Translator CV: free template, example, & guide
Translate your Translator CV from bland to appealing by using our guide below.
Are you a Translator who is having trouble finding the right words to create a CV that can catch the attention of hiring managers?
Crafting a curriculum vitae isn’t always easy, and should be approached with the same attention to detail that you apply in your translations.
That’s where we can step in and help you translate your qualifications into a successful application.
By using our CV builder with AI capabilities along with the following advice, you’ll be able to create a CV in a matter of minutes.
In this article, you’ll learn how to:
- Make a CV that highlights your unique translation skills and experiences, regardless of your career stage
- Draft a personal statement that represents your professional profile
- Include the ideal skills, experience, and certifications in your CV to appeal to different potential employers
- Understand how to lay out your CV
Keep reading to discover how to create a CV that effectively tells your professional story and opens doors to new opportunities.
Translator CV example
Before breaking down each section, it’s a good idea to review a Translator CV sample to see what your curriculum should look like.
Jane Doe
Translator
123 Language Street, London, UK, SW1 1AA
Phone: +44 7123 456 789 | Email: jane.doe@randomemail.com
Personal Statement
Dedicated and detail-oriented Translator with over 5 years of experience in French to English translations, specialising in legal and technical documents. Known for delivering accurate and culturally sensitive translations, enhancing communication and understanding between diverse parties. Seeking to leverage my expertise and linguistic skills to contribute to the global outreach of a dynamic organisation.
Experience
Senior Translator | ABC Translation Services, London, UK | Jan 2019 – Present
- Translated over 300,000 words of legal and technical documentation from French to English, achieving a 98% client satisfaction rate.
- Led a team of 4 Translators in a major localisation project for an international tech firm, ensuring cultural appropriateness and linguistic accuracy.
- Developed a streamlined translation process using CAT tools, improving project turnaround time by 25%.
Freelance Translator | Self-Employed | Jun 2017 – Dec 2019
- Completed a wide range of translation projects including literary works and business contracts, translating over 150,000 words.
- Collaborated with non-profit organisations to translate educational materials, contributing to community development initiatives.
- Maintained consistent communication with clients to ensure translations met specific needs and expectations.
Education
MA in Translation Studies
University of XYZ, London, UK | 2016
BA in French and English Literature
University of ABC, Manchester, UK | 2014
Skills
- Proficient in French and English, with a focus on legal and technical translations.
- Skilled in CAT tools and translation software for efficient project management.
- Strong research skills to ensure accurate use of terminology.
- Excellent time management, able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Certifications
- Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) – Chartered Institute of Linguists
Languages
- English (Native)
- French (C2)
- Spanish (B2)
Experienced Translator CV layout
If you’re an experienced Translator, you’ll likely have achievements that will look great on your CV.
The question is how to structure the information on your application.
A chronological CV layout is particularly effective, offering a clear narrative from the latest to the oldest experiences of your professional development in translation.
Here’s why a chronological format is Ideal:
- It showcases your evolving language skills and deepening cultural insights, which are crucial in translation.
- Highlights your progression in specific translation areas, such as technical, legal, or literary fields.
- Ideal for detailing significant translation projects and any notable accomplishments or recognitions in your career.
- It makes verifying your career growth and experience straightforward for clients and agencies.
By formatting your CV like this, you can show how your translations have made an impact, whether through accuracy, creativity, or cultural sensitivity.
Entry-level Translator CV format
What if you haven’t had a steady Translator position yet?
For those of you beginning a translation career or with limited experience, a functional, or combination CV layout can also work.
This type of format will focus on the following:
- Language skills: This format highlights your linguistic abilities, crucial in translation, including any language courses or certifications.
- Education: Ideal for showcasing translation-related education, coursework, or projects.
- Internship and volunteer work: Useful for featuring relevant non-translation experiences where language skills were applied.
- Job-specific customisation: Easily adaptable to match specific job descriptions, emphasising your most pertinent skills and experiences.
If you’re a Translator with little to no work history, you can present your potential effectively, even with limited direct experience in the field, whether you choose to focus on transferable skills or relevant internships and training.
Crafting a personal statement for Translators
You need to grab an employer’s attention right away. The best way to do that is with your personal statement.
It quickly introduces your linguistic skills and professional history in a way that stands out to employers.
However, experienced and entry-level Translators will need to approach them in different ways.
For experienced Translators
As an experienced Translator, you should write about your proven track record, specific language expertise, and any notable projects or clients.
Here’s an example:
Accomplished Translator with over 12 years of experience in the literary and legal translation sectors, specialising in English-Spanish and French-Spanish language pairs, with a portfolio encompassing several published works and confidential legal documents. Committed to linguistic excellence and keen to bring my depth of experience and attention to detail to a dynamic, multicultural organisation.
For entry-level Translators
If you’re new to the field, focus on your language proficiency, education, and any relevant internships or projects. Emphasise your enthusiasm for the industry and your eagerness to grow professionally.
Here’s a Translator CV personal statement sample with no experience:
Newly qualified Translator with a First-Class Honours degree in French and Spanish from the University of London, complemented by a six-month internship in translation at XYZ Agency. Eager to apply my academic knowledge and internship experience in a professional setting, contributing to the success of a vibrant translation team.
In both cases, your statement should be a blend of your professional achievements and your goals, customised to show off your unique fit for the role in the translation industry.
Tailoring your CV for different translation specialisations
Different fields need Translators, so if you tailor your curriculum to a specific field, you’ll give yourself a much better chance of landing an interview.
Here are some tips and strategies for doing just that.
- Identify and understand the unique skills each specialisation demands.
- Emphasise experiences directly related to the specialisation. For example, medical translation, highlight any medical document translations you’ve completed.
- Provide concrete project examples relevant to the specialisation, like translating legal contracts or localising medical software.
If you personalise your CV to be as specific as possible to what the job description wants, you’ll have little trouble standing out from the crowd.
Specialised Translator skills for your CV
To help you tailor your CV even more and get noticed, you should make your skills as unique as possible to the position’s area of translation.
Here are some unique examples of skills you should try to include throughout your CV:
- Technical translation: If you have experience in technical translation, specify the types of documents you’ve worked with.
- Legal translation: For legal translation, highlight your understanding of legal jargon and document types, like “Experienced in translating contracts and legal agreements in Spanish-English pairs.”
- Medical translation: If applicable, mention your expertise in medical texts.
- Literary translation and localization: For literary Translators, focus on your creative translation skills and any published works. In localization, emphasise your ability to adapt content culturally and linguistically.
Translator certifications to include in your CV
Certifications can significantly enhance your CV, proving expertise and commitment to the profession.
Below are some certifications that would boost your qualifications:
- Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) – Chartered Institute of Linguists
- Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI) Certification
- Metropolitan Police Test (MPT) Certification
- Institute of Linguists Educational Trust (IoLET) Affiliate Membership
- BA/B.Sc. in Translation or Interpreting – Various UK Universities
- MA in Translation Studies – Various UK Universities
If you don’t have one of these certifications, they can help you a lot, especially if you are still an entry-level applicant.
In your CV, create a dedicated section for certifications to ensure they stand out. Here’s an example:
Certifications
- Diploma in Translation (DipTrans), French to English – Chartered Institute of Linguists, 2021. Specialisation in Business and Legal Translation.
How to write an experience section on a CV for a Translator job
The experience section is another hugely important part of your CV, displaying your translation expertise and achievements.
Here’s how to structure this section effectively, whether you have worked as a Translator for over 10 years or have only completed an internship.
Structuring the Experience Section:
- Chronological order: List your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.
- Role specifics: For each position, include your job title, the organisation’s name, location, and the dates of your employment.
- Project highlights: Focus on specific translation projects you’ve worked on. Mention the type of content (legal, medical, technical, etc.) and the languages involved.
- Quantifiable achievements: Where possible, use numbers to quantify your achievements, such as the number of words translated, projects handled, or efficiency improvements.
- Skills utilised: Highlight key translation skills applied in each role, such as localisation, technical translation, or client liaison.
Review the following example to have a better idea of how to summarise your work history:
Senior Translator | XYZ Translation Services, London, UK | Jan 2018 – Present
- Translated over 500,000 words of technical documentation from German to English, maintaining a 99% client satisfaction rate.
- Led a team of 5 Translators on a large-scale localisation project for a major tech company, completing the project 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
- Developed and implemented a quality assurance protocol, reducing translation errors by 30%.
Key Points
Knowing exactly how to write an effective Translator CV involves highlighting your unique skills and experiences in a logical format. Here are the essential points to consider:
- Write a personal statement: Reflect your translation expertise and passion for languages, customised to your career stage.
- Highlight skills and certifications: Emphasise specific translation skills and relevant certifications like DipTrans.
- Customise for specialisations: Align your CV with the requirements of different translation fields, such as legal or medical.
- Structure the experience section effectively: Focus on translation projects and roles, using quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your impact.
By using tools like our builder and CV templates, you can also cut down on the time it takes to personalise these parts of your application.
Remember to be honest, detailed, and precise for the best chance of success.
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