A Moroccan CV that works fits on one page (two beyond five years of experience), in a single column, with a plain photo, a city, a languages section broken down by level, and standard section headings. What no longer belongs on it: marital status, number of children, a national ID number nobody asked for, and graphic skill bars.
The structure, in this order
Order matters more than graphic design, because order decides what the recruiter reads in the seven seconds they spend deciding whether to keep reading.
- Header — first and last name, the title of the role you want, city, phone, email, LinkedIn. In the body of the page, not in a document header.
- Summary — two or three lines saying what you do, for how long, and which role you are writing about. The only part to rewrite for each application.
- Work experience — most recent first. Employer, title, city, dates, then two to four lines of results.
- Education — qualification, institution, year. The baccalauréat drops off after three years of experience.
- Skills — tools and methods, written by name. No bars, no stars, no percentages.
- Languages — one line per language, each with an explicit level.
- Other — driving licence, mobility, volunteering, only where the role makes them relevant.
The photo: yes, but placed properly
In Morocco a photo is still expected on a CV, including at large employers — a real difference from British and American practice, where it is sometimes discarded on sight. It causes no problem for automated reading as long as the CV itself is not an image: a photo placed beside the text is worked around; a CV flattened entirely into a picture is lost.
Three practical rules: a neutral background, framing at the shoulders, and clothing consistent with the sector. And never inside a page header — that is the zone some CV parsers discard entirely.
Personal details: what stays, what goes
- City — useful, and often filtered on. "Casablanca" or "Rabat" on the first line answers a question the recruiter asks before any other.
- Date of birth — still customary in Morocco. It does you no harm in most sectors, and you can leave it out without it being noticed.
- National ID (CIN) number — only when an ad or an administrative file asks for it. A CV goes to thirty recipients; an identity number has no business travelling with it.
- Marital status and number of children — remove them. They tell the recruiter nothing and are increasingly poorly received.
- Nationality — relevant only for an application abroad or a role with a legal condition attached.
Languages, the most heavily filtered section in the market
This is where a Moroccan CV is won or lost, particularly in offshoring, customer service, banking and tourism. One line per language, an explicit level, and the language written out in full:
- Arabic: native
- French: fluent (C1) — written work and client-facing
- English: professional (B2)
- Spanish: basic (A2)
"Trilingual", "good level" and "read, written, spoken" match no search and say nothing checkable. If you hold a score (TOEIC, DELF, IELTS), include it: it is the only measured evidence this section can carry.
Writing experience that can be checked
The difference between a CV that gets interviews and one that does not rarely comes down to the career behind it. It comes down to the presence of a scope and a number.
- Instead of "managed the client portfolio": "handled 120 B2B accounts, renewed 8 contracts out of 10 in 2024".
- Instead of "involved in reporting": "produced the monthly report for 4 branches, in Excel then Power BI".
- Instead of "good interpersonal skills": nothing. That line is demonstrated by the two above it, never by itself.
Length, format, filename
One page under five years of experience, two beyond, never three. PDF, unless the ad asks for Word. And a filename that identifies you: Firstname-Lastname-Role.pdf, because that is the string the recruiter sees in their list of attachments.
A single-column CV with standard sections and real text reads as well to the eye as it does to a screening system. It is the only format that avoids choosing between the two.
Should a CV in Morocco include a photo?
Yes. It is the local convention and it is expected in most sectors. It does not prevent automated reading as long as the CV itself contains real text and is not exported as an image. Place it beside the contact block, in the body of the page, never in a document header.
Should I put my CIN number on my CV?
No, unless an ad, a form or an administrative file explicitly asks for it. A CV is sent to many recipients and forwarded internally without control; a national identity number has no reason to circulate that way. You will provide it at the point of hiring, when it is genuinely needed.
Which language should a CV in Morocco be written in?
The language of the ad. French covers the majority of postings in the Moroccan market. English is expected for offshoring roles on English-speaking accounts, in tech, and at international groups. Arabic is required for some public-sector applications and administrative files. Replying in a language other than the ad casts doubt on the level you claim.
Does a two-page CV count against you in Morocco?
Not beyond five years of experience — two pages are normal and expected by then. Below that, one page is enough, and a half-empty second page suggests a career being stretched. What genuinely counts against you is a third page: it is almost never read and it dilutes the first two.
Are free online CV templates good enough?
The ones that produce a single column and selectable text, yes. The ones built on two columns, boxes, icons and skill bars are precisely the layout a screening system reads in the wrong order. Before using a template, export it to PDF and try selecting your own name with the mouse: if you cannot, change template.