US and UK hiring managers rely on three types of evidence when evaluating English skills from Latin American candidates:
Formal test scores and certificates they can verify.
Real work samples that show you already use English professionally.
Live demonstrations where they experience your English directly.
You don’t need all three, but the more you have, the less doubt remains in their mind.
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What US Companies Really Look For in English Communication Skills
This part surprises people.
American employers hiring in Latin America aren’t looking for BBC pronunciation or perfect grammar.
They care about something much more practical: can you work smoothly on real projects without language becoming a barrier?
That breaks down into three things:
Being easy to understand while on video calls.
Strong written communication.
Cultural understanding of how Americans communicate.
Your accent doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think.
English Proficiency Tests That US Employers Recognize
Tests aren’t everything, but they solve one big problem: they give employers a shared language for comparing candidates.
If you’re from a small university in Ecuador and the hiring manager is in Austin, they have no frame of reference for what your English degree means.
But if you tell them you scored C1 on the CEFR scale, they know exactly where you stand.
Here’s how to think about formal testing:
IELTS Test Details and Costs for Latin America
Cost: Around $215-255 USD depending on your country.
Format: Four sections – Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking. Takes about 3 hours total.
Scoring: Band scores from 1-9. Most remote jobs want 6.5+ (B2) for technical roles, 7.5+ (C1) for client-facing.
Best for: If you might apply for visas, grad school, or on-site positions later. Very widely recognized.
Where to take it: Test centers in major cities across Latin America. Results in 3-5 days for computer-based, 13 days for paper.
TOEFL Test Details and Costs for Latin America
Cost: $200-250 USD depending on country.
Format: Four sections – Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing. Takes about 3 hours.
Scoring: 0-120 scale. Most remote employers look for 90+ (B2) minimum, 110+ (C1) for senior roles.
Best for: Academic credibility and North American companies. Slightly more common in US corporate environments than IELTS.
Where to take it: Test centers in most major cities. Results in 4-8 days.
Duolingo English Test for Remote Workers
Cost: $59 USD.
Format: Adaptive test combining reading, writing, speaking, listening. Takes about 1 hour. You take it from home on your computer.
Scoring: 10-160 scale. Maps to CEFR: 120-129 = B2, 130-144 = C1, 145-160 = C2.
Best for: Remote-first tech companies and startups. Fast results (48 hours).
Where to take it: From your home computer with a webcam and stable internet.
Why it’s popular: Many remote workers in Latin America prefer this because it’s cheaper, faster, and lots of tech companies now accept it.
Free English Tests to Check Your Level Before Paying
Before paying for any exam, take free placement tests to estimate your level:
Cambridge English offers free level tests at cambridgeenglish.org/test-your-english
EF SET (EF Standard English Test) gives you a free certificate for 15 or 50 minute tests
These won’t impress employers, but they’ll tell you if you’re ready for a formal exam or need more practice first.
How to Write English Test Scores on Your Resume
Don’t just write the score. Map it to CEFR levels so employers immediately understand what it means.
Instead of this: “IELTS: 7.5”
Write this: “English: C1 (Advanced) – IELTS 7.5”
Instead of this: “Duolingo: 135”
Write this: “English: C1 (Advanced) – Duolingo English Test: 135/160”
Put this prominently at the top of your CV under a Skills or Languages section. Add it to your LinkedIn profile under Languages with the proficiency level and test name in the description.
The CEFR levels employers care about most:
B2 (Upper Intermediate): Good enough for most technical and operational roles. You can handle meetings and documentation but might need help with complex negotiations or presentations.
C1 (Advanced): This is the sweet spot for most remote work. You can handle client calls, lead meetings, write professional documentation, and work independently without language barriers.
C2 (Proficient): Near-native level. Rarely required unless you’re in senior leadership, marketing, or roles where English mastery is the actual job (like content writing or teaching).
Most US employers hiring in Latin America expect B2 minimum for technical roles and C1 for customer-facing positions like sales, support, or account management.
How to Build an English Portfolio That Proves Your Skills
Tests tell employers you can speak English. A portfolio proves you do speak English in professional settings.
Here’s exactly what to create:
English Portfolio Examples for Developers
Write your GitHub READMEs in clear English. Include installation instructions, usage examples, and contribution guidelines.
Document your code in English. Comment complex functions, write clear variable names, explain your logic.
Participate in English-language issue discussions. Show you can explain bugs, propose solutions, and collaborate with international teams.
Create a technical blog or documentation site. Write 2-3 posts explaining projects you’ve built, problems you’ve solved, or technologies you’ve learned.
English Portfolio Examples for Customer Support and Sales
Write sample support tickets showing how you’d handle common customer issues. Include clear explanations, empathy, and solutions.
Create email templates for different scenarios: onboarding new customers, handling complaints, upselling features, following up on leads.
Record yourself doing a mock sales call or product demo. Upload it to YouTube or Loom as an unlisted video and link it in your portfolio.
English Portfolio Examples for Writers and Marketers
Write 3-5 blog posts on topics relevant to your industry. Make them 800-1200 words each. Show you understand US writing style: short paragraphs, conversational tone, clear structure.
Create sample email campaigns. Show subject lines, body copy, and calls-to-action for different goals (nurture, conversion, retention).
Develop sample landing pages or ad copy. Demonstrate you understand persuasive writing for American audiences.
English Portfolio Examples for Project Managers
Write sample project documentation: project briefs, status updates, meeting notes, stakeholder communications.
Create sample Slack or email communications showing how you’d coordinate a remote team, handle blockers, or report to leadership.
Build a case study of a project you managed, written entirely in English. Include the problem, your approach, and results.
How to Record a Video Introduction in English
This is the single most underused tactic, which means it works incredibly well for standing out.
Film yourself for 1-2 minutes explaining who you are, what you do, and a quick story about a project you’ve completed.
What to Say in Your English Video Introduction
Start with your name, location, and what you do: “Hi, I’m Maria from Bogotá. I’m a full-stack developer specializing in React and Node.”
Tell a quick project story: “Last year I built a customer portal for a US fintech startup that reduced their support tickets by 40%.”
Explain what you’re looking for: “I’m looking for remote opportunities with US companies where I can contribute to product development and work with distributed teams.”
Keep it conversational. Don’t script every word or you’ll sound robotic.
How to Film and Upload Your English Video
Use your phone or laptop camera. Good lighting matters more than expensive equipment.
Record somewhere quiet without background noise.
Look at the camera, not at yourself on screen.
Speak slightly slower than normal. Articulate clearly.
Upload to YouTube (unlisted if you prefer), Loom, or Vimeo.
Link it prominently on your LinkedIn, your CV, and in your application emails.
Why this works: Most candidates won’t do this. It feels uncomfortable.
But hiring managers immediately see your spoken English, your confidence, and your communication style.
It answers their biggest question before they even interview you.
Where to Mention English Education on Your CV
“Bachelor of Engineering, Universidad de los Andes – English-taught program”
“Completed semester abroad at University of Texas, Austin”
“Graduated from Colegio Americano de Quito (bilingual English/Spanish)”
How to Add English Education to LinkedIn
Add details in the description: “All coursework conducted in English. Completed thesis on machine learning applications in Spanish and English.”
If your school has international accreditation or partnerships with US universities, mention that too.
Complete Checklist to Prove Your English Level to Employers
Here’s what a strong English proof package looks like for a US employer:
Formal verification: C1 Duolingo score listed on CV and LinkedIn
Work samples: GitHub with English documentation, or portfolio with English writing samples
Visual proof: 90-second video introduction
Social proof: 2-3 LinkedIn recommendations mentioning English communication
Practical experience: “3+ years daily use with US clients” specified on CV
Professional documentation: Previous contracts or job descriptions showing English requirements
You don’t need all of these. But the more you have, the less doubt remains.
Most candidates show up with “English: fluent” and nothing else.
You’re going to show up with receipts.
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