Interpreter Resume Examples and Tips
Interpreters work for businesses, non-governmental organizations, public sector bodies such as the judiciary, charities and news services, translating from one (or several) languages to another. Abilities you should have for this job include excellent listening and speaking abilities, cultural sensitivity, concentration, interpersonal skills, computer literacy, familiarity with basic business skills, and the ability to learn quickly.
To create a quality resume that requires no interpretation, use our expert tips and resume samples:
Featured Resume Example: Interpreter
Name: RILEY WELCH
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Detail-oriented interpreter offering six years of experience. Demonstrated success in school and business settings providing a range of translation services. Skilled in quickly and accurately translating written documents and audio recordings.
WORK HISTORY
Interpreter
Germantown, MD •08/2018 – Current
Company Name, City, State
- Assist with interpreting and tutoring 30 ESL students with various subject areas.
- Function as a liaison between school faculty, bilingual students, and parents.
- Translate school documents, forms, and letters from English to French.
Interpreter
Baltimore, MD •07/2016 – 07/2018
Company Name, City, State
- Attended client appointments to provide accurate consecutive translations of conversations between members.
- Maintained message content, tone and emotion as closely as possible.
- Consulted specialized dictionaries, thesauruses and reference books to identify closest equivalents for special terminology, words and phrases.
Document Translator
Baltimore, MD •07/2014 – 06/2016
Company Name, City, State
- Listened to French video dialogue and developed translation into English.
- Replicated flow, style and overall meaning of original texts.
- Applied cultural understanding to discern specific meanings beyond literal written words.
SKILLS
- Fluent in English & French
- Translating documents
- Cultural knowledge
- Strong vocabulary
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Communication
- Organization
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts:French
Language And Literature,City, State
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Interpreter Resume
- Summary Give a brief overview of your work achievements and specific interpreter skills in your resume summary statement, matching your experiences with the job description as much as possible. For example, if you’re applying to a job that features government work, emphasize any experience you have in this area: “Confident interpreter with 6+ years of working experience in government organizations, specializing in diplomatic events.”
- Skills Emphasize your professional expertise in specific languages and related areas (e.g., proofreading skills, administrative support, research skills), as well as intangible (or soft) skills such as high customer service standards, decision-making, organizational abilities, cultural sensitivity and collaboration.
- Work History Feature results-driven performances instead of listing every single task you’ve ever had, and show how you’ve used your best skills. For example: “Represented the department in 15 international meetings and conferences over the past year.”
- Education List your top academic credential (e.g., bachelor’s degree) along with any certifications, internships and training courses that showcase your expertise, such as completion of training with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI).
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Find the Right Template for your Resume
To create a resume that looks impressive as well as has the right content, use our professionally designed templates:
Contempo
This minimalist design uses bold font to highlight section headings, with generous use of spacing to create a professional look.
Qualified
Section headings are arranged on the left for easy navigation, while leaving plenty of room for customizing your work history and skills sections.
Whitespace
Offering a clear and clean look, this design makes use of straight bold lines to organize each section, making for a clean reading experience.
Pick from our complete assortment of free resume templates to build your own resume.
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO quantify your achievements. To add more credibility to your accomplishments, add numbers and statistics, such as “Served as medical interpreter in emergency room treating 10+ patients a day” or “Interpreted for 25 corporate clients in Spanish and French.”
- DO keep your resume within two pages. Recruiters customarily take only a few seconds to scan resumes, so make the most of those seconds. Focus on achievements and skills that speak to the job description, and stick with short, crisp bullet points and phrases instead of over-verbose sentences. Limit your work history to the last 10 years.
- DO use strong action verbs. Beginning your statements with strong action verbs such as managed or oversaw makes a stronger impression that using passive language like “was responsible for.” For example: “Collaborated with colleagues to compile helpful information into employee translation glossary.”
- DON’T forget to proofread. As an interpreter, you’re counted on to be as accurate as possible, so bring that same mentality to your resume. Even a single factual error or typo can turn off a recruiter. Re-read your resume a few times to pick out mistakes, and make sure your information is correct and up to date. You can also use our Resume Builder to help review your resume for errors.
- DON’T forget to include intangible skills. Although practical skills like documentation are essential for an interpreter job, intangible assets like the ability to multitask, patience, conflict resolution, problem-solving and professionalism are also key for the job. Feature them in your skills section, and show how you’ve deployed them in previous jobs. For example: “Aided legal teams in collecting testimony, using strong client service abilities.”
- DON’T be inconsistent with formatting. Use professional resume fonts, and keep consistent spacing between headers, bullet points and margins. Keep your fonts professional (standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman are always a good idea), and don’t go crazy with colors or graphics. Employers will appreciate a clean, straightforward presentation that allows them to quickly scan for information. To get a head-start, use a professional resume template as a foundation for your resume.
Pair your Resume with a Matching Cover Letter
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