Interpreter Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Interpreter resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Interpreters are the bridge between people who don’t share a language or culture. They help people understand each other in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, schools, courts, and businesses. If you’re comfortable working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, have great listening skills, and are fluent in multiple languages, this could be the perfect job for you.
Here’s some tips and an example to help you write your interpreter resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write an Interpreter Resume
Here’s how to write an interpreter resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will read. And they’re the best way to showcase your experience and skills.
But many candidates make the mistake of using generic bullet points that don’t really tell a story or provide any context about their experience.
Instead, you should use your bullet points to tell a story about your experience. And that story should be as specific as possible. For example, rather than saying you “interpreted for deaf clients,” you could say you “interpreted for deaf clients in a hospital setting, using American Sign Language and spoken English to facilitate communication between patients and doctors.”
The second bullet point provides much more detail about the setting and the type of work you did. And it also provides some context about the type of clients you worked with.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a job as an interpreter, your resume is often scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This system looks for terms that are specific to the job, like “interpreting” or “Spanish.” If your resume doesn’t have enough of these keywords, your application might not make it past the first round.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of common interpreter keywords to help you identify the skills and experience you should include on your resume:
- Translation
- Interpreting
- Language Translation
- Language Services
- Translation Services
- International Relations
- International Law
- Teaching
- Diplomacy
- Customer Service
- Legal Translation
- Legal Writing
- Negotiation
- Teamwork
- Public Speaking
- Organization Skills
- Microsoft Access
- Research
- Communication
- Social Media
- Intercultural Communication
- Tourism
- Event Management
- Translation Editing
- Tourism Promotion
- Public Relations
- Advertising
- Copywriting
- Management
- Event Planning
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As an interpreter, you rely on your proficiency in various computer programs and systems to do your job. So it’s important to list your technical skills prominently on your resume. This will show that you are a valuable candidate who is familiar with the essential tools and systems used in your field.
Recruiters are looking for interpreters who are proficient in specific translation software, such as SDL Trados, memoQ, and Wordfast. They also want to see that you have experience with specific file formats, such as XML and HTML. So be sure to list all of your relevant technical skills prominently on your resume.