How to write a CV for Türkiye (Özgeçmiş)
Employers in Türkiye 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 TürkiyeYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | Özgeçmiş (usually written in Turkish 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 |
| Military service | Usually included |
| References | “References available on request” is fine |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
Key facts
- Article 5 of Türkiye's Labour Law No. 4857 prohibits discrimination in the employment relationship based on language, race, colour, sex, disability, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect. Source: mevzuat.gov.tr
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How Türkiye compares with nearby countries
Unlike Cyprus and Romania, CVs in Türkiye usually give the date of birth and are written in Turkish or English.
Unlike Lebanon, CVs in Türkiye are written in Turkish or English.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | Özgeçmiş | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Turkish |
| Cyprus | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | English |
| Lebanon | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Romania | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | English |
| Syria | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| United Arab Emirates | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| United Kingdom | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Türkiye
- A photo and date of birth are common.
- Men usually state military service status (completed, deferred with the date, or exempt).
- Include driving licence class if you have one.
Türkiye follows the conventions in the Türkiye guide.
Section headings in Turkish
If you write the CV in Turkish, these are the usual headings:
| English | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Profile | Profil |
| Experience | İş Deneyimi |
| Education | Eğitim |
| Skills | Beceriler |
| Languages | Yabancı Diller |
| Licences & certifications | Lisans ve Sertifikalar |
| References | Referanslar |
Guides by job
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
What is a CV called in Türkiye?
A CV in Türkiye is usually titled “Özgeçmiş”. 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 Turkish unless the job advert is in English. CV Atlas uses the title “Özgeçmiş” and Turkish headings when the CV language matches the country.
Do I put a photo on my CV in Türkiye?
Usually, yes. A professional photo is common on a CV in Türkiye, 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 and date of birth are common.
How long should a CV be in Türkiye?
For a CV in Türkiye, 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 Türkiye. 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 Türkiye?
Usually, yes. A date of birth is commonly included in the personal details of a CV in Türkiye. 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 Türkiye, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in Türkiye?
Not in full. On a CV for Türkiye 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 Türkiye?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Türkiye 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 Türkiye?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in Türkiye that means Turkish, and CV Atlas sets the headings in Turkish 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 Türkiye include?
A CV for Türkiye is usually 1–2 pages on A4 paper, written in Turkish 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 Türkiye, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Türkiye?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Türkiye, 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 Türkiye?
It’s optional. Some CVs in Türkiye 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 Türkiye?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in Türkiye, 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 Türkiye?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Türkiye. It is not relevant to the job, and CVs there normally leave it out. Your name, job title and contact details are enough at the top of the CV, followed straight away by your profile and experience. If an application form asks for it, answer there rather than on the CV.
Do I need my full address on my CV in Türkiye?
Just your city and country. A CV for Türkiye 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 Türkiye?
Yes, if you have one. Many CVs in Türkiye mention a driving licence, with its category or class, in the personal details or the skills section. Employers there often look for it, especially for jobs that involve travel, field work, deliveries or shifts at hours when public transport is limited. Leave it out if you don’t have one; outside driving jobs it is rarely a strict requirement.
How should I write dates on a CV in Türkiye?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Türkiye, 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 Türkiye?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Türkiye 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 Türkiye?
No. CVs in Türkiye 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 military service on my CV in Türkiye?
Yes, if you served. CVs in Türkiye often mention completed military or civilian service, with its dates, in the personal details or the experience section. Employers there are used to seeing it, and it explains that period in your timeline. Add any responsibilities from your service that relate to the job. Men usually state military service status (completed, deferred with the date, or exempt).
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in Türkiye?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Türkiye, 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 TürkiyeYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. 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.