How to Write a CV for Jobs in Portugal

A strong CV can make the difference between being overlooked and being invited to an interview. If you are applying for work in Portugal, your CV should be easy to read, relevant to the role and adapted to the expectations of employers in the Portuguese labour market.

The good news is that you do not need a complicated design. You need a clear document that helps a recruiter quickly understand who you are, what you can do and why your experience is relevant.

This guide explains how to structure a CV for jobs in Portugal, what information to include, when to use Portuguese or English, how Europass can help, and which common mistakes to avoid.

What does a typical CV in Portugal look like?

According to current EURES guidance for Portugal, CVs are generally presented in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent experience and qualifications. One or two pages is common, although a one-page format can work well for younger applicants or people with limited experience.

EURES also notes that the most important achievements should appear prominently near the top of the first page. Read the current EURES guidance on living and working in Portugal.

1. Start with clear contact information

Place your essential contact information at the top of the CV so an employer can reach you easily.

• Full name

• City and country of residence

• Mobile phone number

• Professional email address

• LinkedIn profile, if it is updated and relevant

• Portfolio or professional website, when relevant to the role

You normally do not need to include your complete home address. EURES recommends listing your place of residence, such as your city and country, rather than your full address.

2. Add a short professional profile

A short profile of three or four lines can help the recruiter understand your background immediately. Focus on your professional identity, strongest relevant skills, experience and the type of opportunity you are seeking.

For example: Customer service professional with three years of hospitality experience, strong English communication skills and developing Portuguese language skills. Experienced in guest support, reservations and working in multicultural teams.

Avoid vague introductions such as “hard-working person looking for a good opportunity.” Show the employer what you can actually contribute.

3. List your work experience in reverse chronological order

Begin with your most recent role and work backwards. For every position, include the job title, employer, location, dates and a few concise points describing your main responsibilities or achievements.

Whenever possible, describe results rather than simply listing duties. Instead of writing “Responsible for customers,” you could write “Supported customers throughout the booking process and resolved service queries in person and by email.”

If you have worked in another country, that experience is still valuable. Do not hide international experience simply because it was outside Portugal.

4. Include education and professional training

List your highest and most relevant education. You can also include vocational courses, professional training, internships and certifications that support the job you are applying for.

EURES recommends distinguishing vocational or professional training from your main education. If a qualification has a formal Portuguese equivalence or recognition that is relevant to the role, mention it clearly.

5. Make your skills specific

A good skills section should help an employer understand what you can actually do. Avoid filling it with generic words without evidence.

• Language skills and your realistic level

• Digital and software skills

• Customer service or sales skills

• Administrative or organisational skills

• Technical or trade-specific abilities

• Driving licence, when relevant to the role

• Communication and teamwork skills supported by experience

Recent EURES guidance also encourages jobseekers to think beyond formal qualifications when identifying skills, because useful abilities are often developed through work, volunteering, caregiving, community activities and everyday responsibilities. See EURES guidance on identifying skills for your CV.

6. Be accurate about your language level

Language ability matters in the Portuguese labour market, so state it honestly. If your Portuguese is still developing, do not write “fluent” just to improve the application.

A simple description such as Portuguese – A2/basic, English – fluent, Hindi – native is easier for a recruiter to understand. If you have completed a recognised language course, you can include that too.

If workplace Portuguese is one of the gaps you want to improve, Edpro’s Practical Portuguese – Integration in Portugal programme focuses on practical communication for everyday life, work and integration.

7. Should your CV be in Portuguese or English?

Match the language of your CV to the vacancy and employer whenever possible. If the job advertisement is in Portuguese and the role requires Portuguese, a Portuguese CV is usually the more natural choice.

EURES notes that applicants who do not speak Portuguese can also prepare their CV in English. For international companies, technology roles and workplaces where English is the working language, an English CV may be appropriate.

If you maintain both versions, make sure they contain the same dates, roles and qualifications.

8. Do you need a photo on a Portuguese CV?

A photograph is not a legal requirement for a CV. Current EURES guidance says that including a photo is often appreciated in Portugal, but that does not mean you must add one.

If you choose to use a photograph, keep it professional, recent and neutral. If you prefer not to include one, the strength of your experience, skills and application should remain the focus.

9. Should you use Europass?

Europass is a free European Union service that lets you create and manage CVs, cover letters, skills and qualifications in a standardised format. It can be especially useful when you are applying across European countries or want a structured starting point.

EURES integrates with Europass, and you can create multiple CV versions from a Europass profile. Learn more about creating a Europass CV through EURES.

Europass is useful, but it is not compulsory for every job in Portugal. If an employer does not request a specific format, a clean custom CV is also acceptable.

10. Tailor the CV to every application

Sending the same CV to every employer is one of the easiest ways to weaken an application. Read the vacancy carefully and identify the skills, experience and qualifications that matter most.

Then adjust the professional profile, skills and experience points so the most relevant information is easy to see. EURES recommends using relevant keywords to show how your experience and qualifications match the profile an employer is seeking.

Do not copy the job advertisement word for word. The aim is to make the connection between your real experience and the employer’s needs obvious.

11. Keep the design clean and readable

• Use one or two easy-to-read fonts.

• Keep headings and dates consistent.

• Use enough white space so the page does not feel crowded.

• Avoid decorative graphics that make important information harder to find.

• Save and send the final CV as a PDF unless the employer requests another format.

• Use a professional filename such as FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf.

A beautiful CV that is difficult to scan is not doing its job. Clarity wins.

12. Check the CV before you send it

Before submitting an application, review every detail.

• Check spelling and grammar.

• Confirm that dates and contact details are correct.

• Remove outdated or irrelevant information.

• Make sure links to LinkedIn or your portfolio work.

• Check that the PDF opens correctly on another device.

• Read the CV once from the employer’s perspective: is the reason to interview you easy to understand?

Common CV mistakes to avoid

• Using one generic CV for every job

• Writing long paragraphs instead of concise points

• Listing responsibilities without showing useful skills or results

• Exaggerating language ability or experience

• Including unnecessary personal information

• Using an unprofessional email address

• Submitting a document with spelling mistakes

• Making the design more important than the content

A simple CV structure you can follow

• Name and contact details

• Professional profile

• Work experience

• Education

• Professional training and certifications

• Skills

• Languages

• Additional relevant information

You can change the order slightly depending on your situation. A recent graduate, for example, may place education and training above work experience, while an experienced professional will usually lead with recent employment.

Turn your CV into part of a stronger job-search strategy

A CV works best when it is supported by the rest of your job-search preparation: a clear LinkedIn profile, confident communication, knowledge of the Portuguese labour market and good interview preparation.

Edpro’s Integration and Inclusion of Migrants in the Labour Market programme helps participants build practical employability skills including CV preparation, applications, professional communication and understanding workplace culture in Portugal.

You can also explore Edpro’s courses and programmes to strengthen the language and professional skills that support your next career step.

Final checklist

Before you send your CV, ask yourself: Is it easy to read? Is the most relevant information near the top? Does it match the vacancy? Are my skills and language levels accurate? Have I removed anything unnecessary? Would a recruiter understand what I can contribute within the first few seconds?

If the answer is yes, you are already giving your application a stronger start.