A resume for a job in the Philippines is usually one or two pages in English, with contact details, a short objective or profile, work experience or OJT, education, skills and character references. A formal photo is common for local employers. Government jobs use the Civil Service Commission's Personal Data Sheet instead of, or alongside, a resume.
These are common practices, not legal rules, and employers differ. Every example is fictional; replace each [bracketed] detail with your own, and follow the job posting when it asks for something specific.
What a Philippine resume usually includes
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Photo | Often expected by local employers: a recent formal photo, plain background |
| Contact details | Name, mobile number, email and city; full address is optional |
| Objective or profile | Two lines naming the position and your strongest evidence |
| Work experience or OJT | Newest first; fresh graduates list on-the-job training here |
| Education | Degree, school, year; honours such as cum laude if earned |
| Skills and licences | Tools, languages and PRC licence number only if you hold one |
| Character references | Two or three people with position and contact, with their permission |
Personal details: include only what is useful
Older Philippine resumes often list age, civil status, height, religion and parents' names. Most private employers no longer need them, and they take space from your experience. Include them only when an application form or posting asks.
Resume sample for the Philippines
Philippine resume sample (fictional)
[Photo] [Your Name] — [Position applied for]
[+63 mobile] · [Email] · [City, Province]
OBJECTIVE: [Degree] graduate seeking a [position] role where I can apply [skill from OJT or project].
OJT / EXPERIENCE: [OJT Trainee / Job title], [Company], [City] — [Month Year]–[Month Year]
• [Task you did], [for whom], [result].
EDUCATION: [BS in ...], [University], [Year] — [Latin honours, if any]
SKILLS: [MS Office / Google Sheets], [tool], English and Filipino (fluent)
CHARACTER REFERENCES: [Name], [Position], [Company], [Contact] — with permission
Fresh graduate: make OJT count
On-the-job training is real experience. Write it like a job with the company, dates and two bullets on what you actually did. See the fresh graduate resume example for more.
Government jobs: the Personal Data Sheet
Applications for government positions use the Civil Service Commission's Personal Data Sheet (CS Form 212). Fill it in exactly as instructed and attach a resume only if the agency asks for one.
- Should I write my resume in Tagalog?
- Most private employers in the Philippines expect English. Use Filipino only when the posting asks for it or the role is clearly Filipino-language work.
- Do I need a 2x2 photo on my resume?
- It is common for local applications but not required by every employer. Use a recent formal photo with a plain background if you include one.
- How long should a resume be in the Philippines?
- One page for fresh graduates, up to two pages with several years of experience.
Compare formats in other countries in the CV format by country guide, and build yours in the resume builder.
