How to Adapt Your CV in Portuguese for Brazil or Portugal
Hi there, Poly here! Today's chat is for you if you've got your eye on Brazil or Portugal.
Applying to a company over there? Sending your CV in Portuguese tells the recruiter something powerful before they read a single line: you can already work in their language!
That's why a well-built Portuguese CV is worth a little extra care. Here's how to make it shine.
Three keys to getting it right
- Use the right terms. A CV is a currículo in Brazil, and a currículo or curriculum vitae in Portugal. Typical sections are Experiência profissional, Formação acadêmica (spelled académica in Portugal) and Idiomas. Keep an eye on false friends, too: pretender means to intend.
- Pick one variety and stick with it. If you're targeting jobs in Portugal, write in European Portuguese; for Brazil, use Brazilian Portuguese. A consistent text reads beautifully.
- Show results. Like in any market, each role can say what you achieved, using action verbs such as coordenei (I coordinated), desenvolvi (I developed) or implementei (I implemented).
From CV to interview
Here's the thing: the CV gets you the interview; the interview gets you the job.
That's when you'll follow questions at natural speed, in that country's accent, and answer with ease. Don't worry, it's something you can train really well by talking. Doing the dishes? Put on a Brazilian or Portuguese podcast and repeat a phrase or two out loud.
With a tutor, you can review your CV line by line, polish how you introduce yourself and run mock interviews in the exact variety you need. Along the way, you'll smooth out the little habits that come from other languages, so you show up as your best self.
Honestly? Practicing with someone builds the ease that interviewers notice, and it makes the whole process a lot more fun.
Your next step
If you already have companies in mind, it's a great time to get ready!
Find your Portuguese tutor on Holapoly and book the 55-minute trial class at 50% off.
I'm off to fluff my feathers, but first, a parrot tip: pick your variety the way I pick my branch. Just one, and hold on tight.
Poly