How to write a translator resume
Follow these expertly prepared tips to write each section of your resume:
Resume header
The first resume section, positioned prominently at the very top, will be a header with your contact information. Your resume header is where the hiring manager will look at to see your full name, phone number, email address and links to your professional portfolio, or networking profiles like your LinkedIn profile.
Resume summary or objective
Below your header is where you’ll include a powerful resume summary or a resume objective. These are short one-paragraph career summaries with 2-3 sentences which highlight your most important skills and achievements. The goal here is to explain what makes you stand out from the competition, pique the interest of the prospective employer, and incentivize them to read your entire resume.
If you have a nice amount of translator experience, write a professional summary. If you have little to no work experience or you are a recent graduate, write a resume objective to state your career goals and best job relevant skills.
Translator resume summary example:
Detail-oriented professional translator, fluent in English and Spanish, with more than five years of experience in translating documents, interpreting conversations and adapting content for international markets. Holds Master’s degree in Translation and Interpretation and a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics. Skilled in cultural understanding, maintaining accuracy and working with the utmost of confidentiality while meeting tight project deadlines. Able to translate 1,500-2,000 words per eight hour shift.
Translator resume objective example:
Recent bilingual (Spanish/English) college graduate seeking professional translator role in a large organization to utilize language abilities and cultural awareness to facilitate communication between different cultures or countries. Looking forward to sharing language skills, cultural understanding, attention-to-detail and accuracy when translating documents efficiently.
Skills section
In your resume skills section, be sure to match the skills that the prospective employer is asking for in the translator job description of the position you’re applying to. Provide a mixture of soft skills and hard skills.. Your hard skills are technical skills that you learned through education, online courses or on-the-job training that show you have the ability to accurately translate verbal and written words. Soft skills, on the other hand, are your personality traits (such as a strong work ethic) that show how well you’ll work by yourself and with others.
Skills section example:
- Fluent in English and Spanish
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Proficient in translation software
- Ability to translate legal documents
- Cultural awareness of the target culture
- Communication skills
- Knowledge of translation memory tools (SDL Trados, WorldServer)
- Interpersonal skills
- Localization competencies
- Time management skills
- Microsoft Translator
Work history
Any professional translation experience that you have should go in your work history section. This can include translation experience that doesn’t perfectly match the job you’re trying to achieve at this moment, as long as it showcases important skills.
Work history section example:
Translator, ABC Translation Services, New York, New York, Jan 2018 – Dec 2020
- Translated documents from English to Spanish and vice versa
- Interpreted conversations during meetings and conferences
- Proofread and edited translated materials
- Maintained confidentiality and accuracy in all Spanish language translations
- Adapted software and websites for international markets
- Collaborated with developers and designers to ensure accurate translations
- Conducted quality assurance checks on localized content
- Provided cultural insights to improve user experience
- Successfully translated legal documents and contracts
- Assisted in interpreting for legal proceedings
- Managed translation projects and deadlines
- Maintained glossaries and translation memory
Education
Your education section is where you display your education experience and relevant coursework. Translators almost always need a bachelor’s degree in their target language, usually in the form of a Bachelor of Arts in Translation. You’ll also want to become a certified translator and put your certification in this section. Accreditation from professional associations, such as the American Translators Association (ATA), can make you stand out from other job applicants.
Education section example:
Master of Arts, Translation and Interpretation
University of ABC, New York, New York
June 2023
Bachelor of Arts, Linguistics
XYZ College, Los Angeles, California
May 2019
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