Translator Resume Example
A career as a translator typically involves translating documents accurately and interpreting spoken communication. If you want to stand out with your translator applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll discuss how to create a translator resume that catches the eye of employers, with tips and examples to help you write your own.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating a translator resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that translates your key skills, qualities and career achievements into a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Read on to find out how to show your creative side in a professional resume, with key tips from Jobseeker's career experts.
What to include in a translator resume
Although the content of a translator resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same.
If you have no work experience as a translator or have just started in the industry, you could consider using a functional or skills-based format, which emphasizes your skills and education. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
For those with some prior experience as a translator work experience is the most important element of a resume. Use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format to emphasize your career timeline and achievements. Rather than simply listing your responsibilities in each role, show the impact you made and offer evidence that demonstrates the skills and experience listed in the job description.
If you're applying for senior translator positions, you'll want to list career achievements and successes that emphasize your senior status. Use a reverse-chronological format and add extra sections to show key career highlights. It's likely that your senior resume will be longer than a standard resume of one-to-two pages. This is because you'll be listing additional achievements beyond your work experience, such as awards, publications and professional memberships.
How you choose to present your resume is up to you. There are plenty of options for a professional resume layout and format, but every application should include the following:
Resume Header and Personal Information
A translator resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Gabriella Ruiz
gabriella.ruiz@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
linkedin․com/in/gabriella–ruiz123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. In addition, your objective should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for translator roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description.
Alternatively, use this section to emphasize your career objectives and explain how and why this role is a suitable step for you at this stage of your career.
The best resume summaries reflect the job description and focus on qualities that are relevant to working as a translator, while highlighting elements of your personality that make you an ideal candidate. They also quantify the information provided with evidence. See below for some great examples of what to include in your translator resume summary.
Dedicated and skilled translator with a Bachelor of Arts in Translation and Interpretation and extensive experience as a Language Specialist. Proven expertise in translating a wide range of texts with accuracy and cultural sensitivity. Strong command of multiple languages, exceptional attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering high-quality work within deadlines. Proficient in utilizing translation tools and technology to enhance efficiency and consistency
Translator with some background in language studies and experience in working with texts. Have worked on translating different kinds of materials with care and understanding of cultural differences. Know a few languages and pay attention to details, aiming to finish tasks on time. Familiar with using tools and technology to help with translation work
On the other hand, an unsuccessful resume summary is one that mentions irrelevant skills, qualities and achievements and fails to differentiate you from other candidates. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your translator resume summary
Work Experience
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your translator skills. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to translator roles.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. Review some strong examples of resume work experience sections in the graphic below.
Language Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Linguistic Bridge Solutions, Detroit
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive language training program, leading to a 30% increase in staff proficiency within six months
- Translated over 200 high-impact documents accurately and efficiently, enhancing communication across international teams and improving project outcomes
- Successfully mediated multilingual negotiations, resulting in a $2M contract and fostering long-term partnerships with global clients
Language Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Linguistic Bridge Solutions, Detroit
- Improved communication skills and facilitated better understanding among team members
- Contributed to successful project outcomes through effective collaboration
- Played a key role in achieving company goals and objectives
See above for some of the pitfalls to avoid with your resume work experience section. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Portfolio and Work Samples
Showcasing your translator work samples in a portfolio or personal website can be a great way to prove your worth to employers. If you have examples of your work online, include a URL here.
Online portfolios tend to be most relevant for creative roles, but you could provide details of any previous successful projects or work published online. Add a link to your portfolio or include separate links to your previous projects in this section. Conversely, if you work in a non-creative sector but have evidence of your work and successful projects published online in some other way, you can include links to that here.
Education
In your education section, include details of your most relevant translator qualifications and educational achievements.
If you're applying for translator positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Arts in Translation and Interpretation will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your localization expertise or CAT tools.
List your relevant qualifications in reverse-chronological order. Add the name and level of the award, the institution, its location (if this isn't obvious from the name) and your dates of study. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Arts in Translation and Interpretation, 2017 - 2020
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Hard and Soft Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for translator jobs. These could be subject matter specialization, IT proficiency or various other relevant skills. Again, refer to the translator job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
How to include hard skills on your translator resume
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a translator. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, these skills are essential for a translator resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
For an effective resume hard skills section, focus on the technical skills that are most essential in the job description, and that match your specific expertise. Some examples of the best hard skills for a translator resume are listed below.
- Language proficiency
- CAT tools
- Localization expertise
Soft skills on your translator resume
Your soft skills are the core qualities and personal characteristics that make you a good employee. They tend to apply to multiple professions and jobs, though the soft skills you'll require may change as you move from junior to senior positions. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a translator resume.
- Attention to detail
- Cultural awareness
- Strong communication skills
Expert Tip:
On your creative resume, focus on the results of your work, such as "drove a 30% increase in client engagement through custom branding visuals" or "sold 50+ pieces in an online gallery launch." (1) Back this up with a curated portfolio that showcases these impactful pieces. (2)
Licenses and Certifications
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional translator certifications, licenses or qualifications. You could list accreditations for certain professional roles or licenses for certain activities that help to make you a strong candidate. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Read on to see some relevant example certifications for a translator resume:
- ATA Certification, 2022
- NAATI Certification, 2022
- CIOL Diploma, 2022
Optional Sections
If you need to provide further evidence of your suitability for the job, optional sections can be useful for a translator resume. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Voluntary Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for translator roles. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
References aren't a standard translator resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best words to use in a translator resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. The suggested action verbs below will help the reader to understand your key qualities and the impact you made on the organization.
- Translate
- Interpret
- Localize
- Transcribe
- Proofread
- Edit
- Revise
- Adapt
- Review
- Communicate
Jobseeker's clean, attractive resume formats can help your applications make a strong impression on employers. Check them out for help designing a winning resume, and see our cover letter templates to help win over recruiters and hiring managers.
Sample resume for translator positions
The translator resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
•
gabriella.ruiz@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/gabriella–ruiz123
Bachelor of Arts in Translation and Interpretation with experience as a Language Specialist. Adept at translating and interpreting diverse content, ensuring linguistic accuracy and cultural relevance. Proven ability to manage multilingual projects and deliver high-quality translations under tight deadlines. Skilled in utilizing translation tools and maintaining confidentiality.
Language Specialist
2020
-2022
LinguaPro Solutions (Tulsa)
- Successfully translated and localized over 500,000 words for multinational clients, enhancing market reach and user engagement
- Developed a multilingual content strategy that increased international web traffic by 40% within six months
- Conducted language and cultural training workshops for 100+ professionals, improving cross-cultural communication and collaboration
Language proficiency
CAT tools
Localization expertise
Attention to detail
Cultural awareness
Strong communication skills
ATA Certification
NAATI Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a translator resume
- List key skills throughout your resume that show you're a good fit for the role, and include a separate 'skills' section.
- Adapt your resume depending on the job you're applying for. Take a look at the job description and make sure you reference all the required key skills and experience.
- Use a clear, professional resume format to make your document as accessible as possible, including a readable font and appropriate headings, margins and line spacing. This will make your resume easier for recruiters and hiring managers to read.
- List your qualifications in your education section, including any necessary degrees or certifications, along with high grades.
- List your relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent job.
- Don't use complex formatting that makes your translator resume harder to read or less scannable by software such as applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't include any personal details, such as a photo, your age or marital status. These can create unwanted bias in the recruitment process.
- Don't exaggerate, lie or hide details about yourself as these can all undermine your chances of success with translator applications.
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, create a simple email address based on your name.
- Don't list irrelevant work experience as it will likely do nothing for your chances of success.
Tips on creating an ATS-optimized resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are increasingly taking responsibility for the management and processing of job applications, helping hiring practices to become more efficient. This can include screening resumes by scanning and ranking each application according to how closely it matches the job description. When drafting your translator resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Follow these guidelines to create the best ATS-friendly resume:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
If you need help creating a professional resume, take a look at our expert career articles and variety of resume examples created by careers experts.
Frequently Asked Questions for a translator resume
It's not typically a good idea to add a personal photo to your resume. Photos on resumes can look more interesting and engaging, but they can also jeopardize the fairness and neutrality of the selection process by introducing biases, either conscious or unconscious.
Circumstances where it may be necessary to include a personal photo in your resume tend to be for creative roles that require public appearances. This could be appearing on camera, acting, modelling, meeting with clients or public speaking engagements.
As well as writing a professional translator resume, you'll need a cover letter to introduce yourself and emphasize your credentials.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
A full, formal cover letter follows a traditional letter-writing structure and format. Add your header, the recipient's address an use professional greetings and sign-offs. In your first paragraph, introduce yourself and confirm the role you're applying for, along with your reasons for applying. Next, outline your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to the translator job description. Finish by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and adding a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to contact you for further information.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your translator resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Select a resume format that emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience, such as a functional format. Utilize additional sections at the end of your resume to show you've got what it takes to do the job. These include hobbies and interests, voluntary roles, certifications and internships.
Choosing a resume font that's suitable for the role and industry you're applying to is a key decision. Choose a clear, readable serif or sans serif font that gives your resume a professional look and feel. Opt for a font size between 10 and 12 for maximum readability. Creative resumes tend to use fonts from the sans serif font family. These are often dynamic, modern-looking fonts, so are likely to be more suitable for a translator resume.
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Key takeaways for your translator resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
Sources:
(1) Careers for creative people, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/creative-careers.htm
(2) Occupational Outlook Handbook, Craft and Fine Arts, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/craft-and-fine-artists.htm
