[RECRUITERS’ TIPS ] Energy careers: What must my CV include to stand out to an Altea Energy recruiter?

1. Structure your CV logically

Your CV doesn’t need to tell your entire career story. Its purpose is to help our recruitment team quickly understand your profile, technical expertise, and suitability for the role, so they’ll want to invite you for an interview.
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Here’s an example of a CV structure recommended by Saltanat Tulebayeva and Antar Ferkhi:

• Full Name
• Professional Title (CV Headline)
• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Education
• Professional Experience
• Certifications & Training
• Language Skills & International Mobility
• Computer Skills
• References (if applicable)

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2. Choose a strong professional headline

Your CV headline should accurately reflect the position you’re applying for. It enables recruiters to identify your area of expertise within seconds.
“Use a clear and specific job title whenever you’re applying for a particular role in the energy sector or responding to a specific opportunity on our website,” recommends Mustapha Letabi, Head of Recruitment.

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Here are a few examples of CV headlines suggested by Saltanat Tulebayeva, which you can adapt to your profile and the energy sector you’re targeting:

• Mechanical Engineer | Oil & Gas Projects
• Electrical Engineer | Power Generation Projects
• Senior Project Engineer | Wind Energy Projects
• Commissioning Engineer | LNG & Petrochemical Projects
• Project Control Engineer | EPC Projects

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3. Write a career summary that makes recruiters want to learn more

Include a concise professional summary highlighting your profession, years of experience, the industries you’ve worked in (Oil & Gas, Nuclear, Renewable Energy), the regions where you’ve gained experience, the project phases you’ve been involved in, your key technical skills, and your most relevant certifications.

“A recruiter should be able to understand your profile within the first few seconds of reading your CV. That’s exactly what your career summary is for: it should immediately demonstrate that your profile matches the role and encourage the recruiter to keep reading,” explains Mustapha Letabi.

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Here’s an example of a professional summary proposed by Saltanat Tulebayeva:

“Mechanical Engineer with over 10 years of experience in EPC projects across the Oil & Gas, LNG, and Petrochemical sectors in the Middle East and North Africa. Experienced in construction, commissioning, maintenance, and mechanical equipment installation for onshore industrial facilities. Strong knowledge of international engineering standards, project coordination, quality assurance, and multidisciplinary team collaboration. Proven ability to deliver projects safely, maintain high-quality standards, and work effectively in multicultural environments.”
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4. Present your professional experience from most recent to oldest

List your professional experience and assignments in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role.

“A detailed work experience section should remain clear, well-structured, and easy to read,” emphasizes Manel Douib, Recruitment Assistant.

“Don’t just list the tasks you performed, show what you achieved. Whenever possible, support your accomplishments with measurable results. Focus on the experience that is most relevant to the role you’re applying for rather than trying to describe your entire career. It’s often tempting to include everything you’ve done, but too much information can make your CV harder to read. Some details can be intentionally left for discussion during the interview,” adds Mohamed Birem.

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For each position, Mustapha Letabi recommends including the following information:

• Company name, project, location, and dates
  Key responsibilities and measurable achievements

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5. Highlight your certifications, training, and technical skills

Industry-specific certifications and safety training, such as NEBOSH, IWCF, and other qualifications relevant to your field, should be clearly displayed on your CV, along with your academic qualifications and the software you are proficient in (such as AutoCAD, Primavera P6, MS Project, SAP, and others).

“One of the most common mistakes candidates make is failing to include the certifications required for a role, even when they have strong technical experience,” says Mustapha Letabi.

“Every skill you master deserves to be highlighted on your CV, whether it’s a technical expertise, a professional certification, or proficiency with a specific software application or tool. These are often the details that can make the difference and help you secure the assignment you’re looking for,” adds Antar Ferkhi.

“Technical skills go beyond software proficiency. They also include the equipment you’re familiar with, as well as the engineering codes, standards, and industry regulations you work with,” explains Mohamed Birem.

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Here’s an example of how to present your education, proposed by Saltanat Tulebayeva:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering | University of Oran, Algeria | 2010–2014

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6. Highlight your language skills and international mobility

“Language skills are a real asset, especially for international projects and multicultural working environments. Make sure to list each language you speak and clearly indicate your level of proficiency,” says Saltanat Tulebayeva.

“Also specify your availability, whether you’re available immediately or subject to a notice period, as well as your willingness to travel or take on international assignments,” recommends Mustapha Letabi.

“You may also include your current location and nationality, along with your willingness to travel or relocate for a project,” adds Mohamed Birem.

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Here’s an example of how to present your language skills, proposed by Saltanat Tulebayeva:

• Arabe – Langue maternelle
• Anglais – Courant
• Français – Niveau professionnel
• Italien – Niveau intermédiaire

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7. Make your CV ATS-friendly

Like many companies in the energy sector, Altea Energy uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to import and process your application before it is reviewed by one of our recruiters.

“Choose a clean, easy-to-read layout using standard fonts such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman. Avoid tables, icons, logos, and complex graphic elements that our ATS may not recognize, as this could prevent important information in your CV from being properly captured,” recommends Saltanat Tulebayeva.

8. And above all, don’t forget to include your contact details!

It may sound obvious, but your CV should always include complete and up-to-date contact information: email, phone number.

“We regularly receive technically strong CVs submitted through our website without any contact details, making it impossible for us to get in touch with the candidates,” says Manel Douib.

“If your LinkedIn profile is up to date, we also recommend including it on your CV,” adds Saltanat Tulebayeva.

9. Common mistakes to avoid

• A career summary that doesn’t clearly specify your energy sector expertise or the type of role you’re targeting.
• Listing your responsibilities without highlighting your achievements or measurable results.
• Omitting the countries or locations where your projects were carried out.
• Using long paragraphs instead of clear, concise bullet points.
• Failing to include certifications that are required for the position and mentioned in the job description.
• Submitting a generic CV that isn’t tailored to the specific role you’re applying for.
• Spelling or grammar mistakes, which can create the impression of a lack of attention to detail, even when they’re only minor.

As you’ve seen, a strong CV should be professional, well-structured, concise, and tailored to your area of expertise. It should enable Altea Energy’s recruitment team to quickly identify your strengths and assess whether your profile matches the role you’re applying for.

We hope these tips will help you demonstrate that you’re the best candidate for the position, and encourage our recruiters to invite you for an interview!

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Frequently asked questions about your CV

How long should my CV be?

For most roles in the energy sector, a two- to three-page CV is generally recommended. It should be clear, easy to read, and provide a concise overview of your key projects, technical skills, and qualifications.

Should I tailor my CV for every application?

Yes. A generic CV submitted to multiple unrelated job opportunities is easy to spot and can weaken your application.
Whenever possible, tailor your CV to each role by incorporating relevant keywords from the job description. Recruiters often use these terms to identify suitable candidates during their searches. You should also specify your availability (immediate or subject to a notice period) as well as your willingness to travel or relocate for international assignments.

Should I include my date of birth or nationality on my CV?

These are considered personal data and are not always required.
However, for international assignments, they may be requested depending on the client’s requirements, such as visa eligibility or work authorization.

Should I include my salary expectations on my CV?

No. Salary expectations should not appear on your CV unless specifically requested.
Compensation is generally discussed later in the recruitment process, usually during your interview with the recruiter.

Should I include references on my CV?

References are optional.

You may include them if they are requested in the job posting or if they add value to your application. If so, provide the referee’s name, job title, company, and contact details, where appropriate.

Otherwise, a simple statement such as “References available upon request” is sufficient. There is no need to include your referees’ full contact details unless specifically requested during the recruitment process.

What personal information should I include on my CV?

Your CV should contain only the personal information that is relevant to the recruitment process.

For international assignments, your city and country of residence can help recruiters assess your availability, mobility, and potential mobilization requirements. Your nationality may also be relevant to determine visa requirements, work authorization, or client-specific criteria.

However, avoid including sensitive or unnecessary information such as:

• Passport number
• Full home address
• National ID number
• Gender
• Religious affiliation
• Marital status

Any other personal information unrelated to the position
Your date of birth is also considered personal information and should only be included if specifically requested by the recruiter or required by the client’s application process.

Should I include hobbies and interests on my CV?

This section is optional.
If you choose to include it, make sure your hobbies and interests add value to your application. Avoid listing activities that are unrelated to your professional profile or do not strengthen your candidacy.

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Ready with your CV? Apply now!

Our team of recruiters helps energy experts find their dream job every day and offer them the best possible experience.

• Discover our current job openings and apply now with a top CV!
• And if the job of your dreams is not available, do not hesitate to send us your CV as a spontaneous application so that our team of recruiters can get back to you if a new opening suits your profile.

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About Altea Energy

Join our community of experts and together, let’s transform the energies of tomorrow!

Since 2008, Altea Energy has been supporting the global energy industry, selecting and mobilising thousands of consultants across more than 300 ambitious projects in the Oil & Gas, Nuclear and Renewable Energy sectors.

An international company headquartered in France, the Group relies on 12 offices worldwide and strong local teams. We mobilise consultants in more than 100 countries, with a strong footprint in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and South America, in full compliance with local laws and regulations.

With the acquisition of TEAM Energy in 2025, a UK specialist in technical assistance and engineering support since 1987, Altea Energy strengthens its presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, while further expanding its range of technical expertise.