What do Russian financial services recruiters want from your CV

You're applying for jobs in Moscow. You may already be here, or you may be based abroad trying to move back to Russia. So what do Russian financial services recruiters want from your CV in terms of both its structure and its content? We asked some of the leading recruiters and headhunters in the market and this is what they said.

1) Facts (In English and Russian)

In financial services, CVs for jobs in Russia tend to be in English, but headhunters say you could be asked to submit them in Russian as well.

If you're applying for work that's Russia-based, the preference will be for you to be able to speak the language. The preference will therefore be for you to present your CV in both English and Russian. Universal truths also hold here - don't lie in your CV, don't try to be funny, and state "only facts, not opinions" counsels recruitment firm Antal Russia.

2) A list of your achievements

"A lot of Russians tend to think of a CV as just an employment record. It's a legacy of the Soviet system and book-keeping. So there is a perception that it should be just one page, and the individual might just list a job title and an employer. But you really need to do a bit more than that - make it stand out with a list of specific achievements" says Olga Selivanova-Shoff, a partner at headhunter Heidrick & Struggles in London.

3) Some detail

Antal Russia suggests two pages are, "ideal (for a CV) regardless of your background."

But it adds: "You need to list your responsibilities, and resist the temptation to summarise them." The recruiter also advises using "white paper with a clear conventional font."

4) Photographs and social media

Including a photograph on a CV - while by no means routine - is becoming "more common" in Russia - as it is in Europe, say some headhunters.

"Clients don't usually ask us for one but we were recently doing a senior search in Moscow and the client specifically asked us to provide a photograph for a specific candidate. In Moscow we find clients may want further links to presentations on social media - such as YouTube" says Ms Selivanova-Shoff.

5) Explanations for any 'job hopping'

As an overseas recruiter now working in Russia, Nick Rees, country director for recruitment firm SThree (including financial services brand Huxley Associates) says: "One of the first things you notice coming here is that 'job-hopping' is far more of an issue in Russia than other more stable countries."

If you've moved around a lot between different jobs, Rees says you should explain why on your CV. "I would always suggest to candidates that they put the reason for the moves on their CVs," he says. "It can make a huge difference to all potential bosses."