How to write an Portuguese CV: Your Complete Guide
For jobseekers aiming to break into the Portuguese job market, crafting a CV specifically tailored to local expectations is essential. From including the right personal information to writing concise and impactful sections, this guide will cover everything you need to know about creating a professional Portuguese CV.
Whether you’re applying for your first role in Portugal or you’re an experienced professional seeking new opportunities, we ensure your modern CV is polished, professional, and ready for success.
What’s in this guide?
Key sections of a Portuguese CV / Exemplo de curriculum vitae em português / Portuguese resume.
Insider tips for job applications in Portugal.
Writing your CV in Portuguese.
The next steps in your job search.
Make CV writing a breeze with CVMaker's easy-to-use tools and customisable CV templates.
Portuguese CV example / Exemplo de curriculum vitae em português
Essential Portuguese CV terminology you need to know
Navigating CV writing in Portuguese can feel overwhelming, but mastering some key terms will make the process smoother. Before diving into your CV, consider starting with a master CV, which can be easily customised for individual applications.
Here’s a quick glossary of useful Portuguese CV terms:
| Português | English |
|---|---|
| Curriculum vitae | Curriculum Vitae |
| Para se candidatar, inscreva-se no | To apply, apply for |
| Cursos | Courses |
| Certificados | Certificates |
| Competências | Skills |
| Atividades extracurriculares | Extracurricular activities |
| Hobbies e atividades de interesse pessoal | Hobbies or interests |
| Empregador | Employer |
| Funcionário | Employee |
| Cultura da empresa | Company culture |
| Competências linguísticas | Language skills |
| Língua materna | Mother tongue |
| Fluente em | Fluent |
| Proficiente em / Qualificado em | Advanced |
| Nível intermédio | Intermediate |
| Nível elementar | Basic, elementary |
| Formação académica | Education |
| Lugar ocupado / Cargo | Role, position |
What to include in a Portuguese CV?
A Portuguese CV, much like other European formats, follows a clear structure. Each section is designed to highlight key elements of your professional story. Here's a breakdown of what to include:
Informações pessoais - Personal Details
Nome e apelido - First and last name
Morada - Address
Número de telefone - Phone number
Endereço de email - Email address
You might see more personal details in a Portuguese CV such as. Whilst commonly included, they are still optional:
Data de nascimento - Date of birth
Lugar de nascimento - Place of birth
Sexo - Gender
Stato civile - Marital status
Código Posta e Nome da rua - Postcode and street name
Nacionalidade - Nationality
Unlike the UK, in Portugal, it is strongly recommended to include a photo to your CV to make it more personal. If you decide to attach a photo to your CV, make sure it's a professional one. There are many tools available nowadays to make a professional headshot with AI! Learn more about attaching a photo to your CV.
The main section sections for a resume in Portuguese are:
Sumário do Perfil - Personal profile
Experiência profissional - Work experience
Formação - Education
Competências - Skills
Learn more about how write a good CV for your next job application.
What is a personal profile (“Sumário do perfil”) on a Portuguese CV?
A professional profile in your CV is an essential element to effectively present your skills and professional experience to a potential employer. This opening paragraph should be able to immediately capture the recruiter's attention and provide a compelling preview of your qualifications. Below, we have listed some guidelines on how a good professional profile example should be structured and the key information it should contain:
Impactful Introduction: Begin with a statement or phrase that immediately captures the reader's attention, such as a significant accomplishment or a powerful description of your professional experience.
Title or role: Indicate your current position or title, providing clear context of your role and level of expertise.
Skills and achievements: Describe your key skills and highlight past achievements, using relevant quantitative data or statistics to demonstrate them.
Desired position: Make sure to tailor your personal profile to the desired position. Highlight specific experience and skills that are relevant to the role, demonstrating your suitability for the job.
Short/long term goals: Share your professional career goals, both short and long term. This will show your motivation and commitment to professional growth and development.
Examples of personal profiles for a Portuguese CV
Exemplo de resumo pessoal de um Assistente Administrativo: Admin
Assistente Administrativo com mais de seis anos de experiência na organização de apresentações, preparação de relatórios, e manutenção da máxima confidencialidade. Possuo uma licenciatura em História e tenho experiência em Microsoft Excel. Procuro utilizar os meus conhecimentos e experiência para desempenhar um papel de Gestor de Projetos.
Exemplo de resumo pessoal de um Professor: Teacher
Como professor com dez anos de experiência, estou entusiasmado com a oportunidade de utilizar as minhas competências e experiência no papel de professor de história da sua escola secundária. Para além da minha licenciatura em História, também tenho cinco anos de experiência a ensinar História a alunos do ensino médio e secundário.
Exemplo de resumo pessoal em Gestão Empresarial: Customer Support
Eu tenho uma mente clara e lógica com uma abordagem prática à resolução de problemas e uma vontade de levar as coisas até ao fim. Eu tenho mais de dois anos de experiência na gestão e liderança de equipas em múltiplos sectores. Estou ansioso por aprender, gosto de ultrapassar desafios, e tenho um interesse genuíno na gestão empresarial e em fazer com que as organizações sejam bem-sucedidas.
Are you exploring your job opportunities? Follow our tips for how to network for job search success!
How to add work experience (Experiência de trabalho) to a Portuguese CV
Employers want to know if your CV work experience is relevant to their vacancy. That's why you need to start with your current or most recent job and work backwards. Focus on the responsibilities mentioned in the job posting and leave out anything that is irrelevant. Portuguese hiring managers value detail and relevance. Organise this section in reverse chronological order and include:
Título profissional - Job title
Nome da empresa - Company name
Localização - Location
Data de início e término - Employment dates
Principais tarefas e resultados alcançados - Key responsibilities
Pro tip
If you have no work experience, list your education and post-school education and state your highest level of education. You can also list hobbies and interests if they are relevant to the vacancy.
Examples of work experience on a Portuguese CV
Accountant
Assistente de Contabilidade, Samuels Corp., London, UK (julho 2012 – novembro 2014)
Processamento de documentação da empresa, tais como faturas e cheques de pagamento;
Gestão todas as ordens de compra e monitorização do orçamento da empresa através do controlo das despesas dos projetos;
Executar tarefas administrativas, incluindo preenchimento, relatórios, etiquetagem de ativos fixos, etc.
Developer
Desenvolvedor de aplicações, HTM | Bristol, UK (maio 2018 – presente)
Criação de esquemas para novos jogos usando software de ambiente de desenvolvimento.
Trabalho com várias empresas para patrocinar jogos e desenvolver um orçamento antes do aumento da produção;
Desenvolvimento de um sistema interno de procura de bugs com taxa de eficácia superior a 90%.
Supermarket Assistant
Assistente de supermercado, Pingo Doce, Lisboa, Portugal, 2022-presente
Auxilia os clientes na localização de produtos, fornece informações detalhadas e responde a dúvidas, garantindo a alta satisfação do cliente. Mantém os níveis de stock, reabastece as prateleiras e verifica regularmente o stock para garantir a disponibilidade do produto e evitar faltas. Opera caixas registadoras e processa pagamentos, em dinheiro ou eletrónicos.
Implementou uma iniciativa de envolvimento do cliente, que levou a um aumento de 15% nas vendas globais no primeiro trimestre da sua implementação.
Otimizou os procedimentos de gestão de stocks, reduzindo as discrepâncias de stocks em 20% e assegurando um acompanhamento preciso dos produtos.
Recebeu consistentemente feedback dos clientes pelo seu excelente serviço, contribuindo para uma taxa de satisfação do cliente de 95%.
Pro Tip
Save your CV as a PDF to ensure formatting remains intact across devices. CVMaker’s tools handle this automatically for you.
How to add education (Educação) to a Portuguese CV
The education section highlights your academic background or educational qualifications. Be sure to adapt UK qualifications into their Portuguese equivalents, such as:
| Portuguese Format | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Formação | Education |
| Ano propedêutico, programa de fundação | Propaedeutic year, foundation programme |
| Tese de Mestrado / Dissertação de Mestrado | Thesis |
| Estágio | Internship, traineeship, work placement |
| Escola primária | Primary school |
| Tese de Doutoramento / Dissertação de Doutoramento | Dissertation |
| Ensino Secundário ou Fundamental | Secondary Education or Middle School |
| Diploma do ensino secundário | High school diploma |
| Licença profissional | Bachelor's Degree (abbreviated as B.A.) |
| Mestrado | Master's Degree/Postgraduate Degree |
| Bacharelato | A Levels |
It might be difficult to match your own qualifications to their Italian equivalent but as long as it's clear what degree you have and in what subject, this should be sufficient.
Examples of education for a Portuguese CV:
| UK Format | Italian Format |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences | Licenciatura em Ciências Farmacêuticas |
| PhD in Health sciences | Doutoramento em Ciências da Saúde |
| High school diploma specialising in humanities | Diploma do ensino secundário com especialização em humanidades |
What skills (“Competências”) should I add on my Portuguese CV?
Highlight a mix of hard and soft skills relevant to the role. Use this section to stand out by listing skills in both Portuguese and English. When adding your skills to a CV, we recommend to list at least five hard skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Hard skills are those that are related to the job, such as web development, computer skills, and statistical modelling. Soft skills include effective communication, problem solving, decision making, and critical thinking.
Common skills you can include on a Portuguese CV:
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Teamwork | De trabalho em equipa |
| Leadership | Capacidade de liderança |
| Problem-solving | Resolução de problemas |
| Communication | Comunicativo |
| Time management | Gestão do tempo |
| Adaptability | Adaptability |
How to show your language (Idiomas) skills on a Portuguese CV
Multilingualism is highly valued in the Portuguese job market. Use a proficiency scale to describe your language skills, such as:
Razoável - Basic
Bom - Intermediate
Excelente - Advanced
Nativo - Native speaker
Example:
Ingles: Bom (A2)
If you're not sure what your level of proficiency is, you can use an online tool to help you.
What optional sections can you include?
Referências (References): Include if requested by the employer, listing names, job titles, and contact details.
Interesses (Hobbies and Interests): Add only if they enhance your professional profile or align with the job role.
Tips for translating an English CV into Portuguese
Translating your CV into the local language can significantly enhance your job application, demonstrating your commitment to integrating into the local culture and business environment. It shows potential employers you're serious about your career in their country and respectful of language and customs. Here are some concise tips for effectively translating your CV into Portuguese:
Native speaker review: Have it reviewed by a native Italian speaker.
Adapt to Italian standards: Include specific Portuguese CV formatting and content.
Cultural and terminology adaptation: Reflect Portuguese business culture and use Italian job titles and qualifications.
Proofreading: Ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors.
Use professional translation services: For accuracy and cultural nuances consider using a professional CV writing service.
If you have already made a English CV with CVMaker, you can easily make a Portuguese translation. In "My CVs" you can choose to "duplicate" the English CV. You can then set the language of the duplicate CV in the "Settings" step to "Portugal". All headings and labels are now automatically translated, but you still have to translate everything you have entered. Or you can choose to customise the Portuguese CV example provided when you select to create a 'New CV'.
With the AI feature, you can easily translate content in the personal profile and work experience sections to a language of your choice. Simply insert the prompt 'Rewrite in Portuguese' and the output with then be in Portuguese.
Translate your CV in just a few clicks with AI
Key takeaways
A Portuguese CV has unique requirements, such as including a photo.
Adapt your qualifications, skills, and work experience to suit the Portuguese job market.
Use clear, professional formatting with sections in both Italian and English for clarity.
Next steps?
Ready to create your Italian CV? Use our CV templates and start crafting a CV that sets you apart in the Portuguese job market today. Draw inspiration from our blog for tips on how to save time, emphasise important sections and make it easier for hiring managers to grasp your unique professional offer. To accompany your CV, discover our cover letter templates.
FAQs
How to write a CV for Portugal?
To write a CV in Portugal, include personal details (with a professional photo), a clear profile, and sections for work experience, education, and skills, formatted in reverse chronological order. Tailor your qualifications using Portuguese equivalents (e.g., Licença profissional for a bachelor’s degree). Keep it professional, concise (1-2 pages), and, if applying locally, write it in Italian. Learn more about non-UK CV best practices with the Europass CV example.
Is it difficult to get a job in Portugal?
Finding a job in Portugal as a foreigner can be challenging, especially without Portuguese language skills. The job market is competitive and unemployment rates can fluctuate. However, there are good opportunities for skilled professionals, particularly in IT, engineering, tourism, and language teaching.
Which job is most demand in Portugal?
Like the UK, there are certain jobs that are in-demand in Portugal. These are mostly in the tech, healthcare, and engineering industries. If you are qualified to work in one of these areas, you are more likely to get a visa. However, do take into consideration that salaries are often lower than in the UK.
Can I work in Portugal as a British citizen?
Yes! However, there are various paths you can take to start working in Portugal which depends on your own situation. If you want to work in Portugal, you need to apply for a visa. You can check the everything you need to know about working in Portugal here.
