Translator Resume Example & Writing Guide

Translators are an integral part of any organization’s global reach. They bridge the gap between cultures and countries, allowing organizations to expand their footprint into new markets.

Translators can work in many different industries, creating content for websites, apps, marketing materials, instruction manuals, legal documents, medical records, and more. Some are full-time employees who work directly for their employer, while others are freelancers who work on a contract basis for multiple clients at once.

Regardless of which type of translator you want to become, it’s important to have a resume that highlights your skills and experience in the industry. Follow these tips and resume example to write a compelling translator resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers everywhere.

How to Write a Translator Resume

Here’s how to write a translator resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you can use them to demonstrate your knowledge and experience by providing specific examples.

For example, rather than saying you “translated documents from Spanish to English,” you could say that you “translated 200-page medical report from Spanish to English, including patient charts, diagnostic data, and treatment recommendations, ensuring accuracy and adherence to client’s style guide.”

Notice how the second bullet point is more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the outcome of your work.

Related: What Is a Translator? How to Become One

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for a translator role, your resume is likely to be screened by an applicant tracking system (ATS). This program will search your resume for specific keywords related to the job opening. If you don’t have the right keywords on your resume, the ATS might not rank it high enough to be seen by the hiring manager.

The best way to make sure your resume contains the right keywords is to carefully read through each job posting and take note of the skills, experience, and qualities they list as requirements. Then, use those same terms throughout your resume. Here are some common keywords for translator roles:

Showcase Your Technical Skills

Translators need to be proficient in a variety of computer programs in order to do their job effectively. They use these programs to translate texts from one language to another, to edit and proofread translations, and to manage projects. Some of the most commonly used programs are Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Suite (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar), and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator). Translators also need to be familiar with translation-specific software programs, like Trados Studio and MemoQ.

Related: How Much Does a Translator Make?

Remember The Basics

As you’re writing your resume, you’ll want to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.

Make Your Resume Easy to Scan

There are a few things you can do to make your resume easier to read and understand quickly. Aligning everything to the left, using a standard font type and size, and keeping bullets under 2 lines will help make your resume more skimmable. You should also try to leave some white space on the page to help the recruiter easily scan through your information.

Be Concise

There is no set length for a resume, but it is typically best to keep it to one or two pages long. This allows you to highlight your most relevant experience and skills without taking up too much of an employer’s time. When trimming down your resume, focus on removing irrelevant information and making your content more concise.

Proofread

Proofreading your resume is important in order to make sure it looks professional and error-free. Spell checking is a must, as are punctuation and grammar checks. It is also helpful to have someone else proofread your resume for you, as they may catch mistakes that you have missed. Beware of easily confused words, and make sure that your tense is consistent throughout the resume.

Consider Including a Summary

If you want to make a good first impression on potential employers, a resume summary statement is a great way to do it. It provides a snapshot of your skills and experience, and it can be a helpful way to show how your past experience will translate into the role you’re hoping to land. When writing your summary statement, be sure to focus on your skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role you’re applying for, and try to keep it to just a couple of sentences.

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