How to write a résumé for Puerto Rico
Employers in Puerto Rico usually expect a résumé on US Letter paper, most recent experience first. Length: 1 page under ~10 years of experience, 2 at most (academic and medical CVs are longer). Employers there usually leave out a photo, date of birth and marital status.
Build a résumé for Puerto RicoYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | Résumé (usually written in Spanish or English) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 page under ~10 years of experience, 2 at most (academic and medical CVs are longer) |
| Paper size | US Letter |
| Layout | Compact single column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Usually left out |
| Date of birth | Usually left out |
| Nationality | Usually left out |
| Marital status | Usually left out |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| References | Leave referees off the CV; have a list ready |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
How Puerto Rico compares with nearby countries
Unlike Saint Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda, CVs in Puerto Rico leave the photo out, leave out the date of birth and use US Letter paper.
Unlike the Dominican Republic, CVs in Puerto Rico leave the photo out, leave out the date of birth and leave referees off.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | Résumé | Usually left out | Usually left out | 1–2 pages | Letter | Spanish |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Dominican Republic | Currículum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | Letter | Spanish |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Dominica | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| United States | Résumé | Usually left out | Usually left out | 1–2 pages | Letter | US English |
| Canada | Résumé | Usually left out | Usually left out | 1–2 pages | Letter | English |
Tips for Puerto Rico
- Leave out photo, age, date of birth, marital status and nationality: US employers avoid them to stay clear of discrimination claims.
- Start each bullet with an action verb and show results with numbers (budgets, %, volumes, people).
- Mirror the keywords in the job posting; most employers screen with applicant tracking software.
- Mention work authorization only if you need sponsorship or the posting asks.
- “References available upon request” is considered outdated; have a separate reference list ready.
Puerto Rico follows the same CV conventions as 1 other country in the United States guide.
Section headings in Spanish
If you write the résumé in Spanish, these are the usual headings:
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Profile | Perfil profesional |
| Experience | Experiencia profesional |
| Education | Formación académica |
| Skills | Habilidades |
| Languages | Idiomas |
| Licences & certifications | Licencias y certificaciones |
| References | Referencias |
Guides by job
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
What is a CV called in Puerto Rico?
A CV in Puerto Rico is usually titled “Résumé”. It covers the same ground as an English CV, with experience, education, skills and languages, but follows local habits: no photo, 1–2 pages, and the most recent role first. Write it in Spanish unless the job advert is in English. CV Atlas uses the title “Résumé” and Spanish headings when the CV language matches the country.
Do I put a photo on my CV in Puerto Rico?
No. Leave the photo off a CV for Puerto Rico. Employers there don’t expect one and generally prefer CVs without it, and the CV Atlas readiness check flags a photo if you add one. Use the space for your experience and qualifications, and include a photo only if a job advert asks for one. Leave out photo, age, date of birth, marital status and nationality: US employers avoid them to stay clear of discrimination claims.
How long should a CV be in Puerto Rico?
For a CV in Puerto Rico, aim for 1–2 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 US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) paper, the standard size in Puerto Rico. 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 Puerto Rico?
No. Leave your date of birth and age off a CV for Puerto Rico. The same goes for your nationality and marital status. Employers there judge applicants on experience and qualifications, and personal details like these are best left out unless an application form asks for them. CV Atlas sets these details on or off to match the usual practice in Puerto Rico, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in Puerto Rico?
No. Leave referees off a CV for Puerto Rico. Employers there ask for references separately, usually late in the process, so the space is better used for your experience. Keep a list of two or three referees with their job title, phone number and email ready to send when asked. “References available upon request” is considered outdated; have a separate reference list ready.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in Puerto Rico?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in Puerto Rico that means Spanish, and CV Atlas sets the headings in Spanish 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 Puerto Rico include?
A CV for Puerto Rico is usually 1–2 pages on US Letter paper, written in Spanish unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect no photo, no date of birth, and no referees. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose Puerto Rico, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Puerto Rico?
US Letter (8.5 × 11 inches). Employers in Puerto Rico print and read CVs on US Letter paper, the standard size in North America, not A4. Set the page size before you export, because an A4 PDF printed on Letter paper can lose part of its margins or look badly placed on the page. CV Atlas sets US Letter automatically for this country, and you can change the paper size in the design options.
Should I put my nationality on my CV in Puerto Rico?
No. Leave your nationality off a CV for Puerto Rico. CVs there normally leave out personal details such as nationality, age and family status, and employers judge applicants on skills and experience. If the job needs a particular right to work, say that you have it instead. An application form may still ask about your right to work, so answer it there.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in Puerto Rico?
No. Leave your marital status off a CV for Puerto Rico. Family details say nothing about how you do the job, and CVs there normally leave them out. Keep the personal details to your name, contact details and, where it matters, your right to work. The same applies to children and other dependants.
Should I put my gender on my CV in Puerto Rico?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Puerto Rico. 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 Puerto Rico?
Just your city and country. A CV for Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Puerto Rico, mention a driving licence when the role involves driving, travel between sites or field work, or when the job advert asks for one. For office jobs it is optional, and one short line in your skills or personal details is enough. For driving jobs, give the licence category and any professional qualifications that go with it.
How should I write dates on a CV in Puerto Rico?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico?
No. CVs in Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Puerto Rico, 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 résumé for Puerto RicoYour 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.