How to write a CV that lands sponsored interviews

A great CV won't make a non-sponsor hire you — but a weak one will lose you the sponsors who can. Here's how to tighten yours for the Dutch market.

Keep it short and factual

Dutch recruiters favour clear, concise CVs — ideally one to two pages. Lead with a short professional summary, then experience in reverse-chronological order with concrete results, not duties.

English is fine

For international and English-speaking roles, an English CV is expected. Only write in Dutch if the posting clearly requires it.

What to cut

Photos, age, marital status, religion — increasingly left off and never required.
Generic buzzwords — replace "team player" with a result you delivered.
Long paragraphs — use tight bullet points with numbers.

Signal you're worth sponsoring

State your work-authorisation status plainly (e.g. "orientation year permit — full work rights" or "requires highly skilled migrant sponsorship").
Highlight scarce, in-demand skills — the same expertise that justifies a sponsored permit.
Quantify impact so a hiring manager can justify the extra step internally.

Tailor, then apply early

Mirror the keywords in the job description, and apply within the first day or two — recognised-sponsor roles attract a lot of strong applicants.