Translator Resume Example & Writing Guide

Language is what makes our world go around, but in a global marketplace it is critical that translations continue to convey the original meaning. We've all read the small print on a kid’s toy or consumable good and recognized that it definitely wasn’t written by a native speaker. In this case it does not affect our use of the product, but there are many situations where a forensically accurate translation is critical. Whether they are working in the medical, technology, education or corporate fields (among many others), professional translators are the people who have the job of using different words to convey the same meaning. Grammatical structures and the patterns of language will vary, but they have to find a way of getting the message across to the audience so that it has the right effect. A translator resume must do the same. 

In a global world, therefore, proficient (human) translators are in huge demand. In this resume guide, we will explore the aspects of what makes a great translator and how you go about showcasing your translation approach in your resume. You have to be able to explain how you weave your linguistic magic. When it is your job to have a deep appreciation of the written word, people will expect your resume to be a masterpiece of language. However, it isn’t always easy to know how to write about yourself, so this guide will show you how to:

• Write a translator resume that showcases your linguistic ability.
• Engender a high level of trust that you can convey clients' messaging to a global audience.
• Help you choose the right words to sail past the ATS keyword test.
• Format your resume to put your words at the forefront of the action.

Along with our 350+ resume examples and resume builder tool, we will help you to make your experience jump off the page.

What does a translator do?

The job of a translator is full of nuance and subtlety. There is no mathematical formula for success and no “right answer” in any given translation, so the art of conveying meaning is down to a meticulous attention to detail and a constant search for content and tone. At every stage of the translation process, translators place themselves between their client (the source language) and their readers (the target language). They are the conduit for the change in language, so their resume should reflect their flexibility of thought and clarity of understanding. 

You can’t start translating a text until you first understand what it’s trying to say, so patience and intellectual rigor have to come across strongly in any translator’s resume. If translators put quality at the top of their “to do” list at the start of every day, that will show in the end product. Translation often involves huge amounts of text, and software can definitely play a part in the output, but it’s human input that can make all the difference. 

Translators need to have a dispassionate ability to communicate the meaning of the original text without adding their own level of meaning. They might be translating an opinionated political piece or a scientific paper that might say something controversial – their job is to translate the words as they are written rather than create a new meaning. This is far from easy. In a resume, translators need to come across as methodical and pragmatic individuals, with a deeply human feeling for how words are received but a simultaneous ability to distance themselves from their equally human views. There are three basic considerations for a translator resume:

1. Offer a future employer an insight into the breadth of your functional and industry experience.
2. Talk about how your take on the translation process positively impacts customer satisfaction.
3. Demonstrate your technical abilities, including the use of software to achieve the best possible results.

How to write a translator resume

The first step in writing your translator resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Getting your resume past the ATS

Most larger employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) – electronic gatekeepers that filter resumes for important keywords describing the job qualifications the employer is looking for. Resumes that lack the necessary keywords will often by rejected without ever having been reviewed by human beings. Keywords for a translator will include the sorts of translation software that they use, the industries in which they work and some of key industry phrases. It is a mistake to write a simple resume and assume that people know what medical translators (for example) do and how they go about their work. To pass the keyword test, your resume has to be full of the latest industry-related language. Competition is high for translators, so you can be sure that these ATS systems will be used. Make sure that your perfectly good resume is not discarded before a human has even seen it.

Choosing the best resume format for a translator

The resume format you choose should allow your projects to take center stage and highlight your deep expertise in the relevant industry. There are no specific rules about which format to choose, but we can suggest some guiding principles. 

First, ensure that it’s visually clean, easy to read and symmetrical. You will have a lot to say about your achievements, but the starring moments of your career will be lost if it is cluttered. Second, don’t make it too densely technical in any sections. A recruiter without a deep understanding might skip over to more readable parts. Including technical terms is good for the ATS, but make sure that they are integrated into the story of your career. Third, most professionals have success with the reverse chronological format, meaning their resume begins with their most recent experience and works backwards. 

Our template collection has a wide range of designs: check out the Professional and Modern template categories for a great professional image. 

Resume summary example

Translation is the art of getting across your message as accurately as possible in the least amount of words possible. No one wants to read a rambling sentence when three words will suffice. This art of effective brevity will be on show in a translator’s summary section. Given this subconscious desire from the client for succinct communication, it is a great idea for a translator’s summary to be brief and to the point. It might seem counterintuitive when you have so much to say about yourself, but you won’t be doing yourself any favors with ten lines of rambling copy when five would suffice.

First, make sure that you cover the industries and functions of the employer in question. As translators have so many areas of expertise, while it is important to highlight your broad experience, don’t include too many details that aren’t relevant for the company that is reading your resume. Second, talk about the software that you use and how you go about your translations. Employers are looking for translators who are at the cutting edge of their craft and who make the most of all of the available tech. 

Translators do not work in a vacuum and they often have to work closely with clients (and other experts) to uncover context and select the best possible language. A translator shut away in a room with a bunch of software will not necessarily come up with the best final product. The best translators are sponges – soaking up the experience of those they work with and pouring it into their translations. 

Employment history sample

The employment history of a translator needs to encompass all translation-related work experience, or at least as much as there’s room for. Some of this may not be directly relevant to the job in question, as the nature of this work can vary greatly, but a packed resume will be an indicator of a translator in demand. Translation work can sometimes be intermittent depending on the cycle of the global economy, so it is vital that the employment history section is as packed with projects and detail as possible. You need to portray yourself as someone who has had a constant flow of projects – and ideally has been able to pick and choose what roles you have done. A translator who is desperate for work is probably not a very good translator, so show that you have been in demand. Include as much detail as you can for each employer and use bullet points and powerful formats to bring out the detail of your biggest projects.

Your employment history should start with the role that is most recent, and your most recent roles should generally contain the lion’s share of the detail because they tend to be the most relevant. No one will care what you did for an employer 20 years ago, but they will certainly care if you have carried out a piece of translation work that is pertinent to the employer's current needs. If you are doing a detailed description of a situation, you might consider using the STAR method; S - the situation that you were in; T – the task(s) you had; A the actions/strategy that you used; R- the result you achieved. See the attached resume example for an idea of how to present your employment experience.

CV skills example

Translators have a very different job from interpreters, so it's important that your CV reflects this. Interpreting language (orally) is an immediate and dynamic occupation that relies on split-second linguistic decisions and quick wits. A translator, on the other hand, often has an ocean of text to work on, but because the nature of the written word is permanent, even the smallest mistake in the wrong area could ruin things. Their job is the equivalent of running a linguistic marathon, while an interpreter could be compared to a sprinter. 

What CV skills should you include? The most important aspect of a translator’s resume is to showcase their knowledge of the subject matter. It is rare that a legal translator will take on medical translation work and even within the legal field, people will stick to certain functional competencies. When you are translating into your native language (the target language) you have to understand the meaning of words that you are using. Attention to detail is a key skill – no matter what your volume of work, every word matters. Great translators have very specific ways of working with a wide range of translation software and technical assistance – they want to have the time to use their skills where they are most needed and not waste time translating the easy material. 

It goes without saying that translators must have a gift for the written word – they have to produce readable copy and that is incredibly hard to do when also trying to remain faithful to the original text. They need to have a creative mindset – where immediate translations are not possible, they have to find a way of saying what they need to say. Fluency in a number of languages is often a bonus. Lastly, as proofreading is such an important skill, their dedication to accurate and faithful translations has to be paramount. All of these considerations should be included in a translator’s resume, but first they need to ensure that they come up with the right words to pass the ATS test.

Translator resume education example

The education section for a translator is important if you need to prove your theoretical base. A college degree in languages and/or translation is a good start, but there are also official qualifications that all translators will have taken. A bachelor’s degree is typical. You may pursue a degree in foreign language, translation or a related area. Programs you may consider include a bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. in translation, a master’s or Ph.D. in translation studies or a master’s in language literature and translation.

Resume layout and design

Although a translator resume should call attention to your talents with language, visual design still matters. You'll need an effective, easy to read resume that clearly states your experience and accomplishments. 

This means your resume should be eye-catching but not overly flashy; think sleek and streamlined. The goal of the design is to call attention to your words.

Of course, a properly crafted resume takes work—and that's where we come in. Consider using one of our attractive resume templates, which are field-tested and effective. 

Key takeaways for a translator resume

1. Translators must understand and convey the nuance of language and meaning and will be expected to do so in their resume.
2. The market for translators is exploding as more and more businesses operate internationally.
3. Choose your words carefully to target the ATS, which may filter out resumes that don't rank high enough.
4. Save time and empower your translator job hunt with a few easy clicks using our resume examples. Finally, consult other advice here on how to write a resume or cover letter, all written by HR experts.