How to write a CV for Cabo Verde
Employers in Cabo Verde usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2–3 pages. The date of birth and nationality are usually included, but optional.
Build a CV for Cabo VerdeYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | Curriculum Vitae (usually written in Portuguese or English) |
|---|---|
| Length | 2–3 pages |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Single column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Optional |
| Date of birth | Usually included |
| Nationality | Usually included |
| Marital status | Optional |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| References | List two or three referees with contact details |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
How Cabo Verde compares with nearby countries
Unlike Senegal and Mauritania, CVs in Cabo Verde may include a photo, list referees with contact details and are written in Portuguese or English.
Unlike the Gambia, CVs in Cabo Verde are written in Portuguese or English.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabo Verde | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | Portuguese |
| Senegal | CV | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | French |
| Gambia | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| Mauritania | CV | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | French |
| Guinea-Bissau | CV | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Portuguese |
| United Kingdom | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| United Arab Emirates | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Cabo Verde
- Two or three referees with phone and email are usually listed.
- Personal details such as date of birth and nationality are common.
- Professional registrations and NYSC (Nigeria) or internship completion are worth stating.
Cabo Verde follows the same CV conventions as 21 other countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa (English-speaking) guide.
Section headings in Portuguese
If you write the CV in Portuguese, these are the usual headings:
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Profile | Perfil |
| Experience | Experiência profissional |
| Education | Formação académica |
| Skills | Competências |
| Languages | Línguas |
| Licences & certifications | Licenças e certificações |
| References | Referências |
Guides by job
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
Do I put a photo on my CV in Cabo Verde?
It’s optional. A CV for Cabo Verde works with or without a photo, and most employers decide on your experience and qualifications. If you add one, keep it professional: a recent head-and-shoulders picture on a plain, light background. Leave it out if the job advert or application form says not to include one. When in doubt, follow the style of CVs in the employer’s own job adverts or website.
How long should a CV be in Cabo Verde?
For a CV in Cabo Verde, aim for 2–3 pages. Describe recent roles in detail and summarise older ones in a line or two, so the whole CV is quick to scan. Set the document to A4 (210 × 297 mm) paper, the standard size in Cabo Verde. Academic and senior clinical CVs are the exception: they list publications, research, teaching and courses in full and can run longer.
Should I put my date of birth on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Usually, yes. A date of birth is commonly included in the personal details of a CV in Cabo Verde, along with your nationality. Put these details in the header or a short personal-details block under your name. Your marital status is optional. Include only what you are comfortable sharing. Personal details such as date of birth and nationality are common.
Do I need references on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Yes. CVs in Cabo Verde usually end with two or three referees: recent supervisors or managers, with their job title, organisation, phone number and email. Ask each person before you list them, and tell them which jobs you are applying for so they are ready when a recruiter calls. Two or three referees with phone and email are usually listed.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Cabo Verde usually don’t mention immigration status, so add a short line such as “Requires visa sponsorship” or “Holds a work permit” only if you need sponsorship or the advert asks. Citizens and permanent residents can leave it out entirely. Online application forms often ask about the right to work directly, so you can answer it there.
What language should my CV be in for Cabo Verde?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in Cabo Verde that means Portuguese, and CV Atlas sets the headings in Portuguese by default. If the advert is in English or the employer works internationally, an English CV is usually accepted; keep one language throughout and have a native speaker check it. You can switch the CV language in CV Atlas at any time; the headings and dates change, but write your own entries in the same language.
What should a CV for Cabo Verde include?
A CV for Cabo Verde is usually 2–3 pages on A4 paper, written in Portuguese unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect a photo only if you want one, usually your date of birth, and two or three referees at the end. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose Cabo Verde, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Cabo Verde?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Cabo Verde, so set your CV to A4 before you export it. US Letter is slightly shorter and wider, and a Letter-sized PDF printed on A4 leaves an uneven gap at the bottom of each page, which looks careless on paper. CV Atlas sets A4 automatically for this country, and you can change the paper size in the design options.
Should I put my nationality on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Usually, yes. Nationality is commonly listed in the personal details of a CV in Cabo Verde, in one short line under your name. It helps recruiters see whether you need a work permit. If you would rather not share it, you can leave it out; employers decide on your experience and qualifications. If you already have the right to work there, a line such as “Holds a work permit” can be more useful than nationality alone.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in Cabo Verde, and most modern CVs leave it out because it says nothing about how you do the job. Add it only if a job advert or application form asks for it, and then keep it to a single word in the personal details. Use the space for your skills, licences and languages instead.
Should I put my gender on my CV in Cabo Verde?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Cabo Verde. It is not relevant to the job, and CVs there normally leave it out. Your name, job title and contact details are enough at the top of the CV, followed straight away by your profile and experience. If an application form asks for it, answer there rather than on the CV.
Do I need my full address on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Just your city and country. A CV for Cabo Verde needs only your city, country, phone number and email, not your full street address. That is enough for recruiters to see where you are based and whether you would need to relocate, and it keeps your home address off a document that may be shared widely. Employers ask for your full address later, when they make an offer or prepare a contract.
Should I put my driving licence on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Yes, if you have one. Many CVs in Cabo Verde mention a driving licence, with its category or class, in the personal details or the skills section. Employers there often look for it, especially for jobs that involve travel, field work, deliveries or shifts at hours when public transport is limited. Leave it out if you don’t have one; outside driving jobs it is rarely a strict requirement.
How should I write dates on a CV in Cabo Verde?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Cabo Verde, write each role’s dates as month and year, for example “March 2021 to present”, and list your most recent job first. Keep the same format throughout, and avoid giving years only, which can hide gaps and makes recruiters ask questions. Exact days are not needed for jobs or studies.
How do I explain a gap on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Cabo Verde usually expect a longer break to be accounted for, so add a short line in your timeline, such as “Career break: caring for a family member” or “Relocation and language study”. Be brief and honest, and keep the details for the interview. The CV Atlas readiness check points out gaps of more than six months in your work history, so you can add a line before you send the CV.
Do I sign my CV in Cabo Verde?
No. CVs in Cabo Verde are not signed. End the CV with your last section, such as skills, languages or references, with no signature, date or place line. A signature adds nothing to a document that is sent online, and recruiters there don’t expect to see one. If an application form asks you to sign a declaration, do it on the form itself.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in Cabo Verde?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Cabo Verde, and many recruiters skip them. Include one short line only when an interest shows a skill or commitment that fits the job, such as volunteering, coaching or a relevant club, and leave out generic ones like reading or travel. If space is tight, interests are the first section to cut.
Start your CV for Cabo VerdeYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.