How to Write a CV in Serbia: Format & Guide 2026
Serbia has an emerging economy positioned between Central and Southeastern Europe, with a formal sector centred on manufacturing (automotive, electronics), IT and BPO outsourcing, financial services, and a large public administration. Belgrade is the economic and hiring hub, though Novi Sad has developed a significant IT and innovation cluster. Serbian hiring norms sit between Eastern European conventions and modernising international standards: a professional photo remains common, personal details are fuller than in Western CVs, and the Europass format is recognised across both public and private sectors.
The Serbia CV Format
The document is called a CV (curriculum vitae) or sometimes biografija (biography) in government contexts. The reverse-chronological format is the standard. Two pages is the norm for most candidates; one page for junior profiles. Three pages may be appropriate for senior roles or those requiring project histories.
Serbian is the primary language for domestic applications. English is expected at multinational companies, IT firms, and roles where the job advertisement is in English. Many Serbian professionals in Belgrade's tech and finance sectors maintain bilingual CVs.
Personal Information
A standard Serbian CV includes full name, date of birth, address (city or municipality), phone number, email, and a LinkedIn URL. A professional photo in the top-right corner is still common and expected in many domestic companies and the public sector. The Europass format, which includes photo and personal details, is widely used.
JMBG (Jedinstveni matični broj građana, the unique citizen number) is not included on CVs; it may be required on official public sector application forms. Marital status and nationality are sometimes included in traditional sectors but are optional in modern corporate environments.
Education
List qualifications in reverse chronological order. Major Serbian universities include the University of Belgrade (Univerzitet u Beogradu), the largest and most prestigious, particularly for medicine, law, and economics. The Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON), the Faculty of Economics (Ekonomski fakultet), and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (ETF) are leading faculties within the University of Belgrade. The University of Novi Sad (Univerzitet u Novom Sadu) and the Singidunum University (private) are major additional institutions.
Serbia uses a grading scale of 5 to 10 (10 = excellent, 6 = minimum pass). Include your average grade if it is 9.0 or above. The Bologna Process is implemented in Serbia, aligning degrees with European standards.
Work Experience
List roles in reverse chronological order with job title, employer, dates (month and year), and 3-5 achievement-focused bullet points. Use direct action verbs and quantified outcomes where possible.
Employers that Serbian recruiters recognise as premier references include Banca Intesa Beograd, UniCredit Bank Srbija, NLB Bank, Telekom Srbija (MTS), A1 Srbija, Nelt Group, Delta Holding, Mercator-S (Fortenova Group), NCR, Nordeus (EA), Comtrade Group, Microsoft Development Center Serbia, NCsoft, Levi9, and Endava Serbia. In manufacturing, Stellantis Serbia (Fiat Kragujevac) and Continental Automotive Serbia are major employers. For public sector, the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank of Serbia (NBS), and the Tax Administration (Poreska uprava) are high-profile references.
Skills, Languages, and Certifications
Serbian is the working language. English at B2 or above is expected at multinationals and IT firms. German is an asset in manufacturing and German-invested companies. Russian is relevant in specific trade and energy contexts.
CEFR levels are the standard for language proficiency. Certifications valued in Serbia include ACCA or membership of the Association of Certified Accountants of Serbia (SRRS), PMP or PRINCE2 for project management, AWS/Azure for cloud, and Cisco CCNA for networking. Legal professionals must be licensed by the relevant Advokatska komora (Bar Association of Serbia).
Key Sectors and Employers
IT and software development has grown significantly, with Levi9, Endava, Nordeus, and Comtrade establishing Serbia as an outsourcing destination. Novi Sad's IT cluster now hosts over 3,000 registered IT companies. Manufacturing includes Stellantis (automotive) in Kragujevac and Continental Automotive in Subotica. Financial services includes Banca Intesa, UniCredit, and Raiffeisen Bank. Retail and distribution (Delta, Mercator) and telecoms (Telekom Srbija, A1) are consistent large employers.
Cover Letter
A cover letter (propratno pismo or motivaciono pismo) is expected for corporate and international applications. One page, three paragraphs: the specific role, your key qualifications, and your availability.
Common CV Mistakes in Serbia
- Europass used without customisation: Europass is well-recognised in Serbia but generic. Add a targeted professional summary and quantified achievements to turn it into a compelling document.
- No quantified achievements: Listing duties without results is the most common weakness. Metric-backed bullet points distinguish credible candidates.
- Photo in casual attire: A professional headshot with neutral background is expected if you include a photo. A selfie or informal photo immediately undermines the CV.
- No English version for IT or multinational roles: Many Serbian IT companies conduct interviews in English. A CV in Serbian only signals limited international readiness.
- Overly long CVs without substance: Senior candidates sometimes submit five or six pages. Keep it to two or three and make every line count.