Want to work abroad? Then the Europass will come in handy

What is Europass?

If you’re thinking about working or doing an internship abroad, you’ve probably already come across the Europass. It’s a European tool designed to help jobseekers find their way into the international job market. The main aim is to create a uniform and easy-to-understand format for CVs and other documents so that employers across Europe can easily compare candidates from different countries.

The most well-known component is the Europass CV, a standardised curriculum vitae. This allows you to easily present your education, work experience and skills. Thanks to a uniform format, employers abroad can find their way around immediately. But in addition to the CV, Europass also includes other documents such as language passports, diploma supplements and work experience certificates.

Europass is particularly attractive to candidates because the whole system is free, online and available in multiple languages. For employers, it is a quick way to get a picture of a candidate.

How to create a Europass CV

Completing your Europass CV is easy – the European Union provides a simple online editor. However, it is good to know the different parts and what to focus on.

1. Personal details – the rule of brevity and accuracy applies here. Include name, address, telephone, email. A photo is not mandatory, but is appropriate in many fields.
2. Work experience – list chronologically, usually going back from your last job. For each position, list the title, employer, duration, and primary job duties.
3. Education and training – this includes schools, courses and training that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Don’t forget certificates and internships.
4. Language skills – Europass uses a standardised table based on the Common European Framework of Reference (A1-C2).
5. Digital skills – space to indicate IT skills.
6. Other competences – e.g. driving licence, volunteering, soft skills (communication skills, organisational skills).

The Europass CV is available in several languages and can be translated at any time, which is a great advantage if you are applying to different countries.

Practical tip: avoid overly general wording (“working with people”). Instead, describe specific activities (“leading a team of five people, organising meetings”).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Europass CV?

The Europass CV has a number of advantages that make it a popular tool for jobseekers abroad. The biggest advantage is its uniform format, which is recognised across the European Union. This means that employers in different member states can easily compare candidates without having to decipher different CV structures or formats. The ease of completion is also a big plus, the official online editor is user-friendly and guides you through all the steps. Another advantage is that you can store your CV online, access it at any time and easily share it, for example by link or in PDF format. In addition, Europass is not just the CV itself, it can also include other documents such as language passports, diploma supplements or certificates, which adds more complexity and credibility to the whole presentation.

On the other hand, the Europass CV also has its drawbacks, which are worth considering. For some candidates, it may appear too uniform and less creative. In fields such as marketing, design or media, where an original and visually interesting CV is expected, the Europass can appear inappropriate and even disadvantage the candidate. It is also often criticised for its austerity and ‘boilerplate’ appearance, which can blend in with dozens of other CVs. Another pitfall is that employers outside Europe are not always familiar with Europass and therefore may not appreciate its structure or importance.

Overall, therefore, the Europass CV is most useful for internships, working in international companies and in the public sector, where a uniform format is a great asset. On the other hand, for creative professions or start-ups, it is better to rely on a custom, original CV that better captures the personality of the candidate and their ability to differentiate themselves.

Are there any restrictions on working abroad?

Looking for a job abroad is not just about your CV. Anyone applying for a job outside the Czech Republic should also know the legal framework.

Working in the EU

Thanks to EU membership, Czech citizens have the right to free movement of workers. This means you can work within the EU without a work permit. However, your employer may ask you for proof of education or qualifications – and this is where Europass comes in very handy. For regulated professions (e.g. doctors, teachers), formal recognition of qualifications is required.

Working outside the EU

If you’re heading for work outside the EU, the situation is more complicated. In most cases, you will need a work visa and sometimes a nostrification of your diploma (official recognition of your education). The Europass CV can help as a supplementary document in this case, but it is not enough without meeting local legal requirements.

Beware of the so-called ‘schvarcsystem’ abroad, where you are offered a contract of employment instead of a trade licence. This is illegal in many countries and can lead to heavy fines. We therefore always recommend having your employment contract checked by a professional.

Europass does not only include CVs, but also diploma supplements and certificates. These help employers and authorities in another country understand exactly what your diploma or certificate means. For example, universities issue a Diploma Supplement to graduates, which describes the programme of study, the content and the qualifications achieved.

However, for regulated professions, you cannot do without official recognition. In the Czech Republic, this is regulated by the Act on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications. In practice, this means that if you want to practise a regulated profession in another Member State, you have to go through a special procedure.

The Europass CV is therefore a practical and useful tool for anyone who wants to work or study abroad. It facilitates communication between the candidate and the employer, helps to present qualifications in a clear way and increases the chances of success. But it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Particularly for regulated professions, it is important to ensure that qualifications are officially recognised and to remember the legal obligations associated with visas and contracts when working outside the EU.

Summary

Europass is a European tool to help job, traineeship or study candidates to access the international labour market. Its best-known component is the Europass CV, a standardised CV that allows you to clearly present your education, work experience and skills and is recognised in all EU countries. The advantages are a uniform format, easy online completion and the possibility to add a language passport or diploma supplements, but on the other hand it can look too uniform, which is not ideal, especially in creative industries. Europass is particularly suited to internships, international environments and the public sector, while an original CV is more suitable for start-ups or design jobs. Within the EU, Czech citizens have free access to the labour market, but for regulated professions, official recognition of qualifications is required. When working outside the EU, you cannot do without visas, translations or diploma nostrification and there is a risk of illegal forms of employment, so it is advisable to have your employment contract certified by a professional.