CV in Portuguese

Hi everyone! Have you ever considered working in Brazil? But what do we need to get a job in our country? Well, this is what we are going to talk about in our Dica today! Let’s learn all about a CV in Portuguese, everything you should include, and the things you shouldn’t. Do you know the format of a Portuguese language CV? What should you write in a cover letter in Portuguese? Today you will learn this and much more, so you can ace your future job application in Brazil!

Important Information for your CV in Portuguese

Personal Information

Firstly, this section is where you introduce yourself, providing your personal information to your possible employer. Notice that, in Brazil, we are not used to putting photos on our CV! Unless, of course, you work in some sort of job that requires it, like models, actors, etc.

Education

This is the part where you describe your education and academic background. Therefore, what and where you studied and for how long; also mention the subject you studied and the qualification gained. If you have other important courses or if you have other academic titles, this is the place to put them!

Professional Experience

Now you can describe all about your professional experience. So talk about the companies you have worked in and how long you stayed there. Don’t forget to include your job titles and explain your responsibilities. Usually, in Brazil, people list in reverse chronological order – the most recent job first.

Languages

As a matter of fact, your goal is to have Fluent Portuguese listed here, right? Now is the moment to put the name of the school that helped you learn Portuguese in 30 days. Jokes aside… this is the part where you tell them all the languages that you speak and your level in each of them. This is valued information in Brazil, since most jobs require that the candidates are fluent in at least one language other than their native one.

Other Information

Finally, it is in this part you can put additional information about your professional and academic life. You could include here your experience abroad, if you know how to use any specific computer programs, and even if you ever did a volunteer work! Most companies value volunteer jobs because it shows you are ready to help out others, and might be a good team player!

Important!

Did you know that to work in Brazil, it is not necessary to have CELPE-Bras certification on your CV in Portuguese? You only need to speak Portuguese. But of course you will need to show your Portuguese skills during your interview. For this reason, make sure you get plenty of practice!

Example of CV in Portuguese

Now, it’s time to see a Portuguese CV format. In Brazil, most CVs in Portuguese follow the pattern below:

Cover Letter, Part of the CV in Portuguese

The carta de apresentação, or cover letter in Portuguese, is a supplemental document to the resume, and serves as an introduction to your resume. The whole purpose of it is to convince recruiters to read your curriculum vitae. The carta de apresentação is also known by other names, such as carta de motivação, carta motivacional or carta de capa. We cannot deny that we live in a globalized world where information is increasingly filtered. And the truth is, many companies in Brazil won’t even read a candidate’s CV if the carta de apresentação isn’t good.

But how does it work? In Brazil, some companies ask for the carta de apresentação upfront when they publicise the job vacancy. In this case, sending a CV without the carta de apresentação will make a bad impression. In case the carta de apresentação is not specified, it is still customary to send one to show commitment to the position and increase the chances of making a good impression.

Let’s take a look at an example of carta de apresentação:

Prezada Rio & Learn,
Sempre fui uma apaixonada por educação. Apesar de seguir o caminho da publicidade, acredito que a educação é muito relevante para formar indivíduos. Por isso que me dediquei tanto não só ao meu bacharel, quanto a minha pós-graduação e ao meu MBA.
Minhas habilidades com outros idiomas pode ser um grande diferencial para a escola, já que vão ajudar na formulação das campanhas de marketing. Já viajei para vários países e gosto muito de conhecer outras culturas, o que acredito ser primordial para a posição a ser preenchida.
Gostaria de ter a oportunidade de conversar sobre o meu portfólio, campanhas anteriores e resultados positivos que pude trazer aos lugares que já trabalhei.
Atenciosamente,
Juliana Moura

Dear Rio & Learn,
I have always been passionate about education. Despite following the path of advertising, I believe that education is very relevant to develop individuals. That’s why I dedicated myself  to education, not only to my bachelor’s degree, but also to my postgraduate studies and my MBA.
My skills with other languages ​​can make a big difference for the school, as they will help in the formulation of marketing campaigns. I’ve also traveled to several countries and I really enjoy getting to know other cultures, which I believe is essential for the position to be filled.
I would like to have the opportunity to talk about my portfolio, previous campaigns and positive results that I was able to bring to the places I have worked.
Regards,
Juliana Moura

If you want to continue learning business vocabulary, we have a ton of Dicas for you! But you should next go read more about how to write emails in Portuguese. That’s it, we’re done! We’ve learned how to write a CV and a cover letter in Portuguese. What do you think about studying in Brazil to achieve your dream job here? If you are looking for a more professional form of contact, you can follow us on LinkedIn.

See you on the next Dica folks!
Hugs from Rio de Janeiro!

         
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Work in Brazil
Email in Portuguese
Professions in Portuguese
Brazilian ID Card