Interpreter Resume Examples & Tips
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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.
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Interpreter example (text version)
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
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Interpreter Resume FAQ
1. What are some skills that best fit an interpreter resume?
| Practical skills: | Soft skills: |
| MS Office Suite | Punctual |
| MultiTerm | Critical thinker |
| Extensive vocabulary | Good organizational skills |
| Proficiency in specific languages | Interpersonal skills |
| Proofreading | Excellent verbal and written communication |
| Troubleshooting | Problem-solving |
| Subject area knowledge (e.g., legal, medical) | Time management |
| Document review | Sensitive towards cultural differences |
| Data analysis | Supervising ability |
| Report compilation | Leadership |
| Online research | Ability to work under stress |
| Bilingual | Analytical skills |
| Good memory retention | |
| Sound judgment | |
| Good listener | |
| Good memory retention | |
| Detail-oriented | |
| Flexible | |
| Corroborative | |
| Customer service | |
| Patience | |
| Conflict resolution |
| Practical skills: |
| MS Office Suite |
| MultiTerm |
| Extensive vocabulary |
| Proficiency in specific languages |
| Proofreading |
| Troubleshooting |
| Subject area knowledge (e.g., legal, medical) |
| Document review |
| Data analysis |
| Report compilation |
| Online research |
| Bilingual |
| Soft skills: |
| Punctual |
| Critical thinker |
| Good organizational skills |
| Interpersonal skills |
| Excellent verbal and written communication |
| Problem-solving |
| Time management |
| Sensitive towards cultural differences |
| Supervising ability |
| Leadership |
| Ability to work under stress |
| Analytical skills |
| Good memory retention |
| Sound judgment |
| Good listener |
| Good memory retention |
| Detail-oriented |
| Flexible |
| Corroborative |
| Customer service |
| Patience |
| Conflict resolution |
2. How should I craft my resume to take the next step forward in my career?
To grab more career opportunities, look to add more experience and skills to your resume:
- Advanced degree in English, linguistics or specialized language.
- Show examples of work responsibilities and projects where you’ve honed and improved your communication skills.
- Add more certifications or training in foreign language or interpretation (e.g., Medical Interpreter certification, or becoming a certified court interpreter).
- Showcase examples of leadership skills where you’ve managed others towards success.
3. How should I format my resume?
If you have a few years of interpreter work under your belt, go with the combination resume format, which highlights both your work history and skills. If you’re new to this field, use the functional resume format, which emphasizes the language skills and related training you already have. If you’re aiming for a more senior position, use the chronological resume format, which focuses on your work achievements and career progression, via an extended work history section.
For more information on resume formatting, see our resume format page.
4. What are some examples of training and certifications for an interpreter’s resume?
- Certified Interpreter from National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT)
- IACI Certified Interpreter
- Language Certification from the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)
- Certification from American Translators Association (ATA)
- National certificate from Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
- Certificate from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
- Certification from the Registry of Interpreters for Deaf (RID)
5. How do you incorporate keywords in your resume?
Many employers now use applicant tracking system software (ATS) to scan resumes, giving a passing grade to resumes that have the most relevant key phrases. To get the right keywords into your resume, review the job description carefully for specific skills and job requirements, such as “Verify the accuracy of medical and technical terms and terminology” or “You are detail oriented, patient, professional and reliable.” Come up with skills and experiences of your own that match these phrases, and use them throughout your resume. For example, you could write “Detail-oriented Interpreter with 3+ years experience working with medical and technical terms” in your summary, list “attention to detail” as a skill, or list a previous work responsibility where you displayed a professional, reliable approach. For more keyword tips, check out our article How to Use Keywords Effectively.
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.
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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Interpreter Resume Example
Kellie is a career advice writer. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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