Created by CakeYou'll learn:How to write a translator
resume?What to put on a translator
resume?Tips for writing the best translator CVHow to write a translator cover letter?Translator
resume sample
As the world becomes more globalized, multilingualism will gain more traction. A translator is usually employed to translate written materials into one or more languages. The primary responsibilities include ensuring that the context and meaning translated are properly maintained, implementing the correct terminologies, and pro
ofreading the translated documents. It’s important to note that translators differ from interpreters, the latter being more specialized in translating orally, most
often in real-time settings.
Seeking to market yourself more by creating a fantastic freelance translator
resume? Or perhaps you’re a fresh graduate crafting your first entry-level translator
resume? Maybe you want to create a specific language translator
resume, such as a Spanish translator
resume or an Arabic translator
resume? You and your career can benefit from having a firm grasp on the essence
of a good translator
resume.
How to write a translator
resume?
As a pr
ofessional translator, there is no doubt you would want to impress prospective employers with your translator
resume. One might think, surely, I can simply center my translator
resume around my language skills and call it a day? Doing so might only do a disservice to yourself, as there is more that goes into a
resume than your skills, all
of which will be discussed in this guide!Step 1: Understand the Differences between a CV and a
Resume
It’s easy to confuse a translator CV from a translator
resume because
of how frequently it’s interchanged. In general, a CV would be mainly used in specific settings such as academia, medicine, or science fields, be more detailed and longer (over 2 pages) compared to its
resume counterpart, and has a simple structure. In contrast, a
resume is used for a job application; thus, it should only contain relevant details and be shorter in
length (within 2 pages). You can also choose from a large variety
of templates for a
resume. This usually matters for most jobs, but as a translator, you might specialize in various fields, and your translator
resume might need adjustments in
length, content, etc. Thus, in the translation field, a translator CV is usually synonymous with a translator
resume.
Step 2: Choose the Right Format for Your Translator
Resume
There are 3 types
of resume formats you can utilize for all kinds
of translator
resume (including a freelance translator
resume!): chronological, functional, and hybrid/combination. Which one is the best? The answer depends! Some formats might work better for you depending on your experience, background, and the skills you possess. So before committing to a format, you might want to carefully evaluate your translator background, job context, and abilities.
Step 3: Look Up Translator
Resume Templates Samples Online
There are a plethora
of excellent translator
resume templates and translator
resume samples online which can be
of help when crafting your pr
ofessional translator
resume. The difficult part would be to sift through this sea
of online references and pick out the good ones. Even so, these references might contain mistakes that you do not want to include in your translator CV. Thus, it’s important to not simply copy and paste the contents and format
of these references. Instead, tailor it to the job for maximum effectiveness.
Step 4: Tailor Your Translator
Resume for the Position
Not your first translation gig? Great! You already have your entry-level translator
resume as a solid starting point! Still, you should always tailor your translator
resume for the position; this also goes for a translator CV with no experience. Tailor your
resume by including keywords found in the job ad or only include relevant details and experiences (a recruiter can only spend so much time looking through your
resume).
Step 5: Craft a Translator Cover Letter
You should always craft a translator cover letter, no matter the type
of your translator
resume, may it be a freelance translator
resume or a fresh graduate translator CV. A translator cover letter allows you to explain the information within your translator CV. The cover letter should introduce you, elaborate on the context
of your achievements and qualifications, and explain your motivation and passion for the job.
Step 6: Pro
ofreadAs a translator, pro
ofreading is a part
of your job. You do not want your translator CV to be ridden with careless grammatical errors or misspellings! You can do so yourself or you can utilize the help
of a second pair
of eyes or a spellchecker to ensure that your translator
resume is error-free!
What to put on a translator
resume?
The translator
resume templates and translator
resume samples you find online can serve as a guide when crafting your own but you don’t have to necessarily follow their entire format. Even so, below are the information that you should always include in your translator
resume.1.
Resume Pr
ofile (Personal Information)✅ Always include:
Full namePr
ofessional titleE-mail addressPhone numberAddress (city, state, and/or country)
❌ And exclude:
Current salaryYou’ll only do yourself a disservice by bringing out a number too early into your hiring process. This may lessen your bargaining power when negotiating your salary.Social Security number/National Insurance numberYou don’t need to provide your Social Security number or your National Insurance number before you get hired.Sexual orientation, race, marital status, photograph, date
of birth, nationality, gender, and religion.
2. Translator
Resume HeadlineA good newspaper headline’s purpose is to quickly attract attention to a news story while conveying the significance behind the said story. An excellent translator
resume headline should also serve the same purpose for yourself; a recruiter reading your translator
resume should be able to immediately know about who you are: your strengths, achievements, and relevant experiences. Your
resume headline should be short and concise (one-line) and placed on top
of your translator CV.
Translator
resume headline examples:
Passionate and Multilingual Translator With More Than 7 Years
of Experience in French-English TranslationDetail-Oriented Legal Translator Specializing in Translating Legal Documents into German, Mandarin, Japanese, and English
3. Translator
Resume SummaryAfter your translator
resume headline grabbed the recruiter’s attention, you should elaborate more about your
resume headline and yourself in your translator
resume summary. Ideally, a pr
ofessional summary in a translator
resume summary would be around 2-3 sentences long, with the main focus on your translator background, abilities, qualifications, and relevant experience.
Translator
resume summary example:
Highly experienced and multilingual translator with a background in translating drug data sheets and medical bulletins in Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, and English. Successfully translated over 400 projects.
4. Translator
Resume ObjectiveYour career objective as a translator should be conveyed in your translator
resume objective. A properly constructed translator
resume objective should give recruiters an idea
of who you are as a candidate. A standalone
resume objective is not necessary, you can combine it in your
resume summary too.
Translator
resume objective example:
Passionate and highly skilled translator with more than 5 years in Hungarian-English and Romanian-English translations. Experienced in translating legal documents for purposes
of applying for citizenship in the United States
of America. Looking to further improve my translation skills as a translator in the Embassy
of Romania.
5. Skills for Your Translator
ResumeA common misconception some translators may have is that recruiters will only focus on their language skills. Although your language skills (hard skills) are extremely crucial, you should also list your s
oft skills if you want to elevate your translator CV from a good one to an exceptional one.
Example skills for a translator
resume:✒️Hard SkillsCopywritingEnglish (Native Pr
oficiency)French (Native Pr
oficiency, CEFR C2)
✒️S
oft SkillsCultural AwarenessTime ManagementProject Management
6. Translator Work ExperienceYour previous translation work experience, to prospective employers and clients, can serve as a testament to your skills as a translator. In your work experience section, you should include basic details
of your past job (job titles, your previous employers, employment periods, brief responsibilities) and the achievements you have attained.Translator
resume work experience example:
Spanish-English Translator | ABC PublishingMay 2012 - Present
Translated over 100 books from Spanish to English and vice versa, including 20 New York Times Best Seller books.Trained a team
of 5 other junior translators.
7. EducationTranslating is a very specialized job that requires plenty
of training and a high degree
of precision and accuracy. For this reason, education is one
of the most highly valued sections
of your translator
resume. Here, you should include your education institution, degree, major, coursework, year
of graduation, honors and awards, GPA, and relevant extracurricular activities.
8. Additional Information: CertificationsTranslators do not always require certifications to prove their fluency in the language. However, certification is a form
of quality assurance in the translation and occasionally, in the localization
of documents. You may consider seeking certification if you want to assure recruiters and clients that the reliability and accuracy
of your translation are
of the utmost degree.
💡 Where to get certifications:
American Translators AssociationThe National Board
of Certification for Medical InterpretersNational Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters
Tips for writing the best translator CV
#Tip 1: Customize the
Resume for Translator PositionsAs mentioned prior, no matter the type
of translator
resume you are crafting, they should always be customized and tailored to the job ad. As similar as most translation jobs could be, you are bound to spot a few differences if you look through the job ad carefully. By customizing your translator CV, you increase your chances
of standing out from other applicants who might use a standardized translator CV.
#Tip 2: Quantify Results in Your Translator
ResumeQualitative descriptions
of your results can limit you from showing the full extent
of your qualifications. To combat this, you can quantify results in your translator
resume. Doing so can help your achievements look more outstanding and convincing than words.
#Tip 3: Choose an ATS-friendly
Resume LayoutCompanies may utilize the help
of an applicant tracking s
oftware (ATS) to filter out the massive amount
of resumes they receive. To ensure that you pass through the filter, you may want to use
resume templates and layouts that don’t contain too many visuals. Incorporating keywords found in the job ad can also increase your chances to be filtered in by the ATS, so remember to always tailor and customize your translator
resume!#Tip 4: Adopt
Resume Action VerbsAction verbs are the way to go to provide information about you in an employer's mind. Proper use
of powerful action verbs can propel your
resume above other candidates’.#Tip 5: Include Your International ExperiencesIf you have any international experiences that required you to frequently utilize your language skills, such as living abroad, going on an exchange program, etc., include these in your translator CV, especially if they invlove languages you specialize in. Including these international experiences can help enhance your skills section.How to write a translator cover letter?
How would you show your pr
ofessionalism as a translator other than ensuring that your translator CV is top-notch? You do so by crafting an excellent cover letter. As the first document that reaches the recruiter (even before your
resume), you would want to ensure that you leave a good and lasting impression.
All types
of translator cover letter, may it be a freelance translator cover letter or a translator cover letter with no experience, should contain:
Basic personal information to identify yourself and your contact details.You may want to check out the hiring company’s website, LinkedIn, or other relevant websites to find out more about the hiring manager and the company itself. Greeting the recruiter with the right name can make you stand out from other applicants. State who you are and the position you're applying for.Elaborate on your reason for applying for the job and what you can bring to the company.Convince them why you're perfect for the role by emphasizing 2 to 3
of your relevant skills and experiences.End the cover letter in a polite tone, thanking them for their time.
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resume builder that helps job seekers build pr
ofessional translator
resumes/CVs. Create your
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Translator
resume sample
Anthony TuringMultilingual and Pr
ofessional Translator With More Than 7 Years Experience in Translating Books and Novels
+1- 245-534-8179
[email protected]linkedin.com/in/anthonyturing
Summary
Multilingual, pr
ofessional, and passionate translator with over 7 years
of experience in translating English, Spanish, and German books. Completed over 400 projects, including 55 New York Times Bestseller and 7 Pulitzer Prize books. Seeking to leverage and improve my translation and communication skills for the Spanish-English translator position in Balboa Books Publishing.
Work Experience
German-English Translator| Freelance Mar 2019 – Present
Translated (German to English and vice versa) over 200 projects, including legal documents, books, website content, news articles, and drug datasheets.Maintained strict confidentiality policies concerning clients and materials translated.Commended by past clients for translation efficiency and accuracy.
Spanish-English Translator | Atlantic Press
Jan 2014 – Feb 2017
Trained a team
of 5 junior translators.Translated over 200 books and novels from English to Spanish and vice versa, including 7 Pulitzer Prize books.Ensured other translators’ final works adhered to proper Spanish and English grammatical rules and are error-free.
Languages
English (Native Pr
oficiency, CEFR C2, ILR 5)German (Native Pr
oficiency, CEFR C2, ILR 5)Spanish (Native Pr
oficiency, CEFR C2, ILR 5)
SkillsCopywriting Copyediting Research AnalysisCultural AwarenessCultural IntelligenceCommunicationMultitaskingTime Management
Education
M.A. in Translation with Concentration in GermanKent State UniversityGPA: 3.83/4.02017 – 2019B.A. in SpanishThe University
of ArizonaTranslation and Interpretation EmphasisGPA: 3.86/4.02010 – 2014
--- Originally written by Patricia Rosita ---