Translator Resume Sample with Skills (Template & Guide)

“Study translation,” they said.

“It will be fun,” they said.

“Everyone needs translators, so you'll never be out of work,” they said.

So you’ve spent years perfecting your craft… only to find out that too many people think you can be replaced by Google Translate.

However, rest assured: top-notch translation gigs still exist. You just need to know how to apply to them with a high-quality translator resume.

But what if you find resume writing even harder than translating baseball memes into High Elvish?

Well, we can make it easy. All you have to do is translate the story of your professional achievements into a language that hiring managers understand. And we’ll show you how.

This guide will show you: 

• A translator resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a translator resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a translator resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a translator to get any job you want.

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Here are a few teaching guides related to translation resumes:

• English Teacher Resume Example & Guide
• ESL Teacher Resume Example & Guide
• Teacher Resume Example & Guide
• Interpreter Resume Sample & Guide
• Teaching Assistant Resume Example & Guide
• Tutor Resume Example & Guide
• Freelance Work on a Resume
• Best Examples of Resumes for Any Job

Translator Resume Sample

Above was our idea of the ideal translation resume sample.

Let’s fix up yours, now.

This is how to write a translator resume:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Translator Resume

Whether they’re freelance translator online jobs or cushy translation work for a large corporation, there’s a method to your tasks.

Same on a resume—

To be sure the hiring manager can interpret what you read, format your translator resume right.

Follow these formatting guidelines on a translator resume:

• Use the resume header to list your resume contact information.
• Use big, legible resume section titles to differentiate the various sections.
• The standard resume format is the chronological resume format, often the best.
• Choose the best font for a resume. As a translator, you know how difficult it can be to stare at weird fonts all day!

Pro Tip: Is a resume PDF or Word doc better? The PDF is almost always better, as it can be read on just about any device the hiring manager chooses to view it on. Use a Word doc if the job description specifically asks for it.

2. Write a Translator Resume Objective or Summary

On a resume, your elevator pitch is the resume objective or summary statement, also called a resume profile.

Though it’s only a short paragraph, this introduction is powerful, if done right. It gives hiring managers an overview of your translation experience and language skills.

A resume summary is perfect for when you have tons of experience. This introduction statement breaks down your translating background and language skills. It further wins them over by including a key achievement with numbers to quantify your abilities.

A resume objective is the better option when you have little or no experience. This introductory paragraph focuses on your career goals. However, it still provides them with a numbered accomplishment to allow you to stand out as a top translation candidate.

Pro Tip: Though they’ll read the heading statement first, write it last. With this strategy, you’ll be able to come up with better morsels of information to include after you’ve written the rest of the translator resume.

3. Create the Perfect Translator Job Description for a Resume

Time to show them you can #i18n like it’s nobody’s business—

How?

By knowing how to describe work experience on a resume most effectively.

To turn in a translator job description that’s davvero eccellente:

• Add your most recent job first, and follow that with the one before it in reverse-chronological order.
• Place job titles on top, employment dates below that, the agency’s name, and up to 6 bullet points detailing translation-relevant job responsibilities.
• Start each bullet point entry using action words (e.g., globalized, localized, etc.).
• Use numbered accomplishments to prove you’re the best translator they could hire.
• Tailor your resume to one specific translation job. Like a text converted via Google Translate, translation employers hate generic resumes.

Pro Tip: Are you preparing a resume for the first job as a translator? You still have translation-relevant tasks. Just impress them with job responsibilities related to project management, accuracy, etc.

4. Make Your Translator Resume Education Section Shine

As a specialized job requiring intense precision and training, hiring managers for translator jobs place high value on the education in a resume.

So—

Keep these rules in mind to make an education section they’ll admire:

• Start with your most advanced degree, and go back from there.
• Include your major, the school name and location, graduation date, and relevant coursework.
• To really impress them, include extras you might have, such as Latin honors or publications.
• Don’t add high school on your resume if you’ve completed a college degree.

Pro Tip: What is relevant coursework for translation jobs? Aside from any specialized classes dealing directly with translations, include project management, cultural studies, and classes related to the language pair you deal with.

5. Highlight Your Translating Skills on a Resume

From 2016 through 2026, translation and interpretation jobs will increase by a whopping 18% in the United States.

That’s more than 12,000 translators to compete against.

So—

Whether for a medical translator job or a legal translation job, choose the right translator skills to wow them with on your resume:

20+ Most Important Skills For Translators

• Cultural Awareness
• Cultural Intelligence
• Multitasking Skills
• Analysis & Research
• Self-Management
• Self-Motivation
• Consecutive Interpretations
• Simultaneous Interpretations
• Creative Writing Skills
• Copywriting & Copyediting
• Adherence to Deadlines
• Accountability
• Excellent Verbal, Non-Verbal, and Written Communication
• Decision Making Skills
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Teamwork Skills
• Creative Thinking Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Project Management Skills

• Technical Skills

But—

Every translating job is different, so they’ll each require different skills.

So don’t just take our list word-for-word.

Rather, here’s a better way:

• Write down the various professional skills you have connected with translation jobs, including hard and soft skills alike.
• Find perfect keywords for a resume by looking at the job ad’s requirements section.
• Add skills you have which you find also in the job requirements section to your resume.

Pro Tip: You won’t be able to fit it on your resume, but include samples of your past translation work along with your resume and cover letter. This is a way to prove how skilled you are in translation without just saying it.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add Language Proficiency to Your Translator Resume

Your language skills on a resume are super important for translation jobs (obviously).

That’s why we’re placing the language section just under the resume heading, to give it some prime real estate.

Here’s how to nail the resume language skills section:

• List languages in order of your proficiency level, from highest to lowest.
• If there are regional variations of a language, add the one in which you are familiar in parentheses, e.g., Arabic (Egyptian), German (Swiss).
• Use a standardized language proficiency level framework from LinkedIn, ILR, CEFR, or ACTFL—don’t make up your own!

Pro Tip: Language skills are skills, but don’t group them with your other translation skills. List languages in their own section to ensure they get the viewing time they deserve.

7. Add Other Sections to Your Translator Resume

You have all the basics and necessities on your translation resume template.

However—

If you really want to stand out as a translation job applicant, add some extra sections.

There are several good options for a translator resume:

• Language or translation memberships
• Translation projects
• Professional achievements
• Personal interests
• Resume volunteer work
• Licenses and certifications

8. Attach a Translator Cover Letter to Your Resume

Are cover letters necessary?

Yes.

Most hiring managers want a cover letter for a job application.

So—

Here’s how to make a cover letter for translation jobs they’ll appreciate:

• Figure out the format of a cover letter prior to writing.
• Start with a powerful cover letter introduction.
• Talk up your language skills and translation experience.
• Add key achievements to prove your value to the agency.
• Finish by ending a cover letter with a strong call to action.

We’ve got more on what to include in a cover letter, the perfect length of a cover letter, and more of the best cover letter advice.

Have a look!

Pro Tip: As you prepare for a job interview, remember to follow up on the job application two or three days you send it in.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Do you have any questions on writing a translator resume? Having trouble with your sections on language skills, translation certifications, or job experience? Get at us in the comments below, and thanks for reading!