Getting your CV impressions right matters a lot. 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.
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 impressions need to communicate professionalism quickly.
Should you include a photo?
This is probably one of the most common CV 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.
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. 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 impressions, your headline is what 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
This is also where AI-generated content tends to show up most obviously. Tools like for example 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 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.
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.
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