Format, language, measurable achievements, and the right keywords to pass automated filters and stand out to recruiters in both markets.
Creating a CV is no longer just about listing your work experience. Today, it’s a strategic professional marketing tool—especially for candidates targeting opportunities with companies in both the United States and Latin America, particularly Mexico and LatAm. While these job markets share similarities, there are also cultural, technical, and formatting differences that can directly impact whether a recruiter calls you… or whether your application is filtered out before a human ever sees it.
The good news is that it’s absolutely possible to create a “hybrid” CV that works in both markets—if you pay close attention to focus, language, and how achievements are presented.
Know Your Audience: Human Recruiter + ATS
Before worrying about design or length, it’s essential to understand that most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Many recruiting platforms integrate with tools like LinkedIn, allowing employers to filter résumés based on keywords related to skills, experience, and education.
This means your CV must not only look good to a person—it also has to be readable by software. Résumés filled with graphics, complex tables, or heavy visual elements may look impressive but can be difficult for an ATS to interpret. That’s why the format should be clean, text-based, and clearly structured with well-defined sections.
The Ideal Format for Both Markets
In the United States, a CV is typically called a “résumé” and is expected to be concise—usually one to two pages maximum. In Mexico and much of Latin America, longer CVs have traditionally been accepted, but current trends also favor clear and direct documents.
A format that works well in both markets includes:
• Contact information at the top (full name, city/country, professional email, and LinkedIn profile)
• A short professional summary (3–4 lines)
• Work experience in reverse chronological order
• Education
• Technical and soft skills
• Languages
Avoid including information that may be considered irrelevant—or even legally sensitive—in the U.S., such as marital status, age, a photograph, or personal ID numbers. While photos are still sometimes seen on CVs in Latin America, it’s safer to leave them out for a binational or international profile.
Language: Adapt, Don’t Just Translate
One of the most common mistakes candidates make is translating their CV word-for-word from Spanish into English. The U.S. job market favors a more direct, results-driven style, while in Latin America it’s still common to see broader descriptions of responsibilities.
If you’re applying for roles in the U.S. or with international companies, your CV should be written in professional English. Simply saying “Responsible for sales” isn’t enough. What really stands out are measurable results.
For example:
Instead of “Responsible for customer service,” write:
“Managed a portfolio of 120+ customer accounts, improving retention by 18%.”
Instead of “Administrative support,” say:
“Coordinated scheduling and documentation for a team of 15, reducing processing times by 25%.”
This achievement-focused approach is also increasingly valued in Latin America, where employers are paying more attention to performance indicators and measurable impact.
Measurable Achievements: The Universal Language of Talent
Recruiters in both the U.S. and Latin America want to see impact. Not just what you did—but what changed because of your work.
Useful action verbs include:
• Increased
• Reduced
• Implemented
• Streamlined
• Generated
Whenever possible, pair these with numbers: percentages, revenue figures, time saved, productivity gains, or other concrete metrics.
This language transforms your CV from a list of duties into proof of performance.
Keywords: Your Gateway Past the Filters
To get through ATS filters, your CV must include terms that match the job description. If a position mentions “project management,” “data analysis,” or “customer success,” those exact phrases should appear naturally in your experience or skills section—assuming they genuinely apply to you.
It also helps to review profiles and job trends on global platforms like LinkedIn, where common technical and digital skills often emerge across industries.
The goal isn’t to stuff your CV with random keywords, but to align your experience with the language employers use to describe what they need.
One CV, Two Markets, One Strategy
The key to building a CV that works in both Latin America and the United States is combining clarity, professionalism, and a strong focus on results. A concise document, free of unnecessary personal details, written in solid professional language, and filled with measurable achievements is far more likely to pass automated filters and capture the attention of human recruiters.
In today’s increasingly connected and borderless job market, your CV is your global calling card. Adapting it strategically can be the difference between being overlooked… and landing the interview.