How to Write a CV in Seychelles: Format & Guide 2026

Seychelles is a small island nation in the Indian Ocean with the highest GDP per capita in Africa, driven by tourism and financial services. The professional job market in Victoria is compact but internationally oriented: employers in banking, luxury hospitality, and the public sector expect polished English CVs that reflect both technical qualifications and professional presentation.

The Seychelles CV Format

CVs in Seychelles follow a British-influenced format: formal, chronological, and written in English. One to two pages is the accepted standard. The document is titled "Curriculum Vitae" at the top. Most employers expect a reverse-chronological layout: most recent experience and education listed first.

Use a clean, professional font such as Calibri or Arial at 11-12 points. Clear section headings and consistent formatting are expected. The luxury tourism sector in particular expects meticulous attention to presentation, as it mirrors the attention to detail expected on the job.

Language and Personal Information

English is the primary professional language for CVs. French and Seychellois Creole (Kreol Seselwa) are co-official languages but are not used in formal CV documents. For Francophone employers or Swiss and French-owned hospitality groups, a French version may be appreciated.

Include: full name, address (district in Mahé or island), phone number, and email address. Date of birth is commonly included. Nationality is optional for Seychellois nationals but may be relevant for expatriate applicants. Do not include your national identification number on a CV.

Professional Photo

A professional photo is not universally required but is common in Seychelles CVs, particularly for hospitality and customer-facing roles. If you include one, use a formal, recent headshot with a neutral background. For corporate and government roles, a photo is not required and its omission is entirely acceptable.

Education

List qualifications in reverse chronological order. The main local institution is the University of Seychelles (UniSey), which offers undergraduate degrees in business, information technology, and social sciences from its campus in Anse aux Pins, Mahé. The Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) provides technical and vocational qualifications. The École Polytechnique de Seychelles offers further education programmes. Many Seychellois professionals hold degrees from universities in the United Kingdom, France, South Africa, India, and Australia.

Include the institution name, qualification, field of study, and year of completion.

Work Experience

List employment in reverse chronological order. For each role, provide the employer name, job title, employment dates, and three to five bullet points covering responsibilities and quantified achievements.

Employers that Seychellois recruiters recognise include Mövenpick Resort Seychelles, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, Raffles Seychelles (Praslin), Air Seychelles, Seychelles Commercial Bank, Development Bank of Seychelles (DBS), Seychelles Public Utilities Corporation (PUC), Cable and Wireless Seychelles (Airtel), and the Government of Seychelles (various ministries and the Public Service). For offshore financial services, regulated entities under the Financial Services Authority (FSA) are a key employer group.

Key Sectors

Tourism is the dominant economic driver, with luxury resorts and boutique properties across Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue accounting for a substantial share of formal employment. Financial services, including offshore banking and insurance regulated by the Central Bank of Seychelles and the FSA, are the second pillar. Fisheries, construction, and public services round out the formal employment landscape.

Skills and Certifications

For hospitality professionals, certifications from the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) are well recognised locally. Finance and accounting professionals value ACCA and CPA qualifications. IT professionals benefit from certifications such as CompTIA, Cisco CCNA, and Microsoft certifications. Language skills should note English as primary; French proficiency is a genuine asset given the tourist source markets and ownership of many major resorts.

Cover Letter

A one-page cover letter is expected for professional and management roles. Address it to the specific hiring manager by name. In a small professional community where many hiring managers know one another, a personalised, specific letter is far more effective than a template.

Common CV Mistakes in Seychelles

• No quantified achievements: Hospitality and finance employers want specifics: "Managed a front-of-house team of 12 during peak season of 8,000 covers per month" is stronger than "Supervised hospitality staff."
• Unprofessional email address: Set up a name-based professional address before applying.
• Generic objective statement: Replace it with a focused two-sentence professional summary.
• Omitting language proficiency: Given the trilingual environment (English, French, Kreol), listing your language skills accurately is essential.
• Forgetting referees: Two professional referees with full contact details are expected.