Bulgaria: A CV to Make You Proud - Resume Writing Guide for Bulgarian Job Market

Bulgaria has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic economies, attracting international companies with its skilled workforce, competitive costs, and strategic location. From the bustling tech hubs of Sofia to the tourism industry along the Black Sea coast, opportunities abound for both Bulgarian nationals and international job seekers.

Whether you’re a Bulgarian professional looking to advance your career, an expat seeking opportunities in this beautiful Balkan nation, or an international candidate applying to Bulgarian companies, understanding local CV conventions is essential for job search success.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about creating a CV that resonates with Bulgarian employers and helps you land your ideal position.

Understanding the Bulgarian Job Market

Economic Landscape

Bulgaria’s economy has diversified significantly since joining the European Union in 2007:

Technology Sector: Sofia has become a major European tech hub, hosting operations for SAP, VMware, Uber, and numerous startups. The IT sector offers some of the highest salaries in the country.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): Many international companies have established shared services centers in Bulgaria, creating demand for multilingual professionals.

Tourism: The Black Sea coast and ski resorts drive significant employment in hospitality and tourism services.

Manufacturing: Automotive, electronics, and textile manufacturing continue to be important employers.

Finance and Banking: A growing sector with international and local institutions seeking qualified professionals.

Language Considerations

Bulgarian: The official language, essential for most roles outside international companies English: Widely required in tech, BPO, and international business German: Highly valued due to significant German investment Other EU Languages: French, Italian, Spanish increasingly sought in BPO sector

Bulgarian CV Basics

CV vs. Resume

In Bulgaria, as in most of Europe, the term “CV” (Curriculum Vitae) is standard. The Europass CV format is widely recognised and often expected, especially for EU-funded projects or academic positions.

Standard Length

Most positions: 2 pages is standard Senior roles: Up to 3 pages acceptable Academic positions: Can be longer with publication lists Entry-level: 1-2 pages

Format Preferences

Standard requirements:

A4 paper size
Professional fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
10-12pt body text
Professional photograph (commonly expected)
Clear section headings
Reverse chronological order

Photo Inclusion

Unlike many Western countries, Bulgarian employers typically expect a professional photograph on CVs:

Photo guidelines:

Professional headshot
Business attire
Neutral background
Recent photo (within last 2 years)
High quality, clear image
Appropriate for position level

For international companies operating in Bulgaria, photo inclusion may be optional—follow specific application instructions.

Essential CV Sections for Bulgaria

1. Personal Information (Лични данни)

ИВАН ПЕТРОВ ДИМИТРОВ
Ivan Petrov Dimitrov

Address: ul. Vitosha 50, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: +359 88 123 4567
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ivandimitrov
Date of Birth: 15 March 1990
Nationality: Bulgarian

[PROFESSIONAL PHOTO]

Include:

Full name (often includes patronymic in Bulgarian tradition)
Full address (more common than in Western countries)
Mobile phone with Bulgarian country code
Professional email
Date of birth (commonly included)
Nationality (important for work permit considerations)
Photo

Note: While date of birth and nationality would be excluded in some Western countries, they remain standard in Bulgarian applications. However, for international companies, you may choose to omit these.

2. Professional Profile/Objective (Професионален профил)

A brief summary of your professional identity:

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Results-oriented IT Project Manager with 7 years of experience in 
software development and team leadership. Strong track record of 
delivering complex projects on time and within budget for 
international clients. Fluent in Bulgarian, English, and German. 
Seeking to leverage technical expertise and leadership skills in 
a senior project management role.

3. Work Experience (Професионален опит)

The most important section. Use reverse chronological order:

WORK EXPERIENCE

Senior IT Project Manager
ABC Technology Bulgaria EOOD, Sofia
January 2021 – Present

• Lead cross-functional team of 15 developers and QA specialists 
  across multiple international projects
• Delivered 12 successful projects totalling €2M+ in value, with 
  average client satisfaction score of 4.8/5
• Implemented Agile methodologies, reducing project delivery time 
  by 25%
• Managed relationships with clients in Germany, UK, and USA
• Mentored junior project managers and conducted team training

IT Project Manager
XYZ Solutions AD, Sofia
March 2018 – December 2020

• Managed software development projects for financial services 
  clients
• Coordinated with offshore development teams in Vietnam and India
• Achieved 20% improvement in project profitability through 
  resource optimization
• Led successful ISO 27001 certification process for the department

Bulgarian employer expectations:

Clear job titles
Company name and legal form (EOOD, AD, OOD)
Employment dates (month and year)
Achievement-focused bullet points
Quantified results
Mention of international experience (highly valued)

4. Education (Образование)

EDUCATION

Master's Degree in Computer Science
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
2014 – 2016
Thesis: "Machine Learning Applications in Financial Forecasting"

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology
Technical University of Sofia
2010 – 2014
GPA: 5.50/6.00

High School Diploma
Sofia Mathematics High School
2005 – 2010

Notes:

Include all degrees in reverse chronological order
Bulgarian grading scale is typically 2-6 (with 6 being excellent)
Prestigious Bulgarian universities (Sofia University, Technical University) are well-recognised
Include high school if prestigious or relevant

5. Skills (Умения)

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Project Management: Agile/Scrum, Waterfall, PRINCE2
Tools: Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Trello
Programming: SQL, Python (intermediate)
Cloud: AWS, Azure (certified)
Analysis: Power BI, Tableau

LANGUAGES

Bulgarian: Native
English: Fluent (C1 – Cambridge CAE)
German: Advanced (B2)
Russian: Basic (A2)

SOFT SKILLS

• Leadership and Team Management
• Cross-cultural Communication
• Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking
• Client Relationship Management
• Presentation and Training Skills

Bulgarian preferences:

List specific tools and technologies
Include language proficiency levels (CEFR framework)
Note certifications and their providers
Russian language skills remain valuable due to historical ties

6. Certifications (Сертификати)

CERTIFICATIONS

• Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI, 2022
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM), 2021
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect, 2020
• ITIL Foundation, 2019
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE), 2018

7. Additional Sections

Professional Development:

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Leadership Development Program, Bulgarian Management Association, 2023
• Advanced Negotiation Skills, Chamber of Commerce, 2022

Volunteer Experience:

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Mentor, Junior Achievement Bulgaria
2021 – Present
• Mentor high school students in entrepreneurship and career planning

Interests (optional):

INTERESTS

Hiking in Bulgarian mountains, amateur photography, chess

Sample Bulgarian CV

МАРИЯ ГЕОРГИЕВА ИВАНОВА
Maria Georgieva Ivanova

[PHOTO]

Address: bul. Tsar Osvoboditel 15, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: +359 89 765 4321
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mariaivaniva
Date of Birth: 22 August 1988
Nationality: Bulgarian

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Experienced Marketing Manager with 8 years of expertise in digital 
marketing, brand management, and market research for FMCG and retail 
sectors. Proven ability to develop and execute marketing strategies 
that drive brand awareness and revenue growth. Strong analytical 
skills combined with creative approach to campaign development. 
Fluent in Bulgarian, English, and French.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Digital Marketing Strategy    • Brand Management
• Market Research & Analysis    • Campaign Planning
• Social Media Marketing        • Budget Management
• Team Leadership               • Agency Coordination
• E-commerce Marketing          • Analytics (Google Analytics)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Marketing Manager
DEF Consumer Goods Bulgaria EOOD, Sofia
February 2020 – Present

• Develop and implement integrated marketing strategies for portfolio 
  of 5 consumer brands with combined annual revenue of BGN 15M
• Lead marketing team of 6 specialists across digital, brand, and 
  trade marketing functions
• Increased brand awareness by 30% through innovative digital 
  campaigns and influencer partnerships
• Managed annual marketing budget of BGN 800,000, delivering 15% 
  improvement in ROI
• Launched e-commerce channel that achieved BGN 2M in first-year 
  sales
• Coordinated with regional marketing team in Vienna on pan-European 
  campaigns

Senior Marketing Executive
GHI Retail Group AD, Sofia
June 2017 – January 2020

• Managed marketing communications for retail chain with 45 stores 
  nationwide
• Developed and executed seasonal promotional campaigns driving 25% 
  increase in store traffic
• Led social media strategy, growing Facebook following from 50,000 
  to 200,000 followers
• Coordinated with Bulgarian advertising agencies on ATL and BTL 
  campaigns
• Analysed market research data to inform product and pricing 
  strategies

Marketing Executive
JKL Advertising Agency, Sofia
September 2014 – May 2017

• Supported client accounts in FMCG, retail, and telecommunications 
  sectors
• Conducted market research and competitive analysis
• Assisted with campaign development and creative briefings
• Managed social media presence for client brands

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

EDUCATION

Master's Degree in Marketing and Advertising
University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Sofia
2012 – 2014
Graduated with Honours

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration
University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Sofia
2008 – 2012

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

CERTIFICATIONS

• Google Analytics Individual Qualification, 2023
• Facebook Blueprint Certification, 2022
• Digital Marketing Institute Professional Diploma, 2021
• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Certificate, 2019

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

LANGUAGES

Bulgarian: Native
English: Fluent (IELTS 8.0)
French: Intermediate (B1)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

REFERENCES

Available upon request

Cultural Considerations for Bulgarian Applications

Professional Relationships

Bulgarian business culture values personal relationships and trust-building. Highlighting:

Long-term employment with companies
Relationship management experience
Collaborative achievements
Mentorship and team development

Educational Prestige

Education is highly respected in Bulgaria:

Prestigious Bulgarian universities are well-known to employers
International degrees are highly valued
Include academic achievements and honours
Note any scholarships or awards

Multilingual Abilities

Language skills are extremely valuable in Bulgaria:

English is essential for most professional roles
German opens doors to many international companies
Other EU languages are increasingly sought
Russian remains useful for certain sectors

International Experience

Experience with international companies or abroad is highly valued:

Highlight any international exposure
Note experience working with foreign clients/colleagues
Include study abroad or international training
Mention cross-cultural communication skills

Formal Approach

Bulgarian business culture tends toward formality:

Use appropriate titles (Mr., Mrs., Dr.)
Professional tone in applications
Formal photograph
Complete documentation expected

Industry-Specific Tips

Information Technology

Bulgaria’s IT sector is highly competitive:

List specific technologies and tools
Include GitHub or portfolio links
Note contributions to open-source projects
Highlight certifications (AWS, Microsoft, etc.)
English fluency often required

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

For shared services and BPO roles:

Emphasise language skills prominently
Note customer service experience
Include typing speed if relevant
Highlight shift flexibility if applicable
Note experience with specific systems (SAP, Oracle)

Finance and Banking

For financial sector roles:

Include relevant certifications (CFA, ACCA)
Note regulatory knowledge
Highlight analytical skills
Mention experience with financial systems
Include relevant software proficiency

Tourism and Hospitality

For tourism sector applications:

Language skills are critical
Note international guest experience
Include seasonal work positively
Highlight customer service achievements
Consider including photo for customer-facing roles

Applying from Abroad

If you’re applying to Bulgarian positions from another country:

Work Authorization

Clearly state your work authorization status:

EU/EEA citizens have automatic work rights
Non-EU citizens need work permits
Note any existing Bulgarian residence permits

Address Relocation

Be clear about your location and intentions:

“Currently based in [country], available for immediate relocation”
“Planning to relocate to Sofia in [month/year]”
Note if you have connections to Bulgaria

Salary Expectations

Research Bulgarian salary levels, which are lower than Western Europe but competitive for the region. Use resources like:

Zaplatomer.bg
Glassdoor
Industry-specific surveys

Remote Work Options

Many Bulgarian companies, especially in IT, offer remote work options. Note if you’re seeking:

Fully remote position
Hybrid arrangement
Relocation with in-office work

Writing Your CV with Professional Tools

Creating a CV that meets Bulgarian standards is easier with professional tools. Resume builders like 0portfolio.com offer:

Templates adaptable to European/Bulgarian formats
Clean, professional designs
Easy formatting for photo inclusion
Multiple language support
Export options for various file formats

These tools help ensure your CV presents professionally regardless of your starting point.

Final Bulgarian CV Checklist

Before submitting your Bulgarian CV, verify:

✅ Length: 2 pages standard (adjust for experience level) ✅ Format: A4, professional fonts, clear structure ✅ Photo: Professional headshot included ✅ Personal details: Complete contact information, DOB if appropriate ✅ Language: Bulgarian or English (appropriate for position) ✅ Work history: Reverse chronological, achievements highlighted ✅ Education: All degrees included with institutions ✅ Languages: All languages with proficiency levels ✅ Skills: Relevant technical and soft skills ✅ Certifications: Professional qualifications listed ✅ Work rights: Clearly stated for non-Bulgarian applicants

Conclusion

Bulgaria offers exciting opportunities for professionals seeking dynamic career growth in a rapidly developing European economy. Success in the Bulgarian job market requires understanding local conventions while showcasing international experience and skills.

Your CV is your first opportunity to make a strong impression on Bulgarian employers. By following local conventions—including the expected photograph, comprehensive personal details, and emphasis on education and language skills—while highlighting your unique qualifications, you can create a CV to truly be proud of.

Whether you’re a Bulgarian professional, an EU citizen exploring opportunities, or an international candidate attracted by Bulgaria’s growing economy, a well-crafted CV is your gateway to success in this beautiful and opportunity-rich country.

Tools like 0portfolio.com can help you create professional CVs that meet Bulgarian standards while standing out from the competition. Invest in presenting yourself professionally, and Bulgaria’s job market will welcome you with open doors.

Успех! (Good luck!)

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