Spanish CV: A Guide for Spain Job Applications

Understanding the Spanish CV Structure

The first things to consider when writing your Spanish CV are the local job application conventions. While in the UK, employers generally expect a concise CV of two pages or fewer, Spanish employers tend to expect a longer CV. Aim to make your CV at least two pages long, but if you’re applying for a senior role, prepare to make your CV significantly longer.

It might seem obvious, but unless stated otherwise, you’ll need to write your CV and cover letter in Spanish. The only exception to this may be if you’re applying for a Spain-based role with an international company headquartered in the UK or another English-speaking country. However, if you’re going to primarily be speaking Spanish in the role, it’s best to write your application in that language.

Below is a list of the key sections of a Spanish CV. Note the Spanish translation of each section heading:

Personal Information (Datos Personales)

Spanish CVs include your name and contact details, just like a UK CV. However, you’re also expected to submit some personal information that you wouldn’t typically add to UK applications. This includes:

• Address
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Marital status
• Visa/work permit status
• A photo

While UK employers prefer you not to include these personal details, due to the terms of the UK Equality Act 2010, in Spain it’s more normal to include them.

Professional Summary (Perfil Profesional)

Like a UK CV, your Spanish CV should open with a professional summary or CV objective. This is a short paragraph summarising your skills, experience and career ambitions. Aim for two or three sentences outlining a particularly strong skill, personal quality and career achievement. If you’re a junior candidate, include a sentence about your professional goals and career objectives.

Example of a strong professional summary in Spanish.

Work Experience (Experiencia Laboral)

The key section of a UK CV is also the most important section of your Spanish CV. Add your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role and working back from there. Add your job title in Spanish, the name of your employer, its location and the dates you worked there.

Underneath each job entry, add bullet points to showcase your achievements in the role, and the skills you developed and used in the job. Consult the job description for examples of Spanish job-related skills and keywords, and make sure you include these in your bullet points.

Explain how to phrase responsibilities and achievements in Spanish.

Include a sample job description in Spanish.

Education & Qualifications (Formación Académica)

Depending on the role you’re applying for, your education and qualifications can take equal billing to work experience in a Spanish CV. For technical roles where a professional qualification is essential, the education section forms a key part of a Spanish CV.

In Spain, degree classifications differ from the UK, so for the benefit of Spanish readers, translate your UK degree grade to its Spanish equivalent. Follow this guide to translate your degree to the Spanish grading system:

Skills & Competencies (Habilidades y Competencias)

Review the job description for an idea of the key skills and competencies to mention in your CV for Spanish applications. It’s critical to tailor your CV both to match the job description, and to meet the expectations of Spanish employers.

You may wish to highlight your language skills in this section, or to include a separate section for language skills, depending on its relevance and importance to the job. When mentioning languages on your CV, reference your competency by using the CEFR standards:

• A1: Beginner
• A2: Elementary
• B1: Intermediate
• B2: Upper intermediate
• C1: Advanced
• C2: Proficient

For jobs in Spain, it’s worth noting the local skills gaps and most in-demand skills, for an idea of what to include in your CV. In Spain, some of the biggest skills shortages include:

• Accounting and finance
• Consulting
• Engineering
• Healthcare
• IT/tech
• Marketing
• Tourism/hospitality

Example of a skills section formatted for a Spanish CV.

Additional Sections (Secciones Adicionales)

If you have relevant skills and experience gained outside work or education, you could include additional optional sections at the end of your CV. These might include certifications, professional memberships, volunteer experience, publications or hobbies and interests. If you have any experience studying, living or working abroad that’s not mentioned in your previous sections, it’s worth mentioning that here.

Formatting & Styling Differences

These formatting tips can help you create a CV that’s suitable for Spanish job applications:

• Spanish CVs tend to be longer (two or more pages) compared to UK CVs, where employers tend to favour conciseness.
• Strike a balance between detail and readability. While Spanish CVs can be longer than their UK equivalents, you don’t want to get too bogged down in unnecessary detail.
• Spanish CVs often give licence to use more visual elements than UK CVs, such as colour accents, icons and section dividers.
• Choose a font that’s clear and readable. Sans serif fonts like Arial, Calibri, Helvetica or Open Sans are suitable, as are serif fonts like Times New Roman, Georgia or Cambria. Pick a readable font size between 10 and 12.
• In Spain, including a professional headshot photo is common, but in the UK, it’s generally avoided. If you’re not sure whether to include a photo, check the job advert and, if necessary, ask the recruiter or employer.

Adapting a Spanish CV for UK Job Seekers

Follow these key tips to make sure your CV is suitably adapted for Spanish job applications:

• Translate job titles and qualifications to their Spanish equivalents: Adapting your CV isn’t just a case of directly translating your job titles and qualifications into Spanish. Be aware that in Spain, some job titles might not be a direct translation of their equivalent in English.
• Highlight bilingual skills: Bilingual skills can be extremely useful for jobs in Spain, especially working for multinational companies. Be sure to highlight these prominently in your CV.
• Consider using the Europass CV format: The Europass CV is a standardised CV format that helps people apply for jobs in other European countries. This tool can be valuable for translating qualifications and presenting your credentials in a way that won’t be impacted by cultural norms. However, using such a plain, standardised CV examples might mean your CV lacks impact and fails to stand out.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common mistakes when writing your CV for jobs in Spain:

• Ignoring differences between Spain and Latin America: While most Latin American countries speak Spanish, it’s important to be mindful of cultural differences when applying for jobs there, compared to Spain. The advice in this article covers job applications for Spain, so make sure you check the local customs and recruitment processes before applying for Latin America jobs.
• Translating word-for-word: Simply translating your CV word-for-word, or worse, using a translation app, won’t do you any favours in your Spanish job search. Literal translations rarely read well, so make sure you translate your CV properly and, if possible, have a native Spanish speaker check it before you send it.
• Not preparing your CV for ATS: Like the UK, many employers in Spain use ATS software for initial CV screening. As such, make sure your CV contains appropriate headings and uses keywords that match the Spanish job description.
• Approaching your CV the same for UK and Spain jobs: This advice works both ways. A UK CV translated directly into Spanish probably won’t give you the best chances of success for Spain job applications. However, by the same token, translating a Spanish CV into English also won’t have the desired impact. It’s best to create a bespoke, tailored CV for each country.

It’s critical to tailor your CV both to match the job description, and to meet the expectations of Spanish employers.

Final Tips & Best Practices

Take a look at this checklist before submitting your Spanish CV, to give you the best chance of success:

• Write your CV in Spanish unless stated otherwise in the job advert
• Add personal details, including a photo
• Check your headings use the appropriate Spanish translations
• Include Spanish key skills and phrases included in the job description
• Be mindful of differences between UK and Spanish job titles
• Translate your qualifications into their Spanish equivalents
• Have your CV reviewed by a native Spanish speaker, if possible, before submitting
• Optimise your CV for ATS, using a clear, readable CV template, such as the following:

Key Takeaways for a Perfect Spanish CV

Understanding what’s required before you write your Spanish CV can give you the edge over other applicants. Pay attention to local customs and use the correct Spanish translations of your qualifications and job titles. If possible, ask a native Spanish speaker to proofread your CV before you submit it, to give you the best chance of making a positive impression. Another way to stand out with your CV is by using a CV maker like CVwizard. Sign up today to access CV resources and cover letter templates that make it easy to produce an eye-catching Spanish job application.