🇮🇹How to Write a CV for Italy

Quick facts: CVs in Italy

These are common practices; they vary by employer and industry. If a job ad asks for something specific, follow the ad.

What to include

What to leave off

• Leaving out the consent line — It is not always a strict requirement for applicants, but many employers are used to seeing it.
• Overly long CVs — Two pages is usually enough, even in Europass format.
• Casual photos — If you include a photo, make it professional.
• Overstating your Italian — It will be tested in the interview.

ATS and CVs in Italy

Large companies and multinationals in Italy, especially around Milan and Turin, often use career portals with applicant tracking systems. Family-owned and smaller businesses, which make up a large share of the Italian economy, may read CVs by hand.

• Use a single-column template with clear section headings.
• Include important terms from the ad for skills you genuinely have.
• Format dates consistently (month/year).
• If you use Europass, make sure the file does not become too long.
• A PDF is usually best.
• Compare your file with the ad in the job matcher and test it in the CV checker.

Clarity and structure help either way, whether your CV is read by software or by a hiring manager.

If you use Europass, remove empty sections and details unrelated to the role.

Check my CV for ATS →

CV example

Examples by job

Applying for jobs in Italy

Popular places to job hunt in Italy include LinkedIn, Indeed and InfoJobs, as well as company career pages. Employment agencies (agenzie per il lavoro) are also widely used, especially for temporary contracts and manufacturing.

• Networking: personal recommendations and professional networks carry real weight, so keep LinkedIn up to date.
• Contract types: ads may mention permanent, fixed-term or internship (tirocinio) positions.
• Regulated professions: fields such as engineering and healthcare may require formal recognition of a foreign qualification.
• Work permits: for non-EU citizens, entry to the labour market usually goes through formal procedures and a quota system that changes over time. Check official Italian government websites or the consulate.

Start in the CV builder, add the consent line at the end, and see our Switzerland guide if you are also considering Ticino.

The market varies by region: the north (Milan, Turin, Bologna) concentrates industry, finance and international firms, while tourism matters greatly elsewhere. Polite follow-up after applying is normal.

CV language

For most roles in Italy, employers usually expect a CV in Italian, especially at small companies, in the public sector and in local jobs. English may be acceptable at multinationals, in tech and in international tourism when the job ad itself is written in English.

To be clear: our builder outputs English or French only; it cannot write Italian. It suits English-language ads; for Italian-language ads you will need a version reviewed by a fluent speaker.

Even in English-speaking roles, some Italian helps day to day, so state your level honestly.

CV or resume?

In Italy the document is called a Curriculum Vitae or CV. It follows formal European conventions and is sometimes written in the Europass format, which is more widespread in Italy than in many countries. Compared with a US resume, an Italian CV usually carries more personal details and a data-processing consent line. See our CV examples.

The consent line usually sits at the very end, in one or two short sentences.

Cover letters in Italy

A cover letter (lettera di presentazione) is common and useful, especially for speculative applications or international companies. Keep it under a page, formal and courteous, explaining why this company and what you will bring. You can start with a draft from the cover letter generator and adapt it.

Write it in the language of the ad, and address a named person if one is given.

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