How to write a CV for China (个人简历)
Employers in China usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 1–2 pages. A photo and the date of birth are usually included, but optional.
Build a CV for ChinaYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | 个人简历 (usually written in Chinese or English) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1–2 pages |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Single column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Usually included |
| Date of birth | Usually included |
| Nationality | Optional |
| Marital status | Optional |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| References | “References available on request” is fine |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
How China compares with nearby countries
Unlike North Korea, South Korea and Mongolia, CVs in China are written in Chinese or English.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 个人简历 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Chinese |
| North Korea | 이력서 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Korean |
| South Korea | 이력서 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Korean |
| Mongolia | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | English |
| Taiwan | 履歷表 | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Chinese |
| Singapore | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| United Arab Emirates | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for China
- A photo, date of birth and gender are commonly included.
- Many employers want a bilingual (Chinese and English) CV.
China follows the conventions in the Mainland China guide.
Section headings in Chinese
If you write the CV in Chinese, these are the usual headings:
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Profile | 个人简介 |
| Experience | 工作经历 |
| Education | 教育背景 |
| Skills | 专业技能 |
| Languages | 语言能力 |
| Licences & certifications | 资格证书 |
| References | 推荐人 |
Regulated jobs in China
For these jobs, put your registration or licence near the top of the CV, or say that your application is in progress.
| Profession | Registration or licence |
|---|---|
| Doctors | Medical practitioner qualification certificate (医师资格证书) and practising certificate (医师执业证书) |
Guides by job
Regulated in China: Medicine (doctors).
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
What is a CV called in China?
A CV in China is usually titled “个人简历”. It covers the same ground as an English CV, with experience, education, skills and languages, but follows local habits: photo commonly included, 1–2 pages, and the most recent role first. Write it in Chinese unless the job advert is in English. CV Atlas uses the title “个人简历” and Chinese headings when the CV language matches the country.
Do I put a photo on my CV in China?
Usually, yes. A professional photo is common on a CV in China, although it is rarely required and many employers accept CVs without one. If you include it, use a recent head-and-shoulders picture with a plain, light background and business clothing, placed in the header next to your name. A photo, date of birth and gender are commonly included.
How long should a CV be in China?
For a CV in China, aim for 1–2 pages. Describe recent roles in detail and summarise older ones in a line or two, so the whole CV is quick to scan. Set the document to A4 (210 × 297 mm) paper, the standard size in China. Academic and senior clinical CVs are the exception: they list publications, research, teaching and courses in full and can run longer.
Should I put my date of birth on my CV in China?
Usually, yes. A date of birth is commonly included in the personal details of a CV in China. Put these details in the header or a short personal-details block under your name. Your nationality and marital status are optional. Include only what you are comfortable sharing. CV Atlas sets these details on or off to match the usual practice in China, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in China?
Not in full. On a CV for China it is normal to write “References available on request” and keep a separate list of two referees, usually recent managers, with their contact details. Send that list when an employer asks, which is usually after an interview. Ask your referees first so they expect the call.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in China?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in China usually don’t mention immigration status, so add a short line such as “Requires visa sponsorship” or “Holds a work permit” only if you need sponsorship or the advert asks. Citizens and permanent residents can leave it out entirely. Online application forms often ask about the right to work directly, so you can answer it there.
What language should my CV be in for China?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in China that means Chinese, and CV Atlas sets the headings in Chinese by default. If the advert is in English or the employer works internationally, an English CV is usually accepted; keep one language throughout and have a native speaker check it. You can switch the CV language in CV Atlas at any time; the headings and dates change, but write your own entries in the same language.
What should a CV for China include?
A CV for China is usually 1–2 pages on A4 paper, written in Chinese unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect usually a professional photo, usually your date of birth, and “References available on request” at the end. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose China, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for China?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in China, so set your CV to A4 before you export it. US Letter is slightly shorter and wider, and a Letter-sized PDF printed on A4 leaves an uneven gap at the bottom of each page, which looks careless on paper. CV Atlas sets A4 automatically for this country, and you can change the paper size in the design options.
Should I put my nationality on my CV in China?
It’s optional. Some CVs in China list nationality in the personal details and many leave it out. Add it if it helps, for example if you already hold the right to work there or the job advert asks for it. Otherwise the space is better used for your experience and skills. Online application forms often ask about nationality or the right to work separately.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in China?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in China, and most modern CVs leave it out because it says nothing about how you do the job. Add it only if a job advert or application form asks for it, and then keep it to a single word in the personal details. Use the space for your skills, licences and languages instead.
Should I put my gender on my CV in China?
Often, yes. Gender is commonly given in the personal details of a CV in China, alongside date of birth and nationality. It is still your choice to include it. If you do, keep it to one word in the personal details line under your name, and let your experience do the rest. Employers decide on your experience and qualifications, not on personal details.
Do I need my full address on my CV in China?
Just your city and country. A CV for China needs only your city, country, phone number and email, not your full street address. That is enough for recruiters to see where you are based and whether you would need to relocate, and it keeps your home address off a document that may be shared widely. Employers ask for your full address later, when they make an offer or prepare a contract.
Should I put my driving licence on my CV in China?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for China, mention a driving licence when the role involves driving, travel between sites or field work, or when the job advert asks for one. For office jobs it is optional, and one short line in your skills or personal details is enough. For driving jobs, give the licence category and any professional qualifications that go with it.
How should I write dates on a CV in China?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for China, write each role’s dates as month and year, for example “March 2021 to present”, and list your most recent job first. Keep the same format throughout, and avoid giving years only, which can hide gaps and makes recruiters ask questions. Exact days are not needed for jobs or studies.
How do I explain a gap on my CV in China?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in China usually expect a longer break to be accounted for, so add a short line in your timeline, such as “Career break: caring for a family member” or “Relocation and language study”. Be brief and honest, and keep the details for the interview. The CV Atlas readiness check points out gaps of more than six months in your work history, so you can add a line before you send the CV.
Do I sign my CV in China?
No. CVs in China are not signed. End the CV with your last section, such as skills, languages or references, with no signature, date or place line. A signature adds nothing to a document that is sent online, and recruiters there don’t expect to see one. If an application form asks you to sign a declaration, do it on the form itself.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in China?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in China, and many recruiters skip them. Include one short line only when an interest shows a skill or commitment that fits the job, such as volunteering, coaching or a relevant club, and leave out generic ones like reading or travel. If space is tight, interests are the first section to cut.
Start your CV for ChinaYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.