How to write a CV for Trinidad and Tobago
Employers in Trinidad and Tobago usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2 pages. Nationality is usually included, but optional.
Build a CV for Trinidad and TobagoYour 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 |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 pages |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Single column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Optional |
| Date of birth | Optional |
| 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 Trinidad and Tobago compares with nearby countries
Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados follow the same conventions, so one CV can serve all of them if the language fits.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinidad and Tobago | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Grenada | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Barbados | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Saint Lucia | 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 Trinidad and Tobago
- Two or three referees are usually listed.
- State nationality or CARICOM skills certificate if you are working across islands.
Trinidad and Tobago follows the same CV conventions as 13 other countries in the Caribbean guide.
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 Trinidad and Tobago?
It’s optional. A CV for Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
For a CV in Trinidad and Tobago, aim for 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 A4 (210 × 297 mm) paper, the standard size in Trinidad and Tobago. 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
It’s optional. Many CVs in Trinidad and Tobago include a date of birth in the personal details, but plenty leave it out, and employers decide on your experience. Your nationality is commonly included. If you add personal details, keep them to one short line under your name. State nationality or CARICOM skills certificate if you are working across islands.
Do I need references on my CV in Trinidad and Tobago?
Yes. CVs in Trinidad and Tobago 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 are usually listed.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in Trinidad and Tobago?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
English. CVs for Trinidad and Tobago are normally written in English. Follow the language of the job advert if it differs, and keep one language throughout: headings, dates and descriptions should all match. Have a native speaker check the final version if English is not your first language. CV Atlas writes the section headings in the language you choose, so switch it to match the advert.
What should a CV for Trinidad and Tobago include?
A CV for Trinidad and Tobago is usually 2 pages on A4 paper, written in English unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect a photo only if you want one, date of birth optional, 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 Trinidad and Tobago, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Trinidad and Tobago?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Trinidad and Tobago, 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
Usually, yes. Nationality is commonly listed in the personal details of a CV in Trinidad and Tobago, 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in Trinidad and Tobago, 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Trinidad and Tobago. 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
Just your city and country. A CV for Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Trinidad and Tobago, 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Trinidad and Tobago, 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
No. CVs in Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Trinidad and Tobago, 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.
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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.