Topic 3 How to write CV and cover letters, tips on job applications, validation process of previous degrees

In the case of a resume optimized for the Portuguese speaking job market, your contact information section will be known as your informação pessoal (personal information). The personal information you include on a Portuguese resume is quite different to what you would normally include on a resume for a job in America.

Unlike examples in the US, it is quite common in countries like Brazil to include personal information such as your date of birth (data de nascimento), marital status (estado civil), and your religion. Some of these elements are becoming more optional, and at the very least only a date of birth is an expected requirement. However, adding this more personal information is generally still the norm for most people in Portugal.

Most American candidates don’t add photos to their resumes as 88% of recruiters will reject your document. However, in Portuguese speaking countries profile photos are normally expected by employers. Now, this is changing in recent times and the inclusion of a photo is becoming less and less important. Yet it is still normal practice for people applying for jobs in these countries.

If you decide to add a profile picture, choose a professional picture showing your head and shoulders. Your face and features should clearly decipherable and where possible aim to have a neutral background. The size of the photo you affix should be passport-sized (2” x 2”) and placed in the top right corner of the page.

In your experiência profissional (the Portuguese name for the work experience section) you will need to give a good and scannable impression of your work history so far. This should be tailored to the position you’re aiming for and presented in reverse chronological order so that your most recent experience shows up first. When you present your previous positions on the page set out each entry in the following format:

• The name of the company and the dates of employment
• Your job title in the organization
• The key duties that you undertook in your role at the company

Your skills section (or competências in Portuguese) is a great opportunity to give the recruiter a broad overview of your abilities. This should be presented as a bullet point list and should include both your hard skills and soft skills. However, whilst your skills will help you sell yourself for the job in question, make sure these abilities are backed up well with examples of how you used them in the work experience section.

The education section or your “educação” section may appear a little different depending on which country you’re applying for jobs in. This is because both countries have their own separate education systems with different names for the key qualifications. This can be seen in the table below.

When detailing information about degrees that you’ve earned, always include the subject you majored in. Additionally, take advantage of this section to detail any further studies you’ve done in professional subjects and any additional certifications.

The language (Idiomas) section of your Portuguese language resume is an essential feature if you’re a native speaker in another language. You will at the very least have to indicate your fluency in the Portuguese language itself. As a foreign language speaker, you should also indicate your level of ability in the other languages you speak as well. This can be done using the following adjectives:

This will be necessary whether you are joining a company where the majority language is Portuguese or a company where the main spoken language is English. This, of course, is especially crucial if you’re targetting a position where you will need to communicate with other speakers of these languages.