How to Write a CV for Jobs Abroad With No Experience

A practical guide for applying to entry-level jobs in Portugal and other international destinations

Looking for your first job abroad can feel exciting, but also a little intimidating. You may find an interesting job in Portugal, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria or another international destination, read the description, and then think: “But I don’t have any professional experience yet. What should I put on my CV?”

The good news is that many international jobs abroad are designed for entry-level candidates. For roles in customer service, sales support, content moderation, back office, tourism support or technical support, employers often care more about your language skills, motivation, communication style and willingness to learn than about years of experience.

If you speak your native language and English, are open to relocating, and can show that you are reliable, organised and customer-focused, your CV can still be strong — even if this is your first “real” job.

Here is how to create a CV that helps you stand out.

1. Start with a clear professional profile

Your CV should begin with a short profile of 3–4 lines. This is your chance to explain who you are, what languages you speak, and why you are interested in an entry-level job abroad.

Avoid writing something too general like:

“I am looking for a job where I can grow.”

Instead, make it more specific:

“Motivated candidate with strong communication skills in my native language and a good level of English, looking for an entry-level customer service role abroad. Interested in working in an international environment, helping customers and building professional experience.”

This immediately tells the recruiter that you are suitable for multilingual roles, open to working abroad, and realistic about starting your career.

2. Put your language skills near the top

For international jobs abroad, your language skills are one of your strongest assets. Even if you do not have previous work experience, speaking a specific language fluently can already make you valuable to international employers.

Many companies hire candidates for roles where they need speakers of languages such as German, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Polish or other European languages.

Add a simple language section near the top of your CV:

Languages

• Native language: Native / Fluent
• English: B2 / C1
• Local language: Beginner / Willing to learn

For example, if you are applying for a job in Portugal, you do not always need to speak Portuguese. Many international companies use English as the working language, especially in multilingual teams. However, adding “willing to learn Portuguese” shows a positive attitude and interest in the country.

3. Focus on transferable skills

If you have no formal work experience, think about the skills you have developed through school, volunteering, student projects, hobbies, travel, sports, family responsibilities or part-time activities.

For entry-level jobs, useful transferable skills include:

• Communication
• Patience
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork
• Organisation
• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Confidence using computers
• Customer-focused mindset

Instead of simply listing skills, try to connect them to real situations.

For example:

• Helped organise group projects at school and presented results to classmates.
• Managed deadlines for assignments and exams while balancing personal commitments.
• Supported family members or friends with online bookings, forms or digital tools.
• Participated in team activities that required communication and responsibility.

These examples show that you already have useful workplace skills, even if you have not had a full-time job yet.

4. Include education in a practical way

If you are applying for your first job, your education section can be more detailed than it would be for someone with years of experience.

You can include:

• School, college or university name
• Degree or course
• Dates
• Relevant subjects
• Projects
• Presentations
• Group work
• Digital tools used

Example:

Education
Secondary Education / Vocational Training / University Studies
2022–2026

Relevant skills developed:

• Written and verbal communication
• Group project coordination
• Research and presentation skills
• Use of Microsoft Office and online tools

The goal is not to make your education sound bigger than it is. The goal is to show what you learned that could be useful in a job.

5. Add any informal experience

Many candidates forget that “experience” does not only mean a signed employment contract. If you have done babysitting, helped in a family business, volunteered, worked during school holidays, helped at events, supported a local club or assisted someone with admin tasks, you can include it.

Example:

Volunteer Event Assistant
Local Sports Club | 2024

• Welcomed visitors and answered basic questions.
• Helped organise schedules and participant lists.
• Worked as part of a small team during busy event days.

This kind of experience can be especially relevant for customer service jobs because it shows responsibility, people skills and reliability.

6. Tailor your CV to the job description

One of the biggest mistakes entry-level candidates make is sending the same CV to every company.

Before applying, read the job description carefully and look for repeated words. For entry-level international jobs, you may often see requirements such as:

• Fluent level of a specific language
• Good English
• Customer service mindset
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving
• Team player
• Willingness to relocate
• Availability to work full-time
• Basic computer skills

Use similar wording in your CV, as long as it is true. This helps recruiters quickly see that you match the role.

For example, if the job says “customer-oriented mindset,” you can include:

“Friendly and customer-oriented, with strong communication skills in my native language and English.”

If the job says “international environment,” you can write:

“Motivated to work in an international team and start a career abroad.”

7. Be honest about your experience level

Do not pretend to have experience you do not have. Recruiters hiring for entry-level jobs do not expect a long career history. What they want is honesty, motivation and potential.

Instead of hiding the fact that you are new to the job market, present it positively:

“Looking for an entry-level opportunity to start my international career.”

or:

“Motivated to gain professional experience in customer service while using my language and communication skills.”

This sounds confident, realistic and professional.

8. Keep the CV simple and easy to read

Your CV should be clear, structured and easy to scan. Recruiters often review many applications, so they need to understand your profile quickly.

A good structure is:

1. Name and contact details
2. Short professional profile
3. Languages
4. Key skills
5. Education
6. Work, volunteer or informal experience
7. Digital skills
8. Availability and relocation interest

Keep your CV to one page if possible, especially if you have little experience. Use bullet points, short sentences and a clean layout.

Avoid:

• Long paragraphs
• Too many colours
• Spelling mistakes
• Unprofessional email addresses
• Unclear dates
• Fake experience
• Adding too much personal information

9. Mention relocation clearly

If you are applying for a job abroad, make it clear that you are open to relocating.

You can add a short line in your profile or at the end of your CV:

“Open to relocating abroad for a full-time opportunity.”

or:

“Available to move to Portugal and start an entry-level international role.”

This helps recruiters understand that you are serious about working abroad.

10. Example CV profile for entry-level jobs abroad

Here is a simple example you can adapt:

“Motivated candidate with strong communication skills in my native language and a good level of English, looking for an entry-level customer service or support role abroad. Positive attitude, willingness to learn and interest in working in an international environment. Open to relocating and eager to gain professional experience while helping customers and developing new skills.”

11. What to include if you have no work experience at all

If you have absolutely no work experience, your CV can still include:

• School projects
• Presentations
• Group assignments
• Volunteering
• Language exchanges
• Travel experience
• Online courses
• Digital skills
• Personal projects
• Sports or team activities
• Responsibilities at home or in your community

For example, if you helped organise a school project, that can show teamwork. If you completed an online course, that shows initiative. If you have travelled or lived abroad, that can show adaptability.

The key is to connect your experiences to the skills employers need.

12. Add a short cover letter

For entry-level roles, a cover letter can make a big difference. It allows you to explain why you want to move abroad, why you are interested in the company, and why you are motivated even without experience.

A good cover letter does not need to be long. Keep it simple:

• Introduce yourself
• Mention the role
• Explain your language skills
• Show motivation to relocate
• Highlight your attitude and willingness to learn
• Thank the recruiter

Example:

“Dear hiring team,
I am interested in the entry-level customer support position abroad. I speak my native language fluently and have a good level of English. Although I am at the beginning of my professional career, I am motivated to learn, help customers and work in an international environment. I am open to relocating and excited about the opportunity to gain experience abroad.”

Final tips before applying

Before sending your CV, check these points:

• Is your contact information correct?
• Are your language skills clearly visible?
• Did you mention English?
• Did you include your availability?
• Did you adapt your CV to the job?
• Is the layout clean and easy to read?
• Did you check spelling and grammar?
• Did you avoid exaggerating your experience?

Starting your career abroad is possible, even without previous experience. Many international companies are looking for motivated candidates who speak different languages, communicate well and are ready to become part of a multilingual team.

Your CV does not need to be perfect. It needs to be clear, honest and focused on what you can offer.

If you are ready to start your career abroad, explore entry-level international jobs and take the first step towards your new experience.