Interpreter Resume Sample

Interpreters make communication possible in courtrooms, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies. With interpreter and translator jobs expected to grow much faster than average between 2020 and 2030, at a rate of 24%, it’s never been a better time to advance your interpreter career.

To land your desired position, follow our four tips to write an outstanding interpreter resume:

1. Customize your resume summary to the job advertisement

When writing your resume summary (a 2–4 sentence paragraph at the top of your resume, also known as a career objective), follow the phrasing of the job posting exactly. Notice how the resume summary below introduces the applicant’s qualifications for a Spanish/English medical interpreter position:

First, the candidate gives an exact job title (specifying they’re a “medical interpreter” rather than a general interpreter).

Be as accurate as possible when describing your language ability, using industry-recognized language proficiency terms. Mimic the language of the job posting to help your resume pass applicant tracking systems (ATS). For example, use the term “bilingual in” rather than “fluent in” when responding to job ads that call for bilingual applicants.

Next, the candidate describes their qualifications and experience, matching what was listed in the job requirements.

When you read the job ad, note when certification, verifiable experience, or a degree are interchangeable and when there are strict requirements. Also, mention your proficiency in translation if the role requires both spoken interpretation and text translation.

Last, the applicant states the name of the organization they’re applying to and how they can help them achieve their goals. Do the same when you write your resume summary to show the hiring manager you’ve taken the time to customize your resume for their job.

2. Be specific in your work experience and skills sections

Where possible, quantify the work experience on your resume with hard numbers. If you can recall or collect this information from your previous positions, describe:

• the number of people you helped per day (or other unit of time)
• the number of interpretation days completed in a calendar year (e.g., 45+ court days per year)
• the demographics of the populations you served, such as age ranges
• your interpretation or text translation speed

You should also be specific about the types of work experience you have, including:

• the dialects you speak in each language, if applicable
• your proficiency in verbal and written language
• the types of interpretation you perform (simultaneous, consecutive, sight, and whisper)
• the settings you work in (triadic or group settings)
• the mediums you use (in-person, over the phone, and over video)

3. Accurately list your certifications

For interpreters, subject matter–related knowledge is nearly as important as language skills. Putting specialized certifications on your resume shows employers that you have both.

Below is an example of how a medical interpreter lists their certification:

If space allows, list the full name of the certifying body and the date granted. Otherwise, just include the name of the certification and the abbreviation of the certifying body.

4. Highlight top interpreter skills

Employers are looking for interpreters with solid hard skills, learned abilities such as your language skills. But because interpreters work with people all day long, they also need rich soft skills.

So when you write your resume, include both hard and soft skills. Here are some relevant hard skills for your interpreter resume:

• industry-specific terminology and knowledge
• research
• computer skills, such as record keeping and translation software expertise
• phone skills
• note-taking and direct transcription

Also, highlight your top soft skills, including:

To show that you’re an above-average interpreter, you can also mention these extra skills (if you have them):

• providing accurate interpretation that doesn’t add, take away, summarize, or otherwise modify meaning
• adjusting your language to the situation, such as the participants’ language level and familiarity with the topic
• expressing the right tone
• identifying words that may have ambiguous meanings and asking for clarification
• acting neutral so the two parties feel like they’re talking to each other and not to you