CAREER GUIDE
CV Guide for Northern Cyprus
A good CV is the first step towards an interview. This guide covers the CV structure Northern Cyprus employers expect and the mistakes to avoid.
How long should a CV be?
One page is ideal for a recent graduate or someone with a few years of experience. With more than five years, two pages is fine. Anything past three pages is rarely read end to end.
Which sections belong on it?
The expected order in the Turkish and Northern Cypriot market is: contact details, a short professional summary, work experience, education, skills, languages and certifications.
- Name and contact details — always include email and a mobile number
- Professional summary — two or three lines on what you do and what you want
- Work experience — company, role, dates and the outcome of your work
- Education — institution, field, graduation year
- Skills — the technical and personal skills the role needs
- Languages — with a level (beginner, intermediate, good, fluent)
Turkish or English?
The large majority of local companies in Northern Cyprus expect a Turkish CV. Tourism, international trade and technology companies also accept English, and some ask for it specifically.
The safest approach is to have both versions ready and choose based on the language of the listing you are answering.
The mistakes to avoid
The complaints recruiters repeat most often are about CVs that are repetitive, bloated or careless.
- Spelling and grammar errors — proofread before sending
- Sending the same generic CV to every application
- Listing duties without the result
- Claiming experience you do not have
- Unnecessary personal details such as photo, age or marital status
- An unreachable email or a disconnected phone number
Use measurable statements
Instead of "I did sales", write "I exceeded the monthly sales target by 20% and was the top-performing member of staff for three consecutive months". Numbers make experience memorable.
Bullets that carry a figure, a rate or an outcome stay with the reader.