How to Write a CV in Lithuania: Format & Resume Guide 2026

Lithuania is the largest of the three Baltic states and has one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU. Vilnius has emerged as a significant fintech and shared services hub, with major international banks including Revolut, Swedbank, and Barclays establishing technology centres in the city. Writing a Lithuania CV means adapting to a market where Lithuanian and English are both required, and where European professional standards apply across most sectors.

The Lithuania CV Format

The standard document is called a CV (gyvenimo aprašymas in Lithuanian, though CV is universally used in professional contexts). One to two pages is the standard length. The Europass format is accepted but not required, and a well-formatted custom CV is equally valid for most employers.

The structure follows: personal details, professional summary or objective, work experience (reverse chronological), education, skills, language proficiency, and certifications. A photo is not required but is expected by some domestic employers.

Language of the CV

Write in Lithuanian for government, public administration, and state-owned enterprise roles. English is the working language for IT companies, fintech firms, shared services centres, and international organisations. Lithuanian companies in finance and law typically accept both. When applying to international employers in Vilnius, an English CV is the standard format. For Lithuanian public sector roles, the State Language Law requires Lithuanian-language documents.

Photo Convention

A professional photo is expected by many domestic employers but is not required. Place it in the top right corner if included. Use a formal headshot with a neutral background. International tech companies and organisations with Western European HR standards are generally indifferent to photos. Omitting one is increasingly acceptable in line with EU anti-discrimination norms under Directive 2000/78/EC.

Personal Information

Include: full name, email, phone number, city of residence, and optionally LinkedIn profile URL. Date of birth is optional and increasingly omitted in line with modern EU practice. Do not include your personal identification code (asmens kodas) on a standard CV. Gender and nationality are optional.

Education

Lithuania's most recognised educational institutions:

• Vilnius University (Vilniaus universitetas, VU) — the oldest and largest university in Lithuania, founded in 1579; strong in law, economics, humanities, and social sciences
• Kaunas University of Technology (Kauno technologijos universitetas, KTU) — the leading technical university, well-regarded for engineering, IT, and technology management
• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) — major engineering and architecture institution
• ISM University of Management and Economics in Vilnius — the most internationally oriented business school, known for producing graduates sought by finance and consulting employers
• Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) — leading for law, social sciences, and public administration

Lithuanian grades use a 10-point scale: 10 (puikiai/excellent), 9 (labai gerai/very good), 8 (gerai/good), 7 (pakankamai/satisfactory), below 5 is failing. Always specify the scale when applying internationally.

Work Experience

Reverse chronological order is standard. Include employer, position, dates, and achievement-focused descriptions. Key employers in Lithuania with strong recruiter recognition:

• Revolut — has its EU banking headquarters in Vilnius; one of the most recognised brand names for fintech talent
• Swedbank Lithuania and SEB Bank Lithuania — major banking employers
• Barclays Lithuania — significant shared services centre for technology and operations roles
• Ignitis Group (formerly LEO LT) — the state energy holding company
• Maxima Group — Lithuania's largest retail group and one of the largest private employers in the Baltic region
• Telia Lithuania (previously TEO) — the major telecoms operator

Skills, Languages, and Certifications

Language proficiency is critical. List Lithuanian (for domestic roles), English (CEFR level or IELTS/TOEFL score), Russian (still widely spoken and professionally relevant in some sectors), and any other languages with CEFR levels. Lithuanian at B2 or above is legally required for most public sector roles.

For fintech and IT, AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, and Terraform certifications are valued. For finance, ACCA and CFA are well-recognised. Lithuanian auditors and accountants should note the Lithuanian Chamber of Auditors (Lietuvos auditorių rūmai) as the relevant professional body. For project management, PMP and Agile/Scrum certifications carry strong weight in the tech sector.

Cover Letter

A cover letter (motyacinis laiškas) is expected for senior roles, public administration positions, and formal professional services applications. For tech and fintech employers in Vilnius, it is often optional but appreciated. Keep it to one page and write it in the working language of the employer (Lithuanian or English). Address it by name to the hiring manager if known.

Common CV Mistakes in Lithuania

• Submitting a Lithuanian-only CV to a Vilnius tech company: Most international tech and fintech employers require English CVs and may view a Lithuanian-only document as limiting.
• Not specifying the 10-point grade scale: Lithuanian grades are on a 10-point scale, which differs from most EU standards. Always write grades as X/10 when applying to international employers.
• Using vague responsibility descriptions: Lithuanian tech sector employers, including Revolut and Barclays Lithuania, expect achievement-oriented language with specific metrics.
• Including a personal identification code (asmens kodas): This is sensitive personal data that must not appear on a standard CV.
• Missing language proficiency levels: Simply listing "English, Russian" without CEFR levels or test scores is insufficient for most professional applications.