About this template
The Scandinavia template is a Nordic CV in IBM Plex Sans on two pages, with an opening sammendrag/sammanfattning of four lines, hairline Nordic-blue rules and a calm layout that owns its whitespace. No photo by default (except Norway where the convention remains mixed), languages on CEFR, flat hierarchies in job titles. The document signals Nordic restraint — over-design is read as a posture rather than a competence in this market.
Who is it for?
For candidates targeting the Nordic markets — Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki — in banking (DNB Oslo, Nordea Helsinki, Danske Bank Copenhagen, SEB Stockholm, Swedbank, Handelsbanken), energy (Equinor Stavanger, Ørsted Copenhagen, Vattenfall, Fortum), the public sector and Nordic scaleups (Klarna, iZettle, Tink, Lendify in SE; Pleo, GoMore, Vivino in DK; Cognite, Tibber in NO). Profiles where flat hierarchies and consensus leadership are valued, and where the absence of superlatives reads as a maturity signal. Suitable for graduates of KTH Stockholm, Lund University, Chalmers, NTNU Trondheim, DTU Lyngby, Aalto Helsinki, Copenhagen Business School (CBS).
How to use it
The sammendrag (NO/DK: sammendrag, SE: sammanfattning, FI: tiivistelmä) opens the document in four lines — factual, direct, no superlatives. The Nordic culture of "lagom" (Swedish: neither too much nor too little) applied to the CV: each line earns its place. Reverse chronological. No photo in Sweden, Denmark, Finland (omitting is expected). In Norway, the photo remains tolerated but never required. Languages on CEFR and indicate the level of Norwegian/Swedish/Danish/Finnish for the target market — regional linguistic familiarity is a differentiator even if corporate English dominates. For banking, mention certifications (CFA, FRM, ACCA, SwedSec license). For tech, list methodologies (Spotify Squad model, Agile at Scale). Long-tail: "engineer CV Equinor Stavanger", "product manager Klarna Stockholm resume", "senior Nordic consultant CV".
Frequently asked questions
Is Swedish or Norwegian essential for Stockholm or Oslo?
For tech, scaleups and most corporate functions in Stockholm and Oslo, English alone suffices — Stockholm is largely English-speaking (Klarna, Spotify, iZettle operate in English), and Oslo too for scaleups (Cognite, Tibber). For local banking (SEB, Swedbank, DNB retail), the public sector and some client-facing roles, Swedish or Norwegian at C1 minimum is expected. Danish and Finnish remain less essential (English dominant in Copenhagen and Helsinki tech).
Why no photo and no birth date?
Strict equality recruitment is the Nordic norm, especially in Sweden and Denmark where omission is expected. The photo is read as a potential bias vector (age, gender, origin, physical attractiveness) and its absence is a professionalism signal. The birth date follows the same logic. For Norway, usage remains mixed but omission remains a safe choice.
How do you indicate mastery of a Nordic language without being native?
Be precise and honest about the level: "Swedish: B2 (written and oral comprehension, professional written expression)". Avoid exaggerated levels — Nordic recruiters immediately detect profiles that overestimate their level in the first sentence of a local-language interview. If you've taken an official test (TISUS for Swedish, Bergenstesten for Norwegian, Studieprøven for Danish, YKI for Finnish), mention the score. Transparency is valued and signals maturity.
