Published in: Resume Writing Guidance

Regional Resume Writing Standards for Applicants in Singapore

Author Proresumes Team

Published on: March 13, 2026

Looking for an internship or a full-time job in Singapore?

Explore the Asian resume standards that should be considered while working on your Singaporean job application.

Related: Regional resume writing standards and practices in Thailand

What is the name used for Singaporean job application documents?

The document name that is widely used for the job application document in Singapore is CV. The word CV is the abbreviation of the Latin word curriculum vitae, which means the course of life.

The Singaporean majority also utilizes the words curriculum vitae and résumé to refer to a job application document. However, many Singaporean recruiters expect detailed career accounts when requesting a CV, which is similar to the American CV document.

Regional resume standards followed by applicants in Singapore

The resumes in Singapore are a blend of the resume guidelines followed by Western and Asian countries. The resume standards for Singaporean resumes include:

Resume Length

Unlike some Western countries, Singaporean resumes don’t have a one-size-fits-all resume format. The resume length for these resumes is around one to three pages.

The one-page resume is mostly used by students, professionals with little experience, and those who want to change careers. Since these individuals lack relevant experience, they are advised to stick to a single page for adding their relevant details.

Meanwhile, many professionals with more than a decade of experience or managerial positions utilize 2 or 3 pages. These professionals are often expected to use more than one page to add all valuable career details to their resume.

Paper Size

The paper size that is used for the Singaporean resumes is the German paper standard, A4. The A4 paper size is used by many Asian countries since it is easy to scan, share, and print.

Moreover, according to the paper size, the dimensions of Singaporean resumes are around:

• 8.27 x 11.69 inches
• 210 x 297 mm
• 21.0 x 29.7 cm

Resume Format

The resume format that is used by Singaporean job applicants is the reverse-chronological format. This format is easy to scan and is used by applicants to highlight career progression in the same industry.

Moreover, many job applicants also use the functional resume format for Singaporean job applications. It helps the applicant in highlighting their skills if they’re at an early stage in their career journey or switching it.

Many professionals also use the hybrid format as their Singaporean resume format to list all their skills and work experience. It is used by professionals who want to avail the advantages of both resume formats.

Language guidelines for resume content in Singapore

The language that is used for Singaporean resumes is known as Standard Singaporean English. This is the national version of the English language in the country and is used in industries like:

• Education
• Business
• Government

Singaporeans also use Singlish, which is a colloquial version of Singapore English. However, it is only used for informal context.

Meanwhile, the standard version of Singaporean English utilizes British spellings and grammar considerations. It is used in resumes by job applicants who want to get both local and multinational work positions.

Don’t know how to tailor a resume according to the Singaporean version of English? Get help from writers at ProResumes who guarantee resumes that attract interview opportunities.

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

According to the Singaporean resume guidelines, the applicant’s photo is considered optional or not required by many organizations. Local recruiters in Singapore used to demand an applicant’s picture as a common resume requirement.

However, it is now considered outdated. Meanwhile, hiring managers from international companies prohibit photo inclusion by following the TAFEP guidelines.

The following are some reasons why a photo isn’t required in Singaporean resumes:

• It promotes discrimination and disrupts fair hiring practices.
• It is difficult to scan through the applicant tracking system (ATS).

Are references included within Singaporean CVs or resumes?

No, unlike many Asian countries, Singaporean job applicants aren’t required to add references in their resumes. Moreover, career guides also advise avoiding any phrases that provide references.

The following are some of the reasons why references aren’t required in Singaporean CVs or resumes:

• The space can be used to add relevant and valuable information.
• The references are useless for a recruiter during the early stages of hiring.
• The data of the referees can be compromised.

What are the main elements required for a resume in Singapore?

The following are the main resume sections that should be a part of the Singaporean resume:

Personal information

The first section includes the applicant’s details, such as:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email Address
• Website Portfolio link
• LinkedIn Account

The following are some applicant details that should only be provided if requested:

• Age
• Marital status
• Professional headshot

Professional summary

The summary in the Singaporean resumes is around four to five lines and includes:

• Main achievement
• Prominent skills
• Future goals
• Years of experience

Work Experience

The experience section in Singaporean resumes is structured in a chronological manner. It mostly includes details like:

• Organization name
• Job Title
• Dates of employment
• Key work duties
• Quantified achievements and results
• Foreign or global work experience

Education

The section that highlights the education of the Singaporean job candidates includes details like:

• Institute name
• Years attended
• Degree/Diploma acquired
• Academic honors
• Professional certifications

Additional Sections

The other sections that are often a part of the Singaporean resumes include:

• Skills
• Certifications
• Hobbies
• Volunteer work/Apprenticeship
• Languages (English, Mandarin, Malay)

Tips to format a resume in Singapore

Following are some of the expert advice by career guides on the optimization of resumes:

• Always tailor your resume according to the job requirements.
• Never add any kind of salary expectation within resumes.
• Only add hobbies when they are relevant to your target job.
• Avoid the use of length descriptions and use bullet points.
• Use the allowed resume fonts, font size, text spacing, and margin according to resume-formatting guidelines.
• Avoid using extra fancy designs and graphical elements.
• Proofread your resume to ensure accuracy of spelling, context, and grammar rules.

Learn the resume writing guidelines in Latin and North America on ProResumes blogs.