4 Interpreter Resume Examples & Writing Guide
Written By Samuel Johns
Reviewed By Geoffrey ScottYour language skills are only one part of a well-rounded interpreter resume. Learn what else to add by looking at our four interpreter resume examples and detailed resume writing guide.
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Interpreter Resume Template (Text Format)
This professional resume format presents your qualifications effectively.
[Your Name]
[Your Address], [City, State]
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]
[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)
Efficient interpreter with 4+ years of experience delivering Spanish, Mandarin, and English language interpretation services in various communication modes. Expert at enhancing communications, supporting in-depth cultural competence, and eliminating language barriers. Skilled at retaining original context and meaning while prioritizing and fulfilling urgent requests. Ready to evaluate best interpreting tactics, understand language and cultural differences, and provide efficient translation services at the University of Arizona.
- Fluent in English, Spanish, and Mandarin
- SDL Trados Studio
- Confidentiality
- Cultural competency
- Time management skills
Transatlantic Translations Group (TTG) | New York, NY | May 20XX – Present
- Deliver comprehensive English telephone interpretation and translation services and provide modified language solutions to Mandarin and Spanish speakers
- Earned recognition from company CEO for completing translation and proofreading of 10 high-priority documents 8 days ahead of schedule
- Showcase high level of accuracy while serving as an interpreter among a culturally diverse range of people with various accents and speech patterns
- Coordinate with 5 executive leaders to create translation tools, procedures, and best approaches for implementing personable translation services
Northpoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc. | Minneapolis, MN | August 20XX – April 20XX
- Maintained stellar quality of community-based translation services by interpreting dialog among patients, visitors, and health care providers
- Attended monthly medical interpreter/translator training sessions and acquired extensive know-how on translating medical data
- Completed clear in-person interpretation on a routine basis for 10+ clients while exceeding interpreter competency standards
- Researched and gathered helpful information to prepare an in-house glossary for reference in coordination with 5 other interpreters
Resume Genius University | BA in Interpretation
Graduation Date: May 20XX
- CMI Certified in Spanish and Mandarin, National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)
- Completed 40 hours of professional interpreter training (Blue Horizon)
No matter your specialization or experience level, we have the right interpreter resume sample for you to look at and draw ideas from below. Let’s get started.
Entry-level interpreter resume
If you’ve just graduated from college, you’re probably seeking your first interpreter role. Here’s what a convincing entry-level interpreter resume looks like:
Entry-level interpreter resume highlights
- Relevant internship: if you’ve worked as an interpreter for an internship, that’s experience that deserves to be put on your resume. Showcasing internships on your resume shows employers that you’ve worked hard to develop the skills you need to succeed in the role.
- Coursework: Adding relevant coursework to your resume shows the strength of your language skills. For instance, this candidate indicates their mastery of the Ukrainian language through the time they’ve spent at a language immersion school and studying culturally relevant topics.
Experienced interpreter resume
If you’re a senior interpreter, you might have a high level mastery of your target languages or experience leading a team of junior interpreters. Here’s an example of how to put those assets to good use on your resume:
Experienced interpreter resume highlights
- Prominent numbers: This candidate quantifies the achievements on their resume using numbers to show employers the extent of their accomplishments and abilities. Try adding numbers to your resume to give employers more confidence about the impact you’ll have if you’re hired.
- High GPA: If your GPA is high (above 3.5), it’s worth adding to your resume because it shows your mastery of the subject and the language(s) you speak. You can also bold your GPA to make it stand out, as this applicant does.
Medical interpreter resume
As a medical interpreter, your command of your working languages must be unimpeachable since any mistakes could cause problems in securing the right treatment for patients. Show employers that your language skills are second to none with a resume like this:
Medical interpreter resume highlights
- Continuous development: This applicant mentions the time they put into staying up to date with medical advances and changes in medical terminology. Doing so indicates that they’re eager to learn and stay abreast of new developments — vital skills for a medical interpreter.
- Confidentiality compliance: Keeping patients’ medical information secure is vital in the health care industry, so this candidate mentions that they successfully follow confidentiality laws and policies in both their work history and skills section.
Average interpreter salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Average translator annual salaries by state
| State | Salary / Year |
|---|---|
| California | $64,000 |
| Florida | $49,480 |
| Ohio | $54,110 |
| Texas | $56,560 |
| New York | $74,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,310 |
| Illinois | $52,510 |
| Georgia | $47,380 |
| North Carolina | $46,600 |
| Michigan | $50,860 |
| National Average | $56,303 |
How to write an interpreter resume
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, follow the phrasing of the job posting as closely as possible, specifying your job title, known languages, and qualifications.
Here are three examples of interpreter resume summaries to give you an idea of how to tailor yours to the job title
Highly skilled ASL Interpreter with 5+ years of experience bridging communication gaps. Proven ability to facilitate clear and accurate interactions in diverse settings, including medical, educational, and legal. Certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). Passionate about language access and cultural sensitivity.
Versatile Freelance Interpreter specializing in Spanish and French. Proven track record of delivering seamless interpretation services for conferences, business meetings, and medical appointments. Strong adaptability and excellent communication skills ensure client satisfaction. Proficient in consecutive and simultaneous interpretation modes.
Experienced Japanese Interpreter fluent in both business and casual registers. Deep cultural understanding enables nuanced communication for successful negotiations, presentations, and everyday interactions. Proven ability to interpret technical terminology in the automotive and manufacturing industries.
While your resume should focus on the target language, mentioning other languages you know will position you as a more versatile candidate.
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.
Including your interpreting certifications is especially important if you’re writing a resume with no experience.
Below is an example of how a medical interpreter lists their certification:
Certifications on an interpreter resume
CERTIFICATIONS
CMI Credential (Certified Medical Interpreter) in Mandarin, NBCMI – 20XX
Certified Medical Interpreter, (CoreCHI) – 20XX
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 in-demand interpreter skills
Employers are looking for interpreters with strong language skills. But because interpreters work with people all day long, they also need good 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:
- communication skills
- interpersonal skills
- cultural competency
- confidentiality
- quick thinking
- adaptability
- active listening
- memory retention
- organization
- time management
- stress management
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
Resume examples for different industries
Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.
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4 Interpreter Resume Examples & Writing Guide
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