How to Write a CV in Kazakhstan: Format & Resume Guide 2026

Kazakhstan's labour market is shaped by its dominant oil and gas industry, a growing financial sector in Almaty, and an expanding public administration centred on Astana. Writing a strong Kazakhstan CV template means understanding local expectations around personal information, photo conventions, and the dual language environment that most professional employers require.

The Kazakhstan CV Format

A Kazakhstan CV (резюме, or "rezyume") follows conventions inherited from the Soviet era but modernised for the current market. The standard length is one to two pages for most professionals, with senior specialists and academics occasionally extending to three pages. The document title "РЕЗЮМЕ" or "Резюме" appears at the top, centred, above your personal details.

The structure follows a consistent order: personal information, objective or summary, work experience (reverse chronological), education, skills, and languages. A declaration of authenticity is not standard in Kazakhstan but is sometimes requested in government hiring.

Language of the CV in Kazakhstan

Use Russian for most corporate and government roles. Kazakh is required for government positions and is increasingly requested by domestic companies as part of nationalisation policy under the Nurly Zhol development programme. Multinational companies — including those in the oil and gas sector such as Chevron, Shell, and TotalEnergies — expect English CVs, sometimes with a Russian translation appended.

Photo Convention

A professional photo is expected on a Kazakhstan CV. Place it in the top right corner of the document. The photo should be a formal headshot on a light background, business attire required. Casual or cropped social media photos are considered unprofessional.

Personal Information

Include: full name, date of birth, nationality, city of residence, phone number, and email address. It is standard to include your IIN (Индивидуальный идентификационный номер, the national identification number) in the personal section when applying to government or state-owned enterprise positions. Do not include your full IIN on CVs sent to private companies. Marital status is commonly included but not required.

Education

Kazakhstan's most prestigious universities for recruiter recognition are:

• Nazarbayev University (NU) in Astana — the flagship English-medium research university, strongest signal for international employers
• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty — largest and most established comprehensive university
• Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) in Almaty — strong for engineering and oil/gas
• KIMEP University in Almaty — leading business and law school for English-language programmes
• L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University in Astana — major research university for STEM and social sciences

List your degree using the Kazakh/Russian conventions: "Бакалавр" (Bachelor's), "Магистр" (Master's), "Доктор PhD" (PhD). Include your GPA if it is above 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, as this is a recognised signal at major employers. The grade system also uses a 5-point scale at many institutions, where 5.0 is excellent (отлично).

Work Experience

Reverse chronological order is universal. For each position, list: company name, position title, dates (month/year to month/year or "настоящее время" for current), and a brief description of responsibilities and achievements. Quantify results wherever possible — this is not typical in older Kazakh CVs but is expected by international employers.

Key employers in Kazakhstan that recruiters recognise:

• KazMunayGas (KMG) — national oil company, dominant employer in energy
• Tengizchevroil (TCO) — major Chevron-operated oil consortium
• KazakhTelecom — national telecoms operator
• Halyk Bank and Kaspi Bank — the two largest private banks with significant brand weight
• Air Astana — national carrier, strong signal in aviation and hospitality
• ERG (Eurasian Resources Group) — leading mining and metals conglomerate

Skills, Languages, and Certifications

List languages with proficiency levels. Russian and Kazakh are both official languages; English proficiency using IELTS or TOEFL scores is valued at international companies. The CEFR framework (A1–C2) is increasingly used alongside local descriptors.

For the energy sector, OPITO safety certifications, BOSIET, and HUET training are standard requirements. Finance professionals should note ACCA, CFA, and the Kazakh national accounting qualification KAFU (Kazахстанский Аттестационный Центр) certifications. IT professionals should include AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Cisco CCNA credentials.

Key Sectors in Kazakhstan

Oil and gas accounts for roughly 40% of government revenues and is the single largest employer in the formal corporate sector. The Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak fields operate with international joint ventures and require English-language technical CVs with international certification records.

Almaty's financial district is home to Halyk Bank, Kaspi Bank, and the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which follows English common law and expects English-language applications. The tech sector is growing rapidly, centred around the Astana Hub innovation cluster.

Cover Letter

A cover letter (сопроводительное письмо) is not universally expected but is strongly recommended when applying to international companies and through recruitment portals. Keep it to one page. Address it by name if at all possible, using the hiring manager's name from the vacancy posting.

Common CV Mistakes in Kazakhstan

• Including a full IIN on private sector CVs: Reserve this for government applications only.
• Submitting a Russian-only CV to an international oil company: Multinational operators at TCO, Shell, and Chevron Kazakhstan expect English-language documents.
• No photo on a domestic employer application: The photo expectation is strong across local corporate culture.
• Listing grades below 3.5 without context: Below-average grades draw attention. Either omit the GPA or briefly explain the context.
• Objective statements instead of a professional summary: Younger jobseekers often write "I want to develop my career in..." — replace this with a three-sentence professional summary of what you offer.