Published in: Resume Writing Guidance

Regional Resume Writing Standards in Indonesia

Author Proresumes Team

Published on: March 18, 2026

Want to work in the manufacturing or tourism sector in Indonesia?

Check out the resume writing guidelines in Asia to craft an effective Indonesian resume or CV document.

Related: Indian Resume Guidelines for 2026

What is the document name used for the job application in Indonesia?

The job application document in Indonesia is often referred to as a resume, just like in North America. Moreover, the Indonesians also used the word CV or curriculum vitae, which is a Latin word.

The word means the course of life, while a job application is used to gather all details of someone’s professional life.

Regional resume standards followed by applicants in Indonesia

Indonesia is a part of the Southeast Asian region and follows Asian and some Western resume standards and practices. Those resume standards followed by the country are:

Resume Length

The standard length for Indonesian job application documents is around one to two pages. This is the standard resume length that is followed in the UK, North America, and various Asian countries.

The one-page resume rule applies to applicants who don’t have enough experience. These job applicants include junior-level professionals, students, graduates, and people who want to change their careers.

Meanwhile, the individuals who can use a resume more than one-page resume include:

• Applicants with specialized skills
• Mid-level or Senior Professionals
• Applicants with more than a decade of experience (10+ years)
• Freelancing professionals

However, applicants should decide the length of their resume according to the following pointers:

1. The content of their resume should be relevant.
2. It should be structured according to the applicant tracking system (ATS) guidelines.
3. It should include effective and relevant skills, competencies, and projects.
4. It should utilize white space and avoid cramming the text to ensure readability.

Paper Size

The standard size of paper used for Indonesian resumes or CV documents is the A4 paper size. This paper size is known as the German standard, which is ISO 216.

Moreover, this paper size is used by most of the countries in the world due to the following reasons:

• It can be used with diverse devices.
• It is a standard used in education or professional industries.
• It is easy to share and print.

Apart from this, the dimensions of an Indonesian resume are:

• 210 x 297 Millimeters
• 21.0 x 29.7 Centimeters
• 8.27 x 11.69 Inches

Resume Format

The resume documents in Indonesia use the following resume formats:

1. Reverse-chronological: It is the main resume format that is utilized as a standard in almost every country. It is often preferred by hiring managers because it helps in analyzing applicants’ career progression. Moreover, it is easy to scan and clearly state the time of the applicant’s tenure.
2. Skills-based: This resume format is also known as the functional format and is used to highlight an applicant’s skills. This format can be used by applicants who don’t have relevant experience for the job. These applicants can include fresh graduates or someone who is interested in switching careers.
3. Combination: This resume format is also known as the hybrid format since it utilizes both the specialties of functional and chronological resumes. It focuses on both experience and a relevant skill set for a job seeker.

What are the languages used to write resume content in Indonesia?  

The Indonesian job applicants use two languages to write the content of their resume, including:

Bahasa Indonesia

The Bahasa Indonesia or Indonesian language is the main language of the country and is used for professional purposes. Moreover, local Indonesian recruiters prefer job application documents with Bahasa Indonesia over English resumes.

Moreover, fluency in Indonesian is required to work at small businesses and industries that require local interaction. However, if you want to apply to a local position as a foreigner, avoid any kind of direct translation.

Always consult a language expert or get your Indonesian version of a resume proofread by a native speaker.

American English

The second language that is often used in the Indonesian resume documents is known as American English. Even though English is used as a foreign language in the country, many multinational companies expect resumes in US English.

The American form of English is used for resumes in Indonesia because of its influence through the media and formal education. Since the country is influenced by American English, the US spellings and grammar considerations are dominant in Indonesian resumes.

You can never make an effective resume with just good language proficiency! It requires resume writing strategies that can impress the hiring managers and compel them to interview you.

Go to ProResumes and figure out the secret formula of crafting an effective resume or get it done by experts!

Guidelines for an applicant’s photo in a resume in Indonesia

According to Indonesian resume standards, applicants are required to attach their photo to their resume. Local Indonesian recruiters often reject resume or CV documents that don’t include the applicant’s photo.

Moreover, the exclusion of an applicant’s photo in Indonesian resumes can be a dealbreaker when applying to the following:

• Hospitality Business or Tour Guide
• Administration roles
• Customer-facing or Front-desk staff
• Sales or Marketing staff
• Media and Entertainment roles

Here’s a set of rules that should be considered while getting a picture for your Indonesian resume:

1. Always go for a simple and decluttered background.
2. Always dress in dark and professional attire.
3. Never use editing, filters, or excessive makeup.
4. Never add photos with weird poses or distracting elements.
5. Always use a passport-sized picture for the resume document.

What are the guidelines regarding the references in Indonesian resumes?

The Indonesian resumes don’t include any kind of references section within resumes like the western job applications. However, the Indonesian industry prefers referrals and strong references, which can be provided through a reference list.

The job applicants can include the following details of the references in the references list:

1. Full name
2. Profession
3. Organization
4. Credibility
5. Phone number
6. Email address
7. Professional relationship with Applicant

Note: Always get permission from the reference before sharing any of their details in your references list.

What are the main parts of a resume required in Indonesia?

The resume sections that are a part of the Indonesian job application document are the following:

Personal information

The top section of an Indonesian resume contains more than just the contact information of a job seeker. It includes details like the following:

• Full official name of the applicant
• Contact details of the applicant (active phone number and email address)
• Marital status (optional detail, but mostly required for local work)
• Applicant’s profile photo
• City of residence (for on-site jobs)
• Work permit and Nationality (only for foreign candidates)

Note: The applicant’s photo is required to check their gender and often race, since that can’t be asked explicitly.

Professional summary

The professional summary consists of three to five lines that are used to summarize the career journey of a job seeker. The summary statement helps Indonesian hiring managers in quickly assessing the skills and experience of a job applicant.

The summary statement includes details like:

1. Years of working experience
2. Main skills of an applicant (2 or 3)
3. Main achievement in career
4. Future goals of the applicant

Work Experience

The work experience section is the main section of an Indonesian resume and is structured in a reverse-chronological manner. It should include the following details:

• The job title of the applicant during each working experience.
• The names and locations of the previous organizations.
• The dates of employment clarify the applicant’s tenure.
• Bullet points to summarize main work duties.
• Focus on achievements and quantify them with numbers and metrics.
• Use of the STAR method to highlight relevant experience.
• List any internship or apprenticeship experiences.

Education

The education section of the Indonesian resume is often considered essential after the experience section. It is also formatted in chronological order to add the following details:

• Name of the degree or educational program
• Name of the educational institution
• Years attended at the institution
• Any relevant project or coursework.
• Study abroad experiences of the applicant
• Professional certifications or academic honors.

Additional Sections

The following are some of the extra sections that are used in an Indonesian resume:

• Skills: It lists all the interpersonal traits or technical expertise of the job applicant.
• Hobbies: The interests or hobbies of the applicants should relate to the target position.
• Language proficiency: Fluency level in languages like English or Indonesian should be emphasized.

Tips for optimizing the CV or resume document in Indonesia

Here’s a list of tips that can be used to enhance the impact of an Indonesian resume:

• Only add relevant activities or skills to show personality.
• Use some colors or designs in the Indonesian CVs instead of plain white job applications.
• Don’t exaggerate when writing about expertise or competencies.
• Always use easy-to-read fonts like Arial or Helvetica.
• Always proofread resumes to filter out any mistakes and grammatical errors.

Learn about resume writing practices in your region by exploring ProResumes blogs.