personality. Emphasize your most important achievements and qualities, and tailor the document to the requirements of the position. It is customary to use reverse-chronological order when describing education and employment history.
Categories
The major sections of a CV, in order, are:
- Personal information
- Work experience
- Education
- Personal interests
Personal information
Begin with your name, telephone numbers, home address, date of birth and email address.
Work experience
List the names and locations of previous and current employers, their fields and particular focuses in reverse-chronological order. Include your title, dates of employment and major responsibilities. Mention any changes of position or promotions while with a particular employer, along with new duties. Highlight awards or special recognition, and emphasize information relevant to the desired position.
If there are gaps in your career path, provide reasons, as well as reasons for wishing to leave your present employer. If you are engaged in part-time or contractual work, clarify the arrangements.
If you are a student or recent graduate with little or no work experience, list the education section before work experience. Students or recent graduates may also include summer or part-time jobs under work experience.
Education
Start with your most recent academic achievements and work backwards. If you are an established professional, give your highest degrees and/or advanced studies.
Each entry must include the name and location of the institution and your areas of concentration, dates of attendance and degrees. Extracurricular activities, awards and honors, and additional or specialized training should follow. Include only extracurricular activities in which you are or were deeply involved and that illustrate desirable qualities, such as organizing projects, serving in student government, editing the newspaper or captaining a sports team.
This is followed by additional college/university courses, specialized training in workshops or seminars, certifications, internships, part-time work, and study or travel in other countries.
Personal interests
In the last section of your CV, you may add the following items if they are applicable:
Special skills: levels of proficiency in speaking, writing and reading in foreign languages.
IT skills: list any knowledge of computer hardware, software and programs. These skills are important and in great demand.
Professional affiliations: those relevant to your work, with a description of your involvement.
Military service: in Norway, military service is mandatory for men. Dates, locations, rank and relevant experience should be listed.
Volunteer experience: activities in which you are very involved or hold a position of leadership.
Personal interests: your most important outside activities, such as team sports, studying history or writing mystery novels.
If letters of reference, transcripts of grades or diplomas are specifically requested, send copies rather than originals since they may not be returned.
Email applications are increasingly popular among employers in Norway. If the advertisement mentions email, send the cover letter and CV as a PDF or Word attachment.
Europass
The Europass provides a standardized platform for European jobseekers to study and work in other European countries, including those belonging to the European Union, the European Economic Area and EU candidate countries.