Best Translator Resume Examples & Templates
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A translator converts written material from one language to another. Typically, a translator will take a document written in one language and convert it into a document written in another language, while ensuring accuracy and clarity of the text.
Want a great translator resume? You’ve come to the right place! Our translator resume examples and guide to writing a perfect resumefor a translator job will help you make the most of your written communication and research skills to ensure you stand out to employers.
Start by editing this sample translator resume, or explore our library of customizable resume templates to find the best translator resume template for you.
Translator resume example (text version)
Chelsea Wu
Edison, NJ 08818
555-555-555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Detail-oriented translator with a highly developed understanding of Chinese language and culture. Skilled in quickly and accurately translating written documents and audio recordings. Excellent listening and communication skills with an organized and systematic approach. Over six years of related expertise.
Work History
July 2018 – Current
JayCare Therapy – Edison, NJ
Translator
- Provide oral translations and interpretations for over 100 mandarin speaking patients in therapy, successfully maintaining pace with native speakers to deliver real-time comprehension.
- Use translation memory software to verify the consistency of translation within documents and improve efficiency.
- Confer with subject matter experts and other colleagues to establish a precise understanding of special terms and translate them appropriately.
November 2016 – June 2018
Language Services Associates, Inc – Edison, NJ
Document Translator
- Listened to an average of 12 video dialogues in mandarin per week and developed translation into the English language to prepare subtitle scripts.
- Provided verbal summaries of documents for immediate use.
- Applied cultural understanding to discern specific meanings beyond literally written words.
March 2013 – March 2016
SOS International LLC – New Brunswick, NJ
Bilingual Receptionist
- Answered over 20 calls daily to respond to inquiries and transfer calls to the correct departments and personnel.
- Provided guests with above-and-beyond service, including making outside venue reservations and setting up tours.
- Provided cultural input to speakers to help parties who did not speak similar languages communicate with and understand one another.
Skills
- Document review
- Rich vocabulary
- Transcribing
- Proofreading skills
- Cultural expertise
- Communication
- Organization
- Attention to detail
Education
- May 2014
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, NJ
Bachelor of Arts Communications - Minored in Chinese Language and Literature
5 essentials of a top translator resume
Contact details
Place your contact information at the top of the page. It must include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and professional website, add them as well.
Personal statement
A professional summary is a concise, three-to-five-sentence statement that tells the hiring manager who you are and what you bring to the table. Include some of your top skills in your personal statement, along with one or two notable accomplishments.
Here’s a good example of a strong professional summary for a translator resume:
“Professional translator with over fivve years of experience providing accurate and detailed translations of documents and materials in both English and Spanish. Proven ability to accurately interpret spoken language. Skilled in developing and implementing effective translation strategies, maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines. Highly disciplined and organized, with excellent written and verbal communication skills and a commitment to providing quality translations.”
Skills
Create a skills section to display skills for a translator on your resume so hiring managers can see them at a glance. Add a bulleted list of five to eight job-relevant skills in this section. Include hard skills such as writing and soft skills such as attention to detail.
Your skills might include:
- The ability to accurately translate written and spoken material between languages.
- Proficient in using translation software and technology.
- Knowledge of cultural nuances and regional dialects.
- Exceptional listening and comprehension skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to interpret and provide detailed feedback.
- Detail-oriented with a strong focus on accuracy.
- High level of cultural awareness.
- Ability to work under pressure and adhere to tight deadlines.
- Flexible and able to adapt to changing requirements.
Work history
A translator resume must include a job history section. In reverse-chronological order, list your current and previous employers and provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for them, plus two or three measurable achievements.
Here are some examples of possible measurable achievements for a translator resume:
- Translated over 500 documents with a 99% accuracy rate.
- Completed 10 projects in a three-month period with a high level of customer satisfaction.
- Increased the speed of translations by 10% and improved accuracy by 20% by using specialized translation software.
If you’re writing a resume with no work experience, then use this section to highlight extracurricular activities, coursework, presentations, volunteer experience and community service.
Education
A resume for a translator job must include an education section, even if you don’t have a diploma or a degree. Using bullet points, list the names of the schools you attended and the years you graduated. If you did not graduate, list the school you attended and some of your classes.
The educational requirements for a translator vary depending on the field of translation and the particular job. Generally, a bachelor’s degree in a language, linguistics, or translation is required. For some positions, such as literary or legal translation, a master’s degree may be required. In addition, translators must be fluent in at least two languages and have excellent writing and communication skills. Professional certification is often preferred.
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Action words for a stand-out translator resume
Action words and numbers strengthen resumes because they tell hiring managers exactly what you did and your impact.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for a translator resume:
- Listen
- Provide
- Translate
- Travel
- Interview
- Demonstrate
- Review
- Revise
- Research
- Write
- Edit
- Listen
- Analyze
Browse our library of hundreds of sample resumes for more translator resume examples to help you write the perfect resume.
Top skills for a translator resume
Review the job description closely and match the required skills to the skills and traits that fit you.
Top translator skills for a resume might include:
- Research
- Content editing
- Language fluency
- Computer-assisted translation (CAT)
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Presentation
- Active listening
- Reading comprehension
- Critical thinking
- Attention to detail
Need a translator resume now? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to create a professional resume in minutes! Get inspired with our translator resume samples, then fill in a matching template with our expert phrases. You make edits on the fly, then download your finished resume, save it in one of the standard resume formats and send it to your target employer. It’s that easy!
Certifications for a translator resume
Most translation jobs in the United States do not require professional certifications or licenses, but having one or more on your resume for a translator job will help you shine.
Luckily, there are some certification opportunities for translators to give you a leg up, including:
- American Translator Association (ATA) Certification
- Core Certification Health Care Interpreter
- United Nations Translation Accreditation
- Federal Court Interpreter Certification
- Certified Translation Professional
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Translator resume FAQ
What is the right format for a translator resume?
The resume format you use for a resume for a translator depends on your experience and goals. If you have a few years of experience, choose the combination resume format, which highlights your work history and skills. If you’re just breaking into the industry, use the functional resume format, which focuses on your industry-related skills and training. If you have more than five years of experience, try the chronological resume format, which leans heavily on your past work achievements.
No matter what resume first you use, you need a unique resume. Here are some ideas for making your translator resumes stand out:
- Fluency in more than two languages.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Knowledge of translation software and tools.
- Familiarity with the cultural nuances of different language and dialects.
- Ability to localize content for different target audiences.
- Excellent proofreading and editing skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to research and fact-check information.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines.
- Knowledge of the translation industry and industry trends.
What are some tips for crafting a great translator resume?
A translator resume will vary from person to person, but pay attention to these important guidelines:
- Ensure your translator resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be one inch on all sides and line space should be single or 1.5 inches.
- Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
- Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.
- Tailor your translator resume to the job. For example, if the job requirements are for a sign language interpreter, you should probably be skilled in American Sign Language (ASL) and list it on your resume.
How do you include keywords in a translator resume?
Employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes and look for keywords in your translator resume that indicate you’re the right fit for the job. To get the correct keywords into your document, analyze the job posting and note specific attributes that the employer is looking for, such as “oral translation at parent/teacher meetings” or “understanding of diverse cultures.”
In your summary, skills and work history sections, describe yourself in ways that match up with these keywords. For example, you could list “cultural sensitivity” as a skill, or mention a work experience in which you provided oral translation for a multicultural conference.
Do’s and don’ts for building a translator resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your writing abilities and experience. For example, “Translated 200,000 words of legal documents from French to English in a 6 month period.”
- Use action words such as localize, interpret and adapt to make an impact on your translator resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target translator job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your translator resume.
- Format your translator resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your writing experience and skills.
- Boast that you’re the “best translator ever.” Instead, showcase job-relevent achievements like “Assisted in the translation of marketing materials for 10 international clients, resulting in a 15% increase in sales.”
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience not relevant to writing.
- Forget to proofread. A translator resume will be discarded immediately.
Top 4 tips for acing a translator interview
Research first.
To make a great first impression, learn about the potential employer’s history, goals, values and people before your first interview. Talking about the company knowledgeably shows genuine interest, dedication and commitment, which hiring managers like to see.
- Look for a company that provides clear and specific guidelines about the kind of translations they require, such as the language, style, and tone.
- Make sure the company has a dedicated team of experienced and professional translators who can provide accurate translations.
- Ensure that the company has an understanding of the cultural differences and nuances between languages and can provide culturally-sensitive translations.
- Check to see if the company has a system in place to review and approve translations before they are published or used.
- Ask whether the company provides any support or resources to help you stay up to date with new terminology or industry-specific language.
Practice makes perfect!
To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
- How would your coworkers describe you?
- Describe a time when you needed to cope with a stressful situation.
Prepare for translator-specific interview questions, such as:
- What language(s) do you specialize in?
- What experience do you have translating in the specific industry?
- How familiar are you with the cultural nuances of the language you are translating?
- Do you have any experience with localizing content for our market?
- What methods do you use to ensure accuracy when translating?
- How do you handle difficult or unfamiliar terms you come across while translating?
- Are you familiar with any translation software or tools?
- Describe a situation where you successfully translated a difficult or technical document.
- What do you do to stay up to date on language trends and translation best practices?
Think back to some of your recent work experiences and write down one or two possible answers as you review potential questions. Then ask a friend or relative to help you practice. Ask your interview partner for a review and work on improving your weaknesses. You’ll feel confident and ready when it’s time for the real thing.
Ask questions.
Your interviewer will likely ask if you have any questions at the end of your session — and they will expect you to have at least two or three questions for them.
Some questions you might ask for a job as a translator might include:
- What is your target audience?
- Do you have specific cultural or regional requirements for translations?
- Do you have style or tone requirements for translations?
- Are there any company guidelines or processes to check for translation quality? quality?
- What tools or software do you have for help with translating?
Gather references.
Have professional references ready if the hiring manager requests them after your interview. Being prepared in advance can make a great impression. Have a list of two or three former coworkers and a manager who can speak highly of your job qualifications.
If you are applying for your first full-time job, ask a former teacher, volunteer coordinator, classmate, or community leader who can vouch for your character and skills.
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Translator Resume Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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