Information should be well organized and in one to two pages (only longer if the candidate is very experienced), provide a clear picture of the candidate's education, career and personality. The most important achievements and qualities should be emphasized and the document tailored to the requirements of the specific position. The major sections of the résumé/CV are, in order: personal information, skills/competencies/characteristics, work experience, education, and a concluding list of personal interests. It is customary to use reverse-chronological order when describing education and employment history.

A résumé/CV for a Swedish company may be written in English. If a candidate speaks Swedish, this should be noted in the résumé/CV, but in many large and/or international companies the language used internally is often English. Because Sweden is such a small country, it relies heavily on international cooperation. Very often Swedish applicants are required to submit applications in English.