In Spain a CV is called currículum vitae or simply CV, and should be written in Spanish unless the ad asks for another language. Always send it with a cover letter.
General rules
- One or at most two pages, with a clean, readable layout.
- Tailor the CV to each vacancy, highlighting the most relevant experience and using the ad's keywords, since many companies use screening software.
- A photo is not compulsory, and some international companies discourage it to avoid discrimination, but it is still fairly common in Spain. If you include one, make it professional.
- Leave out unnecessary data such as marital status, religion or number of children.
- Have a native speaker proofread it: Spanish mistakes are the most common problem.
- Save the file as a PDF with a clear name, e.g. CV_Name_Surname.pdf.
Structure
- Datos personales: name, city of residence, phone with international code, professional email, LinkedIn profile. If you already have an NIE or the right to work in Spain, say so.
- Perfil profesional: three or four lines summarising who you are, your experience and what you are looking for.
- Experiencia profesional: in reverse chronological order, with dates, company, city, role (puesto) and main achievements, ideally with numbers.
- Formación académica: degree, university or school, years. It can help to give the Spanish equivalent (Grado, Máster).
- Idiomas: languages with the Common European Framework level (A1-C2) and any certificates, such as the DELE for Spanish.
- Competencias and informática: technical skills and software.
- Otros datos: driving licence (carné de conducir), willingness to travel or relocate, volunteering and, if relevant, interests.
Useful vocabulary
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| work experience | experiencia laboral |
| duties | funciones / responsabilidades |
| bachelor's / master's degree | grado / máster |
| secondary school diploma | bachillerato |
| internship | prácticas |
| native speaker | nativo |
| soft skills | habilidades blandas |
| available immediately | incorporación inmediata |
| full-time / part-time | a jornada completa / parcial |
| references on request | referencias disponibles a petición |
Template
Anna Smith Valencia · +34 600 000 000 · anna.smith@email.com · linkedin.com/in/annasmith
Perfil profesional Graduada en Marketing con tres años de experiencia en comunicación digital y gestión de redes sociales para marcas de moda. Nativa inglesa, nivel C1 de español. Busco incorporarme a un equipo de marketing internacional.
Experiencia profesional 2023-2026 · Social Media Manager · Empresa X, Londres (Reino Unido) Gestión de cuentas de Instagram y TikTok; aumento del 40% de la comunidad en un año; coordinación de campañas con influencers.
Formación académica 2021-2023 · Máster en Marketing Digital · Universidad de Manchester
Idiomas Inglés: nativo · Español: C1 (DELE)
Competencias Meta Business Suite, Google Analytics, Canva, Adobe Photoshop, nociones de SEO.
See also Europass, the standard European format, accepted in Spain too, and our guide to working in Spain.