Getting your CV first impressions right matters more than most people realise. Before a recruiter reads through your experience or skills, they can already form an opinion about your profile within seconds. In our previous blog, we talked about the importance of having a clear and focused CV – but even when the basics are in place, this is the factor that often gets overlooked.
And as an expat, that first impression can carry even more weight. You are often being compared to candidates who already understand the Dutch job market and know how to present themselves locally. That doesn’t mean you are less qualified – it just means your CV first impressions need to communicate professionalism quickly.
Should you include a photo?
This is probably one of the most common CV first impressions questions from internationals applying in the Netherlands. Including a photo on your CV is not required in the Dutch market, but it’s also very common – especially in roles involving communication, customer contact, or international environments.
If you decide to include one, keep it simple. A professional-looking headshot with natural lighting, a neutral background, and a friendly appearance is more than enough. The goal is not to stand out visually or look overly corporate. It’s simply about creating a professional and approachable first impression.
And honestly, recruiters notice when a photo feels off just as quickly as when it feels right.
The most common mistakes are easy to avoid once you know what to look for. Selfies, even well-lit ones, rarely come across as professional in this context. Group photos where you’ve cropped out the other people, holiday photos, or anything taken in a clearly social setting send the wrong signal – not because there’s anything wrong with those photos, but because they’re not the right context for a CV. These are the kinds of details that quietly shape your CV first impressions before a recruiter has even reached your experience.
On the other end, an overly formal corporate headshot can also feel a little stiff, especially for roles in international or people-facing environments where personality matters. The sweet spot is something that looks like you took it seriously, without looking like you’re applying to be a news anchor. A clean background, good lighting, and a natural expression is genuinely all you need.
Your headline matters more than you think
While your photo is part of your CV first impressions, your headline is what actually helps people understand your profile.
Job titles do not always translate well between countries. A position that sounds perfectly normal abroad may feel vague or unfamiliar in the Dutch market. Recruiters should not have to guess what your role involved or where you fit professionally.
That’s why your headline is so important. A strong headline can immediately give context by showing your specialisation, your level of experience, and your industry.
It helps to think of your headline less as a job title and more as a quick positioning statement. You’re not just telling a recruiter what you were called at your last job – you’re telling them how to understand you as a candidate.
For example, “Sales Professional” is vague. “Junior B2B Sales Professional | SaaS & Tech” is immediately more useful. “Customer Support” could mean almost anything. “Multilingual Customer Support Specialist | Dutch & English” already tells a recruiter something specific about what you bring.
The goal is not to impress with a fancy title. It is simply to remove doubt quickly. The moment someone immediately understands who you are professionally, they are much more likely to continue reading the rest of your CV.
If you’ve worked across different industries or roles, your headline is also a chance to anchor yourself. Choose the direction you’re heading in now, not a summary of everything you’ve ever done. A headline that tries to cover too much ends up saying very little — and that uncertainty is not the CV first impressions you want to leave.
The tone of your opening sets expectations
The photo and headline are the very first things a recruiter sees – and together they form your overall CV first impressions before a single line of experience is read
This is usually the profile summary or “About Me” section, and it’s worth treating it as part of that first impression rather than an afterthought.
A strong opening doesn’t need to be long. Two or three sentences that clearly explain who you are, what kind of experience you bring, and what you’re looking for is enough. What you want to avoid is opening with something so generic it could apply to anyone – phrases like “motivated professional with a passion for results” or “dynamic team player looking for new challenges” have been read so many times they’ve stopped meaning anything.
This is also where AI-generated content tends to show up most obviously. Tools like ChatGPT can produce a polished-sounding summary in seconds, and there’s nothing wrong with using them for inspiration or to get started. But when the output goes straight onto the CV without much editing, it usually shows. The sentences become longer, the vocabulary becomes more formal, and the whole thing starts to sound like it was written about someone rather than by someone. Recruiters read a lot of CVs and they notice the difference quickly. Use AI as a starting point if it helps, but make sure the final version actually sounds like you.
Write it the way you’d introduce yourself to someone in a professional context. Clear, direct, and specific to you. That tone (natural, confident, and to the point) is exactly what feels right in the Dutch market. And it completes the CV first impressions you have been building from the very top of the page
Next up: the layout of your CV
Now that your first impression is stronger, the next step is making sure your CV is easy to follow visually. In our next blog, we’ll talk about CV layout and how small formatting choices can completely change the way your profile is perceived.
Want to read more?
For more resources and insights, visit our blog. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay informed on everything we share.
