As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) offers prospective employers a glimpse at your professional qualifications and background, and it’s important to present yourself in the best possible light while remaining truthful about your accomplishments. A well-written résumé can catapult you to the top of the list of candidates, while an uninspiring one will likely end up in the trash. Read on for some résumé writing tips for translators.
Include Basic Information
Every translator’s résumé should include basic personal and contact information including first and last name, physical address, phone number, and email address. Leave off details such as marital status, religion, or political affiliation; such information is unnecessary and may be used as grounds for discrimination during the hiring process.
Check and Double-Check
In the field of translation, where attention to detail plays a critical role, don’t be guilty of forwarding potential employers a résumé riddled with spelling or grammatical errors. Thoroughly proofread your résumé, and, if possible, send it to a trusted colleague for additional review.
Keep It Simple
Hiring personnel spend a limited amount of time reviewing each résumé, so it’s important to try to keep things concise. The majority of translators – and particularly those just starting out – should be able to summarize their qualifications and experience in a single page.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
If you have a translation certification or degree but minimal work experience, lead off with the information about your education. Conversely, if you can boast years of translation experience but little to no formal training in the field, make a point to highlight your work experience first.
Customize Your Résumé and Cover Letter
If you’re applying for a job as a legal translator, make sure your résumé emphasizes your experience with this particular type of translation. Now is not the time to highlight your excellent skills as a technical translator. Include a well-crafted, customized cover letter for the target position that further promotes your skills and qualifications.
As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) offers prospective employers a glimpse at your professional qualifications and background, and it’s important to present yourself in the best possible light while remaining truthful about your accomplishments. A well-written résumé can catapult you to the top of the list of candidates, while an uninspiring one will likely end up in the trash. Read on for some résumé writing tips for translators.
Include Basic Information
Every translator’s résumé should include basic personal and contact information including first and last name, physical address, phone number, and email address. Leave off details such as marital status, religion, or political affiliation; such information is unnecessary and may be used as grounds for discrimination during the hiring process.
Check and Double-Check
In the field of translation, where attention to detail plays a critical role, don’t be guilty of forwarding potential employers a résumé riddled with spelling or grammatical errors. Thoroughly proofread your résumé, and, if possible, send it to a trusted colleague for additional review.
Keep It Simple
Hiring personnel spend a limited amount of time reviewing each résumé, so it’s important to try to keep things concise. The majority of translators – and particularly those just starting out – should be able to summarize their qualifications and experience in a single page.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
If you have a translation certification or degree but minimal work experience, lead off with the information about your education. Conversely, if you can boast years of translation experience but little to no formal training in the field, make a point to hig
As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) offers prospective employers a glimpse at your professional qualifications and background, and it’s important to present yourself in the best possible light while remaining truthful about your accomplishments. A well-written résumé can catapult you to the top of the list of candidates, while an uninspiring one will likely end up in the trash. Read on for some résumé writing tips for translators.
Include Basic Information
Every translator’s résumé should include basic personal and contact information including first and last name, physical address, phone number, and email address. Leave off details such as marital status, religion, or political affiliation; such information is unnecessary and may be used as grounds for discrimination during the hiring process.
Check and Double-Check
In the field of translation, where attention to detail plays a critical role, don’t be guilty of forwarding potential employers a résumé riddled with spelling or grammatical errors. Thoroughly proofread your résumé, and, if possible, send it to a trusted colleague for additional review.
Keep It Simple
Hiring personnel spend a limited amount of time reviewing each résumé, so it’s important to try to keep things concise. The majority of translators – and particularly those just starting out – should be able to summarize their qualifications and experience in a single page.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
If you have a translation certification or degree but minimal work experience, lead off with the information about your education. Conversely, if you can boast years of translation experience but little to no formal training in the field, make a point to highlight your work experience first.
Customize Your Résumé and Cover Letter
If you’re applying for a job as a legal translator, make sure your résumé emphasizes your experience with this particular type of translation. Now is not the time to highlight your excellent skills as a technical translator. Include a well-crafted, customized cover letter for the target position that further promotes your skills and qualifications.
hlight your work experience first.
Customize Your Résumé and Cover Letter
If you’re applying for a job as a legal translator, make sure your résumé emphasizes your experience with this particular type of translation. Now is not the time to highlight your excellent skills as a technical translator. Include a well-crafted, customized cover letter for the target position that further promotes your skills and qualifications.
What’s your attitude to objective statements on résumés? I’ve seen a lot of American résumés use them, which is different from Russian conventions (my home country). However, one of my translator professors recently advised us against including it in the résumé, since our language pair and specialization already tell a potential employer that we want to be a translator.