A CV that lands interviews in London, Lisbon or Lagos can still fall flat in Malta. When that happens, the format is usually the problem, not the experience. If you are working out how to write a CV for Malta jobs, think of it as two possible documents. The first is a lean, English, reverse-chronological CV for private employers. The second, needed only if your job involves an employment licence or work permit, is an official version built on the government template, with its own rules on languages, qualifications and a signed declaration.
I have rewritten my own CV for Maltese employers more than once and helped plenty of newly arrived friends with theirs. The same problems come up every time: unclear work status, vague language levels, degrees nobody can place, and a profile paragraph that could belong to anyone. This guide goes through each section, shows how the official format differs from a normal CV, and ends with a checklist to run through before every application.
This is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice. Permit procedures and forms change, so always confirm the current requirements with Jobsplus and your prospective employer.
How to write a CV for Malta jobs: what employers expect
Malta is small, its business language is English, and many employers recruit internationally. Recruiters here often see a mix of local, EU and non-EU applicants for the same role. A CV that answers the practical questions straight away, such as where you are, whether you can legally work and which languages you actually speak, gets read properly. One that hides those answers on page two tends to get skipped.
English, unless the advert says otherwise
The baseline rule is simple: write and submit your CV in English unless a specific vacancy explicitly asks for another language (GoMaltaNow). That holds even when you are applying for a German-speaking or Nordic-market customer support role. The CV stays in English, and your other languages appear in the languages section, where the employer can see how good they are. Use British English spelling throughout (organise, centre, licence), because Malta follows UK conventions and recruiters notice.
Reverse-chronological and easy to scan
Put your most recent role first and work backwards. Maltese recruiters, like most European ones, want to see quickly what you are doing now. Functional or skills-only CVs that blur dates tend to raise questions rather than answer them. Use clear headings, consistent date formats (month and year) and a simple layout that survives being uploaded to an applicant tracking system. Text boxes, columns made of tables and graphics often scramble when parsed.
Make your work status obvious
This is the most Malta-specific point, and the one newcomers most often miss. Near the top, next to your contact details, state your nationality or work status in plain words: for example, “EU citizen, no work permit required” or “Non-EU national, currently resident in Malta”. Employers know that hiring a non-EU national usually means an employment licence process, so being upfront saves everyone time. If you are already living in Malta, add the town you live in. Local availability is a genuine advantage, especially for on-site roles.
For a wider picture of sectors, hours and office norms before you start tailoring, our guide to working in Malta, salaries and work culture is a good companion to this one.
The section-by-section CV layout
For private employers there is no compulsory template. The layout below is what I would recommend to anyone arriving on the island. Keep it to two pages at most. Recruiters reviewing a stack of applications rarely reward length.
| Section | What to include | Malta-specific tip |
|---|---|---|
| Personal details | Full name, phone, email, LinkedIn, town of residence | Add nationality or right-to-work status here, not at the end |
| Profile | Three or four lines on who you are, your field and what you want next | Name the sector (iGaming, financial services, hospitality) instead of generic phrases |
| Work experience | Job title, employer, location, dates, four to six bullet points | Lead with results and tools; spell out acronyms local recruiters may not know |
| Education | Institution, qualification, dates, grades where useful | Add the MQF or ISCED level if you know it, or note MQRIC recognition |
| Languages | Each language with a clear level | Use CEFR self-assessment levels instead of “fluent” or “good” |
| Skills | Software, certifications, technical and soft skills | Group by type; keep only what is relevant to the role |
| References | “Available on request” or one or two named referees | Local references help if you have worked or volunteered in Malta |
Personal details: what to leave out
For a private application you do not need your passport number, ID card number, full street address, marital status or the names of family members. Your town, phone and email are enough. A photo is optional. Some Maltese employers are used to seeing one, because the Europass style is familiar here, but a CV without a photo will not count against you. If you do add one, keep it a plain, professional headshot.
Writing experience that recruiters remember
Each bullet point should answer the question “so what?”. “Handled customer queries” tells a recruiter nothing. “Resolved escalated payment queries for UK and Irish players within the team’s service targets” tells them the market, the problem and the level of responsibility. Quote numbers from your own work if you have them, such as team size, budget or ticket volumes. Never invent them, because interviewers in Malta’s smaller industries often know people at your previous employer.
The profile paragraph
Write it last. Name your field, your years in it, one or two specific strengths and what you are looking for in Malta. If you are relocating, say so: “Relocating to Malta and available for on-site work” removes a question the recruiter would otherwise have to ask.
When you need the official ELU CV format
If you are a non-EU national and an employer is applying for an employment licence on your behalf, your CV becomes part of an official file. In that case a casual two-page CV is not enough. Jobsplus and the Employment Licence Unit provide a standardised CV layout, form ELU/FM-012, with sections for personal information, work experience, personal skills and competences (Jobsplus).
The official format also carries legal weight. ELU forms require a signed declaration that the CV and all supporting documentation are complete, accurate and true (Jobsplus). Treat every date, job title and qualification on it as something you may need to back up with certificates or employer letters. Dates that do not match your diplomas, or titles that differ from your reference letters, are the kind of small inconsistency that can slow a file down.
| Feature | CV for a private employer | Official ELU CV |
|---|---|---|
| Template | Your own design | Standardised Jobsplus/ELU layout |
| Order | Reverse-chronological recommended | Reverse-chronological, with duties and sectors spelled out |
| Languages | Clear levels recommended | CEFR breakdown by competence |
| Qualifications | Institution and qualification | Institution, grades and MQF/ISCED level |
| Declaration | Not needed | Signed declaration of accuracy |
| Who uses it | Recruiters and hiring managers | Permit and licence processing |
Last checked May 2026. Always download the current version of the form from Jobsplus, because templates are revised from time to time.
In practice the employer or their HR team usually tells you when the official CV is needed and sends you the current form. Keep your normal CV for applications and interviews, and complete the official one carefully once there is an offer and a licence application. Neither this guide nor any blog replaces the official instructions, so if anything is unclear, ask the employer’s HR team or check directly with Jobsplus.
Languages, CEFR levels and MQF qualifications
Two sections cause more confusion than any others on Malta CVs: languages and qualifications. Both have official frameworks behind them, and using those frameworks makes you look prepared.
Languages: drop “fluent” and use CEFR
Words like “fluent”, “conversational” and “basic” mean different things to different people. On official CVs, languages are broken down using the Common European Framework of Reference into five competences: Listening, Reading, Spoken Interaction, Spoken Production and Writing (Europass). Even for a private employer, borrowing this approach is smart. Many multilingual roles in Malta, especially in customer support and iGaming, test candidates on the language they are hired for. An honest CEFR self-assessment sets realistic expectations and avoids an awkward test result.
A short table or a simple line per language works well. You might be strong in reading and listening in Italian, for example, but weaker in writing. Show that rather than rounding everything up. English should be listed too, even if it is your first language, because recruiters screening international candidates look for it.
Maltese is rarely required for private-sector roles aimed at international hires, but some public-facing and public-sector jobs do ask for it. If you have started learning, list it honestly at whatever level you have reached. Our guide to learning Maltese with courses, apps and useful phrases covers where to start.
Qualifications: show the level, not just the name
A degree title that means everything at home can mean very little to a Maltese recruiter. Education entries on CVs registered with Jobsplus should include the institution, the grades attained and the corresponding MQF or ISCED level, and foreign qualifications may need recognition through MQRIC, the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (Jobsplus).
Practical tips for this section:
- Write the qualification in its original name, then add a short English translation in brackets.
- If you already have an MQRIC recognition statement, mention it next to the qualification. Employers appreciate not having to wonder.
- For vocational certificates, include the awarding body and whether the course was full-time or part-time.
- Leave out school-level results once you have a degree or several years of experience, unless the advert asks for them.
Tailoring your CV by sector, including remote work
Malta’s job market leans heavily on a handful of industries, and each one reads CVs slightly differently. A generic CV sent to twenty adverts usually does worse than a tailored one sent to five, and our week-by-week job search plan for Malta shows how to pace those applications. If you have not yet worked out where to apply, start with our list of jobs in Malta for English speakers and where to apply.
iGaming and tech
Recruiters want tools, markets and outcomes. List the platforms, CRMs, programming languages or analytics tools you use, and the markets you have covered. Language skills matter a lot in player support and CRM roles, so make your CEFR levels prominent. Our guide to iGaming jobs in Malta, roles and salaries explains which roles tend to hire newcomers.
Financial services and compliance
Precision counts. Spell out the regulations, frameworks and certifications you have worked with, and be exact about your responsibilities. Saying you “supported” a process is different from saying you “owned” it, and compliance hiring managers will probe the difference.
Hospitality, retail and customer service
Keep it short and practical. Availability, shift flexibility, languages and any food-safety or barista certificates matter more than a long profile. If you live within easy reach of the workplace by bus, mentioning your town helps, because employers know commuting across the island can be slow.
Regulated professions
Healthcare, teaching and some engineering roles require registration with the relevant Maltese body before you can practise. Check this before applying. If you have started the process, say so on the CV, since it shows the employer you understand the local system.
Remote work Malta CVs
If you are applying for remote roles from Malta, or working for a foreign employer while living here, your CV should prove you can deliver without supervision. Mention the time zone you work in (Malta is on Central European Time), the collaboration tools you use daily, and any fully remote or distributed teams you have been part of. Remote work Malta setups vary a lot, so a line on your working environment, such as a home office or a regular coworking desk, reassures employers that your connection and focus are reliable. If you are coming specifically to work remotely, read our digital nomad Malta guide to permit basics and costs first, because your residence status shapes which roles you can take.
Using the Jobsplus CV builder
Jobsplus is Malta’s public employment service, and its online CV builder is worth using alongside your own PDF CV, especially if you are registered as a jobseeker. The system tracks how complete your CV is with a percentage bar across sections such as Personal Information, Work Experience, Academic Qualifications, Languages and skills, and it uses your completed profile with its job-matching engine to connect you with active vacancies (Jobsplus).
Getting the most out of it is straightforward:
- Complete every section. Gaps in the profile reduce how well the matching works, so do not skip languages or skills because they feel minor.
- Keep it consistent. Dates, job titles and qualifications should match your PDF CV exactly. Employers may see both.
- Use the same CEFR and MQF logic. If you have already done the work for your main CV, copy it across.
- Update it when something changes. A new certificate, a new language level or a move to a different town are all worth adding.
Salary, leave and what to keep off your CV
Your CV is a marketing document, not a contract negotiation. Some things belong in the interview or the offer stage instead.
Salary expectations
Do not put your current salary or expected salary on the CV unless the advert explicitly asks for it. When the question comes up, answer from a position of knowledge. Malta salary after tax can feel very different from the gross figure in an advert, and rent takes a large share of take-home pay in many areas. Our guide to the Malta minimum wage and the Budget 2027 outlook sets out the official baseline, and the working in Malta guide linked above covers typical ranges. For anything about your own tax position, use the official calculators and guidance or speak to a qualified adviser.
Annual leave and benefits
Malta annual leave entitlement is set by law and confirmed in your employment contract, so there is no need to mention leave or benefits on your CV. Check the leave, probation period, hours and any extras such as health insurance or a hybrid-working policy when you receive the written offer. If something in the contract is unclear, ask before you sign. Doing so is normal and will not count against you.
Other things to leave out
- Identity document numbers, unless you are completing an official form that asks for them
- Reasons for leaving each job
- Hobbies that say nothing about you; keep one line only if it shows something relevant, such as volunteering or team sport
- Every short course you have ever taken; choose the ones that fit the role
- Negative comments about previous employers, anywhere
Final CV checklist before you apply
Run through this list before you send anything. It takes ten minutes and catches most of the mistakes I see on newcomers’ CVs.
- The CV is in English with British spelling, unless the advert asks for another language.
- Your nationality or right-to-work status is visible near the top.
- Your town in Malta, or your relocation plans, is stated.
- Experience runs in reverse-chronological order with month and year dates.
- Each role has bullet points that show results, tools and markets.
- Languages use CEFR-style levels, not “fluent” or “basic”.
- Qualifications show the institution and, where possible, the MQF/ISCED level or MQRIC recognition.
- The profile paragraph names the sector and the role you want.
- The file is saved as a PDF with your name in the file name.
- Your Jobsplus profile matches the CV, if you use one.
- For a permit application, you are using the current official ELU template and have signed the declaration.
One last point that no template covers: in a small island job market, people matter. Colleagues, neighbours and friends of friends often hear about openings before the adverts go up. Meeting people in person, at a coffee, a walk or a shared dinner, is one of the most practical things a newcomer can do for both a job search and their sanity in the first months.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web and works in your browser, starting in Malta. The Android app is on Google Play; the iPhone app is not in the App Store yet. Open MeetNow and see the plans posted in Malta.
Whenever you meet someone new, keep it simple and safe: choose a public place, tell a friend where you are going, arrange your own way home and leave if anything feels uncomfortable.
FAQ
Should my CV for Malta jobs be in English?
Yes. Write and submit your CV in English unless a specific vacancy explicitly asks for another language. This applies even to multilingual roles; list your other languages, with clear levels, in the languages section.
Do I need a photo on my CV in Malta?
No, a photo is optional for private employers. Some Maltese recruiters are used to seeing one because the Europass style is familiar locally, but a CV without a photo will not count against you. If you add one, use a plain, professional headshot.
What is the ELU CV template and when do I need it?
It is the standardised CV format provided by Jobsplus and the Employment Licence Unit for employment licence and permit processing. You normally need it when an employer applies for a licence for a non-EU national. It covers personal information, work experience, skills and competences, and includes a signed declaration that the information is complete, accurate and true. Download the current version from Jobsplus.
How do I show my degree level on a Malta CV?
List the institution, the qualification, your grades where useful and the corresponding MQF or ISCED level. Foreign qualifications may need recognition through MQRIC, the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre, and if you already have a recognition statement it is worth mentioning next to the qualification.
Should I include salary expectations or leave on my CV?
No, unless the advert explicitly asks. Discuss salary at interview or offer stage, after checking what the role pays after tax. Annual leave is set by law and confirmed in your contract, so check it in the written offer rather than on your CV.
How long should a CV for Malta jobs be?
Keep a private-sector CV to two pages at most, with your most recent role first. Official ELU CVs follow the template and can be longer, because they spell out duties, sectors and qualifications in more detail.
