- What should your translator resume include?
- How can you create a professional summary?
- How should you describe your work experience as a translator?
- Include a fitting translator resume education and certifications section
- Which key skills are relevant for a translator resume?
- How to select the most impactful translator resume template
- Copyable translator resume example
- Key takeaways for writing a translator resume
Recently, U.S. News ranked interpreters and translators as one of the Best Creative and Media Jobs. But, there are only about 7,200 openings for interpreters and translators projected each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With competition fierce, your resume needs to highlight your unique set of skills in language and communication to stand out.
Dive in as we discuss:
What should a translator resume include
Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education)
Adding relevant key skills to your translator resume
Choosing the right resume template for a translator
What should your translator resume include?
Your translator resume should clearly showcase your capabilities in cross-cultural communication, translation, and interpretation. Landing a job will require spelling out your achievements, credentials, and skills converting written or spoken content from one language into another while preserving the original meaning, tone, and intent.
Your translator resume should be broken down into the following categories:
The resume header with your contact information
The resume summary
The employment history section
The resume skills section
The education section
How can you create a professional summary?
Serving as the introduction of your career history, the resume summary should establish your identity, set the tone for the rest of the document, and uniquely position you for translator roles. Before diving into the summary paragraph, use the space after your name and contact information to add a headline that speaks to the type of role you’re targeting. For even more differentiation, add a value proposition directly under your headline.
Specify the languages you speak, any credentials you hold, and the skills you possess that align with translator positions. After the summary, it’s a good idea to include a quick list of core skills most relevant to the translator role. This makes it easy for hiring managers to identify the key skills they’re looking for.
See our adaptable translator resume summary below.
Resourceful, dedicated Japanese-English Interpreter and Translator with comprehensive background in collaborating with leadership, technical departments, international media teams, and other staff to facilitate internal and external multilingual communication. Demonstrated ability in consecutive and simultaneous interpretation for conferences/teleconferences, in-person meetings, and at industry events. Skilled in the translation of complex, technical documents, press releases, international media and PR campaigns, and more. Passionate about providing cross-cultural communication to ensure mutual understanding and sensitivity while supporting company objectives.
How should you describe your work experience as a translator?
The work experience section is where you would outline your past positions along with dates, location, and company names. Recruiters are most interested in what you have done most recently, so list job entries in reverse chronological order.
When providing information about past roles, start with an italicized statement to give the reader an overview of the role for more context. Then, in three to five lines, provide details about your daily duties in a paragraph separate from your achievements. Separating accomplishments helps draw the readers’ eye to the impact you have made. If possible, use numbers and metrics to quantify your accomplishments. Because translation is a field that may not always present itself with quantifiable results, you can focus more on intangible outcomes.
For example:
Enhanced cross-border communication and supported collaborative project execution through translating technical documents from English to Japanese.
Take a look at the adaptable translator resume employment history section below.
Pool Interpreter and Coordinator at Asurion Japan Holdings, Tokyo, Japan 2018 - Present
Serve as interpreter for three operating companies under umbrella corporation.
Rapidly interpret on numerous highly technical topics during meetings of 50-300 participants and lasting multiple hours.
Topics include manufacturing, repair, IT projects, ISMS security updates, remote service support projects, hackathon events, and client location-based sales presentations.
Coordinate interpretation team activities including scheduling, workflow, assignments, and ensuring access to software and resources.
Consult with translation team during lengthy meetings (3+ hours).
Partnered with colleagues to manage interpretations for notable clients, including Docomo and KDDI during internal and external meetings.
Accurately interpreted for an internal meeting with staff members from all company offices; subjects included financial and project management updates.
Interpreter and Translator at Tata Consultancy Services Japan, Tokyo, Japan 2017 - 2018
Served in temporary contract role, providing high-level Japanese-English language interpretation and support for technical team and project staff with client company, Mitsubishi.
Collaborated closely with project team members to provide interpretation and language translation services in support of SAP project planning, management, and launch for major Japanese client.
Liaised with onsite teams and offshore partners (TATA SAP Consultants) to meet deadlines and client-side, end-user goals.
Translated design documents, UT documents, definition documents, and ITA testing evidence as well as meeting materials between Japanese and English.
Provided TRADOS software support and expertise. Maintained terminology database.
Accurately translated complex, technical documents leveraging translation tools ~4 hours daily.
Coordinated closely with on-site translation team to ensure accurate, relevant translations.
Media Relations & Publications Associate at ClassNK/Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, Tokyo, Japan 2014 - 2017
Joined ship classification society to provide Japanese-English translation services in the field of corporate communications and media relations.
Led translation and localisation of materials related to society's Renewable Energy Division.
Developed and translated materials and content for exhibiting at major shipping trade shows and renewable energy events.
Coordinated with foreign media houses and organizations in Asia and Europe to field and respond to inquiries and correspondence in Japanese and English.
Contributed to promoting positive company image in partnership with communications staff; managed and publicized corporate social responsibility activities.
Chosen to attend industry events and trade shows to promote society’s activities with key industry players and global decision makers.
Include a fitting translator resume education and certifications section
In your pursuit of landing a translator position, you may have completed coursework to build your knowledge and expertise. Formal training is a great way to differentiate yourself from other candidates and add credibility. Use this section to showcase any formal education, certifications, or industry trainings you’ve completed. Include the name of the degree, course, certification, or training along with dates of completion.
Master of Science in Translation at Babel University Professional School of Translation, Hawaii, USA
Patent, Technical, and Medical Translation
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
N2 of Japanese Language Proficiency Test: 2010
Which key skills are relevant for a translator resume?
Translators work with documents, books, websites, or spoken communication, to facilitate understanding between people who speak different languages. They must have a deep understanding of the cultural nuances and idioms of both languages, ensuring accurate and culturally appropriate translations.
Some translators specialize in specific fields, such as legal, medical, technical, or literary translation, to provide expertise in those areas. Depending on the specific area you’re focused on, tailor your resume to emphasize specific skills based on the translator niche. If you’re not sure which skills are most important to include, check a few job descriptions to identify key phrases and add them throughout your resume.
It’s common for ATS systems to scan resumes for keywords comparable to what’s in the job description. (To learn more about the ATS, read our article Resume ATS optimization.)
Key skills relevant to a translator role may include:
Language translation
Consecutive and simultaneous interpretation
Proofreading and editing
Translation management
Manual and document translation
Medical, technical, and patent translation
Cross-cultural communications
How to select the most impactful translator resume template
In the translation industry where competition can be fierce, it’s imperative that your resume is well organized and polished. A simple easy-to-read layout makes it easier for recruiters to skim your resume and capture the essence of your career story. Because the translation field touches on a diverse array of cultures, play it safe and stick to a more formal, traditional style with basic fonts, black and white aesthetic and minimal design elements.
Our resume builder features several resume options with templates that fit your unique situation. Find inspiration with our 100+ resume examples.
Copyable translator resume example
Summary example
Resourceful, dedicated Japanese-English Interpreter and Translator with comprehensive background in collaborating with leadership, technical departments, international media teams, and other staff to facilitate internal and external multilingual communication. Demonstrated ability in consecutive and simultaneous interpretation for conferences/teleconferences, in-person meetings, and at industry events. Skilled in the translation of complex, technical documents, press releases, international media and PR campaigns, and more. Passionate about providing cross-cultural communication to ensure mutual understanding and sensitivity while supporting company objectives.
Employment history example
Pool Interpreter and Coordinator at Asurion Japan Holdings, Tokyo, Japan 2018 - Present
Serve as interpreter for three operating companies under umbrella corporation.
Rapidly interpret on numerous highly technical topics during meetings of 50-300 participants and lasting multiple hours.
Topics include manufacturing, repair, IT projects, ISMS security updates, remote service support projects, hackathon events, and client location-based sales presentations.
Coordinate interpretation team activities including scheduling, workflow, assignments, and ensuring access to software and resources.
Consult with translation team during lengthy meetings (3+ hours).
Partnered with colleagues to manage interpretations for notable clients, including Docomo and KDDI during internal and external meetings.
Accurately interpreted for an internal meeting with staff members from all company offices; subjects included financial and project management updates.
Interpreter and Translator at Tata Consultancy Services Japan, Tokyo, Japan 2017 - 2018
Served in temporary contract role, providing high-level Japanese-English language interpretation and support for technical team and project staff with client company, Mitsubishi.
Collaborated closely with project team members to provide interpretation and language translation services in support of SAP project planning, management, and launch for major Japanese client.
Liaised with onsite teams and offshore partners (TATA SAP Consultants) to meet deadlines and client-side, end-user goals.
Translated design documents, UT documents, definition documents, and ITA testing evidence as well as meeting materials between Japanese and English.
Provided TRADOS software support and expertise. Maintained terminology database.
Accurately translated complex, technical documents leveraging translation tools ~4 hours daily.
Coordinated closely with on-site translation team to ensure accurate, relevant translations.
Media Relations & Publications Associate at ClassNK/Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, Tokyo, Japan 2014 - 2017
Joined ship classification society to provide Japanese-English translation services in the field of corporate communications and media relations.
Led translation and localisation of materials related to society's Renewable Energy Division.
Developed and translated materials and content for exhibiting at major shipping trade shows and renewable energy events.
Coordinated with foreign media houses and organizations in Asia and Europe to field and respond to inquiries and correspondence in Japanese and English.
Contributed to promoting positive company image in partnership with communications staff; managed and publicized corporate social responsibility activities.
Chosen to attend industry events and trade shows to promote society’s activities with key industry players and global decision makers.
Education example
Master of Science in Translation at Babel University Professional School of Translation, Hawaii, USA
Patent, Technical, and Medical Translation
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
N2 of Japanese Language Proficiency Test: 2010
Skills example
Proofreading & Editing
Corporate Communications
Cross-Cultural Communications
Japanese <-> English Translation
Consecutive & Simultaneous Interpretation
Marketing & PR Campaigns
Medical, Technical, & Patent Translation
Manual, & Document Translation
Key takeaways for writing a translator resume
Organize your translator resume with dedicated sections, including a header, summary, experience, skills, and education.
Develop a compelling professional summary that showcases your distinctive strengths and extensive expertise in the translation industry.
Detail your past roles in reverse chronological order, providing succinct descriptions of each position along with notable achievements supported by measurable metrics where possible.
Highlight relevant educational credentials, certifications, or specialized training to underscore your proficiency as a translator.
