
Resume Standards Followed by the Job Market in Lebanon
Got a good job in the banking and finance sector of Lebanon?
Use this guide to learn the resume standards that will help you design your resume or CV.
What is the name used while referring to a job application in Lebanon?
The name that is used by the Lebanese job seekers is known as a CV. This abbreviation is adapted from a Latin origin word, ‘curriculum vitae’. The word means to present the course of one’s life.
It is used for a job application document because it presents the course of one’s professional life. Moreover, the word ‘resume’ is also used by the Lebanese applicants in some cases to refer to a job application document.
Regional resume standards for job candidates in Lebanon
Lebanon is a part of the Western area of the Asian region, which is also known as the Middle East. The country focuses on the utilization of Asian standards when it comes to professional documentation, including resumes.
The standards followed in Lebanon are the following:
Resume Length
The length of Lebanese resumes is expected to be within 1 to 2 pages, similar to the other Asian resumes. This standard is made to help job seekers develop their resume applications according to their experience level.
The candidates with good experience of 15 or more years can use two pages for their resume application. Meanwhile, candidates who have 0-5 years’ experience should go for a one-page resume application.
Paper Size
The second standard for Lebanese resumes is that the paper size should be A4. The applicants can verify the following dimensions to use the correct size of resume paper for their application:
- 21 x 29.7 cm
- 8.27 x 11.69 inches
- 210 x 297 mm
- 2480 x 3508 pixels (300 DPI)
Moreover, the reasons why this resume paper size is utilized by the whole Asian region are:
- The size has proper space to include all the contents of a one-page resume.
- The size helps in applying for jobs in various countries that follow the same standards.
- The size is easy to purchase, print, and share through digital platforms.
Resume Format
The resume formats that are mostly used in Lebanon are:
Chronological
- Works for experienced employees.
- Best for ATS software.
- List the recent work position first.
- Used by professionals with a regular career history.
Skills-based
- Works for inexperienced applicants.
- Highlights the skills and competencies achieved.
- Don’t describe the work experience section.
Hybrid
- A mix of chronological and functional resume formats.
- Used by applicants at high or intermediate career stages.
- Highlights the skills and experience together.
Primary languages that are utilized in Lebanon for resume writing
Here’s a list of primary languages that are used in Lebanese resumes:
Arabic
- The main language of the country.
- Used by the applicants when applying to local and public-based work positions.
- The written script used is known as Modern Standard Arabic.
- Written from the right to the left side.
English
- Primary language used for applying to international companies and NGOs, marketing, or technical industries.
- The British version of the language is used more than the American one.
- Applications are written with the formal use of the English language.
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Guidelines regarding the use of applicants’ pictures in the resumes of Lebanon
The Lebanese applicants are mostly required to attach their profile photo to the CV. Many applicants who have worked with international companies might never share it with recruiters.
However, this is not the case with local hiring managers who prefer personalized applications. Moreover, here are some rules to help job seekers use the best picture:
- Use a picture with a clean and simple backdrop.
- Use a professional outfit to get the picture.
- Use a good-quality and high-resolution picture.
- Use warm and approachable expressions for the picture.
- Use a center shot instead of random poses and angles.
Are professional references significant to include in the CVs and resumes in Lebanon?
No, it is not mandatory to include the references in the Lebanese job applications. However, the applicants can add the phrase ‘references available upon request’ to save space.
They can create a list to include all the references by including these details:
- Referee’s name
- Referee’s profession
- Referee’s contact details (Phone number and professional email address)
- Referee’s relationship with the applicant
What are the parts that are required to create a CV or resume document in Lebanon?
Lebanese job application documents consist of the following sections:
Header information
This section includes the following details:
- Full name (Same as the one on legal documents)
- Professional headshot
- LinkedIn profile (optional)
- Nationality
- Marital status (optional)
- City of Residence
- Phone number
- Email address (professional domain)
Pro Tip: Don’t share details regarding political perspectives or religious philosophies in your resume.
Professional summary
This section works like an elevator pitch and shares the following details of the applicant in a few lines:
- Main skills
- Main career achievement
- Years of experience
- Main career goals
Work Experience
Details that are part of the experience section in a resume are:
- Organization or Employer name
- Job title/work position
- Duration of experience
- Main responsibilities during every experience
- Main achievements during every experience
- Internship experience
- International or local work experience
Education
The following details regarding an applicant’s qualifications are included in these documents:
- Main education program
- Location and name of the institute
- Main subjects of relevant coursework (freshers only)
- GPA or grades
- Academic awards
- Year of graduation
Additional Sections
The extra resume sections that are often included by Lebanese applicants are:
- Skills
- Languages
- Certifications
- Hobbies
- Volunteer work
Resume formatting tips for job candidates in Lebanon
Following is a checklist to see whether your resume in Lebanon is good for submission:
- You’ve used fonts that are compatible with ATS.
- You’ve tailored your application with job description language.
- You’ve edited and removed grammatical and spelling mistakes.
- You’ve used a one-column layout and simple style.
- You’ve transformed your responsibilities into achievements.
Don’t know where to find the regional resume standards for your country? Explore ProResumes blogs.
| Resume Writing Standards | Checklist |
| Profile photo | Yes |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Spellings/ Language | Arabic and British English |
| Resume Length | One to Two pages long |
| Document name | CV (curriculum vitae) and Resume |
| Personal Data | Yes |
| Hobbies & Interests | Optional |
| Country-specific Trend | Employers prefer candidates who have strong personal references or recommendations. |
| References | Optional |