Résumé: How to Write One, What to Include, and What to Avoid

A good résumé fits on one or two pages and includes up-to-date contact details, a clear objective, experience in order from most recent to oldest, and concrete results. No format is required by law, and details such as a photo, age, and marital status are, as a rule, not mandatory.

What you can't leave out

• Contact details: full name, city, phone number with WhatsApp, and a professional email address, with no nicknames.
• Objective or summary: one or two sentences stating the field and the position you are seeking.
• Work experience: company, job title, period (month and year), and what you did, with numbers when possible.
• Education and courses: program, institution, and year of completion or expected completion.
• Languages and tools: state your real level, such as basic, intermediate, or advanced.

How to describe your experience

Instead of listing tasks, show what you delivered. Compare:

• Weak: "Responsible for customer service."
• Better: "Served an average of 40 customers per day and reduced the department's response time."

Use action verbs, short sentences, and only information you can back up in the interview. Never invent job titles, dates, or diplomas.

Tailor your résumé to each job

Read the posting and highlight the experience and the words the job asks for. Some companies use systems that filter applications by keyword, so it may be worth repeating, when true, the terms used in the posting. Save the file as a PDF with a clear name, such as "Maria-Silva-Resume.pdf".

What to avoid

• Spelling and grammar mistakes: ask someone to proofread.
• Too much text, decorative fonts, and too many colors.
• Unnecessary personal information, such as CPF (taxpayer ID), RG (ID card), number of children, and religion.
• Salary expectations, unless the posting asks for them.
• Unprofessional email addresses or social media profiles.

Photo, age, and marital status

Lei 9.029/1995 (Law 9,029/1995), art. 1, prohibits discriminatory practices that limit access to employment on grounds of sex, origin, race, color, marital status, disability, age, among others. For that reason, the company should not use this information to eliminate candidates, and you are not obliged to include it. If the posting asks for a photo or date of birth, decide case by case. As a rule, the information can be provided at hiring, when actually needed.

Where to use your résumé

Besides sending it to companies, you can register your education and experience on the Portal Emprega Brasil or in the Carteira de Trabalho Digital (Digital Work Card) app, using your gov.br account, so that the Sistema Nacional de Emprego (Sine, National Employment System) matches your profile with openings. See the step-by-step in SINE and free job listings. If you don't have experience yet, you can follow the guide to a résumé for a first job.

Frequently asked questions

Does a résumé need a photo?

It is not mandatory. Unless the posting asks for one, you can send it without a photo and decide later whether to include one.

How many pages should a résumé have?

One page is usually enough for people with little experience; two for longer careers. The key is to be concise.

Do I need to list every job I have ever had?

No. Prioritize the most recent ones and those most related to the position. Gaps can be explained in the interview.

Read also

• Résumé with no experience: how to build one for a first job
• Cover letter for a job application: how to write one
• Job interview: common questions and how to answer them