How to Write an Effective Interpreter Resume

Interpreters are the bridge between language and communication barriers. They’re charged with conveying the same message in different languages and are expected to be sharp, quick, and accurate.

If you’re one such interpreter, you need to use a concise and clear resume to convince your recruiter about what you can do. Thankfully, this article has all the tips to guide you.

What do Interpreters Do?

Interpreters help diverse audiences understand a message. They translate messages to ensure that communication continues to flow when speakers don't speak the same language.

Interpreters can work in different situations from business and diplomatic meetings to consultations, educational events, conferences, and more.

So, as an interpreter you're a speech professional. Your main job is to translate messages, whether written or verbal, from one language to the other.

Your work allows people from different language groups to understand each other without missing out any detail in context.

It's not just about relaying plain messages. Interpreters act as conductors between both parties, relaying intentions, tone, and emotion as they occur naturally in any interaction.

How Much Do Interpreters Earn?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Interpreters earn between $29,360 and $97,760 yearly, with a mean annual wage of $58,400.

According to US News, the median annual wage in 2020 was $52,330.

Writing an Interpreter Resume: What Steps Should You Follow?

Your resume has to convince the recruiter that you're a seasoned interpreter and are the right fit for the job. To do that, you must manage different sections of the resume correctly.

You have to research the company and deeply analyze the job description. This way, you know what's more important to the recruiter and what they're looking for in your resume.

Essentially, your job is to guide them to what they want to see. That's because they likely have tens to hundreds of resumes to view and won't spend more than a few seconds glancing over each.

Select the Ideal Resume Format

The right format for an interpreter resume depends on the type of job and work description. It also depends on your level of experience and your professional history. There are three main resume formats. Let’s cover them.

1. Chronological

   This resume format is also called the reverse chronological resume. It is the most used type of resume format in many professional circles. And that's for good reason.

   It helps those with a rich work history standout in recruitment processes, especially if the job demands a high level of experience.

   The format lists your work history and achievements from the most recent or current to earliest.

   It is ideal for:

   • Interpreters with a rich employment history
   • Interpreters who don't have many gaps in their employment history
   • Professionals who are switching jobs within the same industry

   Is the Chronological Resume Format Ideal for Interpreters?

   If you have vast experience as an interpreter, using the chronological resume is the right move. It's more practical when the recruiter emphasizes the years of experience required for the job.

   Using a chronological format will help your bid for the job because it's more common. Most hiring managers know how to glance through it to get what they want. That’s why any interpreter resume template you see almost always uses the chronological format.

   However, you may want to look at other resume formats if you have too many gaps in your work history, don't have experience as an interpreter, or are switching careers.

2. Functional

   The functional resume format is also referred to as the skills-based resume. It is ideal for interpreters who don't have a rich work history in translation. So, it starts by highlighting your skills. This format comes in handy if:

   • You're just a fresh graduate and are looking for your first job as an interpreter.
   • You're moving on from your previous job to start your career as an interpreter.
   • You have too many gaps in your employment history or have been searching for a job for a long time.

   Is the Functional Resume Right for an Interpreter?

   As we mentioned, the functional resume mainly highlights your skills as opposed to your work history.

   Using this type of format may backfire since recruiters always want to go for experienced interpreters. That's because the role is quite sensitive and critical.

   Unless the job description is open for fresh graduates, you're better off telling the recruiter about your past experiences.

   So, consider going for other resume types if you have great work experience as an interpreter.

3. Combination Resume

   Also called the hybrid resume, the combination resume combines the sections of the functional and reverse chronological resumes. So, it focuses on highlighting your skills, experiences, and achievements in detail.

   This resume format is ideal if:

   • You're a professional with a rich work history, many accomplishments, and a diverse set of skills.
   • You're in the middle of switching from your previous profession to a new career as an interpreter.
   • You have no gaps in your work history.

   People with a small amount of work experience as interpreters and a rich set of skills can also take advantage of the hybrid resume.

Sections of the Interpreter Resumes

How you arrange and execute your resume sections is a critical step in preparing your resume. It can make or mar your application stand out. So, let’s unpack the sections one after the other.

Header

The resume header contains your name, contact information, and address. It should start with your name written in bold font. Then followed by your title (Spanish Interpreter).

After that, add details such as your social media, phone number, and address. You shouldn’t go as far as adding your house number and street name. In most cases, just your city is fine.

Introduction

Writing a killer interpreter resume objective or professional summary can help you stand out.

You'll be writing a professional summary if you have achievements to talk about and a rich work experience.

If you're a fresh graduate, don't have a great work history, or are just starting out as an interpreter, you don't have a professional interpreter career to summarize. So, you have to use a career objective instead.

Writing a Professional Summary

Remember that being concise helps your cause more than anything else. You must capture and showcase your entire professional life in a few sentences. So, how do you do that?

• Start with your specific title (interpreter). You could also go for a niche title, such as french medical interpreter or political interpreter, depending on the job description.
• Years of experience.
• Numbers! (Provided translation services in 500 meetings/conferences).
• Goal (break new grounds in translation and communication).

Writing a Career Objective

If you're an entry-level translator, you have to write a career objective. This allows you to summarize your skills and goals.

You must be concise and straight to the point, listing out your skills, goals, and achievements from other jobs. If the job description requires specific skills, list them in your career objective. You should also list educational requirements from the job.

Work History

This is the experience section that showcases your previous positions and employment history. It highlights your experience and gives the recruiter proof of your professional career.

The best practice is to list your previous jobs from current or most recent to the earliest.

Include the company name, how long the job lasted, your position, and responsibilities under each employment.

If you've done freelance translation work, include the name of the client, how long you worked with them, and what you did for them.

Educational Background

Most job descriptions specify the minimum accepted level of education to apply for the job. That makes your educational qualifications an important part of your resume.

Follow these guidelines to list your educational qualifications:

• Add your degree, name of school and location, graduation year, and your major under each qualification
• Start with your highest educational qualification and work your way down. For example, your doctorate should come before your master's.
• You don't have to add your date of graduation if you received it more than five years ago
• Remove your high-schools education if you already earned a college degree.

You don't have to add courses you took in school unless they're relevant to the job description.

Skills

This is where you add skills relevant to the job you want to land. Translators use technical and communication skills to translate one language to the other and send across the right message.

You can start with relevant hard skills such as:

• Language interpretation
• Cultural competency
• Note taking
• Computer skills
• Industry-specific terminology
• Research

Soft skills for interpreters include:

• Communication
• Attention to detail
• Listening
• Multitasking
• Analytical skills
• Critical thinking
• Working well under pressure
• Interpersonal skills
• Empathy

Make sure you list the skills you have that fall into the job description.

Other Sections

Adding other sections to your resume shows you have depth as a professional. Since you want to maintain a one-page resume, ensure you only add sections that will advance your application and convince the recruiter you’re the right interpreter for the role.

These sections can include professional organizations, professional courses, licenses and certificates, hobbies, and personal projects.

Helpful Tips for Preparing an Interpreter Resumes

There are things to keep in mind when preparing your resume as an interpreter. As I mentioned earlier, how you arrange the resume determines whether you move on to the next phase of the recruitment process.

1. Include Relevant Keywords

   You must include the relevant keywords that can pique the recruiter's interest. Most hiring managers already know what they're looking for before opening any application.

   That's why they glance through applications and throw some out in seven seconds. Using the right keywords will make them pay attention to your resume.

   The role you're applying for determines the type of words they want to see. You can find these keywords by looking at the requirements in the job description and the responsibilities outlined for the role.

   You should pay attention to words and phrases repeated throughout the job posting.

   For example, you should consider sprinkling these words throughout your resume:

   • Excellent speaker
   • Translator
   • Transcription
   • Interpreter
   • HIPAA compliant
2. Write the Resume in a Different Language

   Preparing a resume in the language you can interpret is proof that you're a professional.

   For example, if you are applying for a role as a French translator, you may have to apply to organizations that use languages other than French. In this case, you should send in your resume in French and offer to send the other version or translate it in your interview.

3. Proofread Thoroughly

   Errors can make hiring managers throw out your resume. They show you may not be detail-oriented enough to handle the role. That's why proofreading your resume is a critical step in preparing it. This exercise helps you find and remove errors.

   You can start proofreading by reading it out to yourself. You can also ask someone else to look through the resume to find something you may have missed. A fresh set of eyes can do wonders.

   Make sure your resume is free of grammar mistakes, spelling errors, and formatting problems.

4. Clearly List Your Professional Engagements and Achievements

   If you've gained a lot of achievements related to the role, make sure you list them. You should showcase how your skills and talents have helped you and your former employees and clients.

5. Send a Cover Letter Alongside Your Resume

   While the resume showcases your experience, skills, and educational qualifications, the cover letter allows you to talk directly to the hiring manager. With the cover letter, you can elaborate on your skills and experience, and express your personal interest in the job and why you’re the right fit.

Conclusion

Writing a killer interpreter resume is the main way to get to the next stage of the recruitment process. You must showcase your work history, expertise, and professional experience in a way the recruiter won’t miss the vital details.

Here is an interpreter resume example.