Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your diverse language skills and project experiences is a common challenge for freelance translators. Our guide provides tailored strategies and examples to help you construct a compelling CV that highlights your unique expertise and attracts potential clients.
Land the job of your dreams with our bespoke guide on how to:
- Design and format your professional freelance translator CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading freelance translator CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your freelance translator CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
Resume examples for freelance translator
Explore additional freelance translator cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Entry-Level Freelance Translator
- Content presentation facilitates clarity and engagement - The CV's structured approach, breaking down experiences and achievements into bullet points under each role, ensures readability and allows key information to be quickly grasped. This methodical presentation leaves no room for ambiguity, reinforcing the candidate's ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
- Demonstrates a progressive career trajectory - Archie's career path reveals a clear upward movement, from a Junior Reporter at Sky News to a News Reporter at The Belfast Telegraph, indicating professional growth and an increasing level of responsibility. This progression underscores his capability to adapt and excel in more challenging roles.
- Highlights diverse cross-functional skills - The CV prominently displays the candidate's adaptability across various media forms, from written articles to multimedia content. This versatility is exemplified through experience with social media strategies, podcasts, and newsletters, demonstrating a proficiency in engaging a broad audience using different platforms.
Mid-Level Freelance Translator
- Clarity and Structure in Content Presentation - The CV is well-structured, starting with a comprehensive header that includes all vital contact information and social links. Each section is clearly titled, ensuring that key details about experience, education, and skills are easily accessible. The use of concise bullet points under each experience entry provides clarity and allows for quick assessment of the candidate’s qualifications.
- Career Trajectory and Growth - Lucas Adams' career illustrates a clear trajectory of growth with progressive roles from Freelance Translator to Senior Language Interpreter at a reputable company. This advancement showcases his ability to adapt and excel in various settings within the language services industry, reflecting a commitment to professional development and increased responsibilities over time.
- Achievements and Business Impact - The candidate’s achievements are not only quantitatively impressive but also demonstrate significant business relevance. By increasing local community service usage by 30% and improving patient care outcomes through accurate medical translations, Lucas has clearly contributed to impactful community enhancements and healthcare efficiency, proving his effectiveness in real-world applications.
Senior Freelance Translator
- Structured Presentation and Clarity - The CV excels in presenting content with clarity and organization, ensuring that every section is concise and informative. Categories such as experience, education, skills, and achievements are clearly delineated, making it easy for potential employers to quickly grasp Alexander's qualifications and relevant achievements.
- Strong Career Trajectory in Interpretation - Alexander's career path shows a strategic progression from community interpreter roles to specialized positions in medical and legal interpretation. This highlights his growth and adaptability within the industry, underscoring his commitment to mastering complex settings and honing his expertise in specific fields.
- Emphasis on Industry-Specific Methodologies and Tools - The CV includes detailed references to industry-specific methodologies such as developing terminology databases and glossaries, as well as proficiency in remote interpreting platforms. This technical depth communicates Alexander's dedication to improving interpretation accuracy and service delivery through continuous learning and adaptation.
By Role
Freelance Medical Translator
- Structured Presentation with Clarity - The CV is organized with a clear structure, separating sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements in a logical flow. It utilizes concise language, ensuring quick readability and effective communication of the candidate’s qualifications and career history.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Sophia’s career shows a clear pattern of growth from a Junior Medical Interpreter to a Senior position, highlighting her promotions and increased responsibilities. This progression underscores her dedication and capability to excel and lead in her field over the years.
- Emphasis on Patient Advocacy and Satisfaction - A unique focus on patient advocacy and satisfaction sets this CV apart, showcasing achievements that directly led to enhanced healthcare outcomes and increased client satisfaction scores. It emphasizes her ability to make a meaningful impact on patient experiences within the healthcare system.
Freelance Legal Translator
- Clarity and Structure - The CV is meticulously organized, beginning with a header that concisely presents contact information and core competencies, followed by a well-structured summary that encapsulates the candidate's professional narrative. Each section is clearly delineated, making it easy for potential employers to navigate through the candidate's career highlights and skills.
- Adaptability and Cross-functional Experience - Ella's career path demonstrates significant adaptability, transitioning from a Translation Specialist to freelance translation work. Her roles involved cross-functional collaboration with editors and project managers, as well as independently handling multiple projects, indicating her ability to thrive in diverse work environments.
- Use of Industry Tools and Methodologies - The CV highlights Ella's proficiency in advanced translation software such as SDL Trados and CAT Tools, illustrating her technical depth in managing translation workflows. Additionally, her experience in developing glossaries and implementing editing strategies showcases her methodical approach to content quality and accuracy.
Freelance Technical Translator
- Structured for Readability - The CV is meticulously organized, beginning with a concise summary that encapsulates Freya Richardson’s extensive experience in translating, MTPE, and localisation. This structure allows for clear presentation without overwhelming the reader, emphasizing her qualifications and immediate relevance to potential projects.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Freya has demonstrated clear professional growth, transitioning from a Translation Project Lead at SDL International to a Senior MTPE Specialist at Keywords Studios, and finally establishing herself as a Freelance Technical Translator. This progression reflects her increasing responsibilities and expertise in the field, showcasing her evolving leadership and specialized skills.
- Industry-Relevant Achievements - The CV presents specific accomplishments that underscore her ability to drive significant business impact, such as leading translation projects that increase client satisfaction and revenue, as well as implementing workflow improvements that enhance efficiency. These achievements illustrate her efficacy in applying linguistic expertise to tangible business benefits.
Freelance Literary Translator
- Structured Content Presentation - The CV excels in clarity and organization, neatly segmenting different aspects of Olivia's professional journey. Each section is crisply defined, allowing for quick readability and effective communication of her expertise in learning content development and related areas.
- Adaptive Career Trajectory - Olivia's career shows a clear evolution from Translation and Localization Expert to Learning Content Developer. Her roles demonstrate her ability to adapt and thrive in dynamic environments, such as in global companies like Babbel and Rosetta Stone, highlighting her readiness to tackle new challenges and embrace industry shifts.
- Technological Proficiency and Innovation - She effectively leverages industry-specific tools such as MS Teams, SharePoint, and translation memory systems, underscoring her technical depth. Her ability to use innovative applications to transform traditional lessons into immersive experiences showcases her forward-thinking approach in the educational sector.
Freelance Financial Translator
- Effective Content Presentation - The CV is structured with clarity and precision, providing a concise summary of Grace Bailey's career and achievements. This well-organized layout highlights her skills, work experience, and educational background, making it easy for readers to navigate and understand her qualifications. Each section is distinct and informative, showcasing her expertise in the field of translation and interpretation.
- Diverse Career Trajectory - Grace Bailey's career path demonstrates significant growth and adaptability, moving from Translation Specialist at PwC to Senior Translator at KPMG. Her progression reflects an increasing level of responsibility and expertise, highlighting her capabilities to handle complex project management and strategic initiatives within top consultancy firms. Each role builds on her previous experience, evidencing her commitment to career development and her rise to senior positions in recognized firms.
- Achievements and Business Impact - The CV effectively showcases achievements that underline Grace's substantial business impact, such as contributing to a £750,000 savings for clients and improving workflow productivity by 20%. Rather than just listing numbers, it provides context on how these accomplishments have had positive implications for her employers, demonstrating her value as a strategic asset in high-stakes environments.
Freelance Video Game Translator
- Career Trajectory Shaped by Strategic Content Development - Ivy Ward’s career progression highlights a consistent focus on gaming content creation, advancing from a Content Writer to a Senior Content Writer role. This upward movement reflects her ability to sharpen her expertise and take on more complex responsibilities, such as leading projects at IGN to redesign article format for improved user engagement.
- Adaptability in Different Writing Environments - The CV showcases Ivy's adaptability through her experience working both in-office and remotely, engaging with international teams while crafting content tailored to diverse audiences. Her work at different companies like IGN and Eurogamer exemplifies her ability to transition smoothly across varied platforms, adhering to brand-specific content strategies.
- Achievements Highlighting Industry Impact - Ivy’s contributions to increasing readership engagement by 30% while at IGN and boosting site visits with her retro gaming series underscore her knack for producing content that doesn’t just capture attention but also drives substantial business outcomes. Her capacity to align content with audience interests is evident in these achievements.
Freelance Subtitle Translator
- Well-structured Career Progression - Ruby Gibson's CV presents a clear trajectory of growth, moving from a Junior Subtitle Editor to a Senior Subtitle Translator. This progression highlights increasing levels of responsibility, such as managing teams and leading significant projects, which signifies a robust and focused career path in the media localisation industry.
- Emphasis on Industry-Specific Tools and Methodologies - The detailed mention of industry tools like subtitling software and localisation engineering certification demonstrates Ruby's technical expertise. This focus on specific methodologies is crucial in the field of media translation, where precise and culturally appropriate subtitle adaptation is key to engaging diverse audiences.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The CV articulates achievements not just as statistics but in terms of their business implications, such as improving subtitle accuracy by 25% and reducing corrections by 30%. This emphasis on quality and efficiency showcases Ruby’s contributions to enhancing viewer experience and client satisfaction, directly impacting business outcomes positively.
Freelance Website Translator
- Structured and Intuitive Layout - The CV is exceptionally well-organized, allowing readers to easily scan through different sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements. This clear structure enhances understanding and presents Amelia's qualifications and career trajectory in a concise manner.
- Diverse Career Trajectory - Amelia's career shows a clear progression from a Junior Interpreter to a Senior Interpreter in different companies, indicating not only her growth but also her trustworthiness and competence. Her transition into roles with more responsibility demonstrates her capability to adapt and excel in various environments.
- Industry-Specific Training and Credentials - The CV includes specialized courses like the "Advanced Certification in Legal Interpretation" and an "Emergency and Disaster Interpreting Workshop," showcasing Amelia's commitment to technical depth and ongoing professional development in her field of interpreting and translation.
Freelance Scientific Translator
- Structured and Clear Presentation - The CV is well-organized and concise, with clearly defined sections for education, experience, skills, achievements, and passions. This structure helps convey the information effectively, making it easy for potential employers to digest key details at a glance.
- Comprehensive Career Growth - Edward's career trajectory shows a clear path of growth, moving from roles as a Translation Specialist to a Senior Translator. This progression highlights his upward mobility and increased responsibilities over time, reflecting his dedication and increasing expertise in the field of translation and interpretation.
- Proficiency in Cultural Adaptation Techniques - The CV emphasizes Edward's unique capability in cultural adaptation, an essential aspect of translation work that ensures content resonates with diverse audiences. His introduction of cultural adaptation practices not only increased audience reach but also enhanced client satisfaction, revealing a deep understanding of the industry's demands.
Freelance Marketing Translator
- Well-structured and Easy to Navigate - Ella Bennett's CV is crafted with a clear structure that enhances readability. Each section is distinct, with precise headings, allowing potential clients or employers to quickly locate relevant information such as achievements, experience, and skills. This clarity and organization make it easy to follow Bennett's career path and professional offerings at a glance.
- Diverse and Progressive Career Trajectory - The CV reflects a well-rounded career with a consistent upward trajectory. Bennett's progression from a Content Writer to a Senior Freelance Writer and Business Communications Expert highlights her growth within the industry. Each role builds on the last, demonstrating her ability to climb the career ladder while expanding her skills and responsibilities in various business communication capacities.
- Impactful Achievements with Clear Business Relevance - Bennett's CV emphasizes achievements that are not only numerically impressive but also critical to business success. Each accomplishment, such as boosting magazine readership by 25% or authoring an Amazon best-selling ebook, directly ties back to increased audience engagement and content impact. This demonstrates her capacity to produce results that significantly benefit her clients' or employers' business objectives.
Freelance Document Translator
- Content Presentation and Structure - The CV is presented with clarity and conciseness, organizing information into structured sections like experience, education, skills, and achievements. This clear layout allows easy navigation and emphasizes key qualifications right from the beginning.
- Career Trajectory and Industry Shifts - Sophia demonstrates a robust career trajectory, transitioning from medical to marketing and then to technical translation. This progression highlights adaptability and a commitment to expanding expertise across diverse sectors, evidencing a growth mindset.
- Use of Industry-Specific Tools and Methodologies - The CV underlines technical proficiency through the use of TM Tools, Adobe products, and detailed terminology databases. This expertise in sophisticated tools directly enhances translation accuracy and efficiency, showcasing technical depth relevant to the translation industry.
Freelance Business Translator
- Structured and Clear Presentation - The CV is well-organized, with concise sections that clearly define each aspect of the candidate's background, such as education, experience, and skills. This structured presentation ensures easy readability and highlights relevant information quickly, a crucial factor for storytelling roles where clarity and narrative flow are paramount.
- Diverse Career Growth in Storytelling - Isaac Scott's career trajectory shows a strong progression within the storytelling and memoir creation sector. Starting as a Documentary Interview Specialist and advancing to a Senior Memoirs Consultant demonstrates not only vertical growth but also a broadening of responsibilities and influence within the industry, indicating leadership and expertise.
- Emphasis on Industry-Specific Tools and Techniques - The CV details the use of digital and audio recording systems, both in memoir creation and documentary work, showcasing technical proficiency. The implementation of digital recording systems and project management tools reflects an understanding of how technology can enhance the storytelling process, a critical aspect of modern-day memoir creation.
Freelance Software Translator
- Structured Content Presentation - The CV is well-organized, using clear headings and bullet points to convey the candidate's background succinctly. Each section flows logically, making it easy for readers to absorb key information at a glance, enhancing readability and presentation quality.
- Career Trajectory Showcasing Growth - Florence Knight's career progression from a Translation Project Manager at SDL to a Senior Translator at TransPerfect illustrates a clear path of advancement, indicating her growing expertise and her ability to take on increasing responsibilities in the language services field.
- Emphasis on Technical Proficiency - The CV highlights Florence's mastery of industry-specific tools like CAT tools and translation memory technologies, underscoring her technical competency in the linguistic sector and her commitment to leveraging technology to optimize translation workflows.
Freelance Patent Translator
- Content Presentation and Structure - The CV is well-organized and concise, presenting information in a clear and structured manner. Each section is thoughtfully categorized, ensuring that the reader can easily navigate through the professional experience, skills, education, and additional elements like courses and achievements. This clarity enhances the overall readability of the document.
- Distinct Career Trajectory - Alexander Jackson's career trajectory demonstrates a steady and impressive growth path, moving from a Junior Translator role at TransPerfect to a Senior Translator position at Lionbridge. This progression not only highlights his development within the translation field but also showcases his ability to take on greater responsibilities and excel in more challenging roles, particularly in legal translations.
- Technical Depth and Industry-Specific Tools - The CV highlights Alexander’s technical proficiency with industry-specific tools such as Trados, MemoQ, and Wordfast. His achievements, including developing translation glossaries and implementing new project protocols, reflect his deep understanding of translation methodologies and his capability to apply technology to enhance translation quality and efficiency.
Freelance Diplomatic Translator
- Structured Clarity in Content Presentation - The CV is meticulously organized, allowing each section to communicate the individual's relevant experience and skills clearly. This structure ensures that key information such as professional experience, education, and skills are easily accessible, making it simple for prospective clients or employers to assess Joshua Patel's capabilities at a glance.
- Industry-Specific Tools and Methodologies - Highlighting familiarity and efficiency with industry-standard CAT tools and SDL Trados showcases the candidate’s technical depth which is essential for optimizing translation processes. This not only indicates a proficiency in translation technology but also a commitment to staying updated with the latest industry practices.
- Achievements and Business Impact - The CV effectively translates milestones into business value by illustrating improvements in client satisfaction, turnaround times, and project efficiency. For instance, a 30% increase in client satisfaction and a 15% reduction in turnaround time emphasize measurable impact, underscoring the relevance and efficiency of Joshua's contributions to the business.
Freelance Translator Project Manager
- Strong Career Progression with Diverse Industry Experience - Henry White's career trajectory demonstrates significant growth, advancing from a Junior Translator at SDL plc to a Senior Medical Translator and Interpreter at LanguageLine Solutions. His journey through various roles and companies highlights his adaptability and increasing responsibility in the specialized field of medical linguistics, showcasing a consistent upward trajectory in his professional development.
- Impactful Achievements with Direct Business Relevance - The CV details notable accomplishments such as successfully interpreting over 3.5 million minutes of medical conversations annually, which directly correlates with enhanced patient communication and care. His implementation of a training program improved interpreter readiness by 20%, underscoring his ability to not only achieve personal success but also drive broader organizational improvements.
- Expertise in Critical Industry-Specific Practices and Methodologies - Henry's expertise is evidenced by his development of SOP documentation and quality monitoring processes, which increased interpretation accuracy and consistency by 20%. His role in reducing language identification errors by 40% underscores his technical depth and dedication to mitigating risks associated with communication errors in medical settings, highlighting his proficiency in essential industry tools and methodologies.
Freelance Translator Team Lead
- Structured and Detailed Presentation - The CV is well-organized, starting with a comprehensive summary that clearly outlines the candidate's specialization in Kazakh subtitle localization and linguistic accuracy. Each section is concise yet informative, providing a quick understanding of the candidate's capabilities without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail.
- Impressive Career Trajectory - Charlotte's career path shows a strategic progression from a Translation and Proofreading Specialist to a Freelance Translator role, illustrating her growth in expertise and responsibility within the language services industry. Her transition from in-house positions to freelance work demonstrates adaptability and an ability to successfully manage projects independently.
- Technical Proficiency in Industry Tools - The CV highlights Charlotte's proficiency in using Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools such as SDL Trados, which are crucial for effective and efficient translation work. This technical skill set, combined with her advocacy for quality assurance processes, underscores her commitment to maintaining high translation standards and optimizing workflows.
Structuring your freelance translator CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:
- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your freelance translator CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
PRO TIP
Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a freelance translator CV
- Professional Summary highlights career achievements and translation expertise.
- Language Proficiency shows the range of languages mastered and to what level.
- Translation Experience details past translation projects and specific industry knowledge.
- Education and Qualifications confirm academic credentials and any translation-specific training.
- Professional Affiliations and Certifications showcase memberships in translation associations and relevant certifications.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your language proficiency by detailing your command of the source and target languages, and include any certifications such as DELE for Spanish, DALF for French, or JLPT for Japanese.
- Emphasise your specialisation areas, like legal, medical, or technical translations, as this can show prospective clients your expertise and the specific types of documents you’re experienced with.
- Include past translation projects or experiences with context, such as the types of texts (websites, manuals, books), to give an idea of your versatility and scope of knowledge.
- Showcase your familiarity with translation software and CAT tools such as SDL Trados or MemoQ, as this demonstrates efficiency and the ability to integrate with clients’ workflows.
- Demonstrate cultural competency by mentioning any relevant experience or education you have had with the culture of the languages you translate, which can be crucial for localisation tasks.
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What information should you include in your freelance translator CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their freelance translator CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for freelance translator:
- Senior Translator | Literary & Commercial Texts | MA in Translation Studies | 10+ Years Experience
- Medical Translator | Certified by IMIA | Specialising in Healthcare Documentation | 5 Years Experience
- Technical Translator | Engineering & IT Sectors | ATA Certified | 7+ Years of Professional Practice
- Junior Translator | Business & Finance Localization Expert | Bilingual English-Spanish | 2 Years Experience
- Freelance Linguist | Diplomatic & Legal Translation | NAATI Accreditation | Senior Level with 12 Years Expertise
- Multilingual Translator | Creative Media & Subtitling | FLT Certified | Progressive 4 Years of Experience
Opting between a freelance translator CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your freelance translator CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a freelance translator job:
- With 10 years of in-depth experience in translating legal and financial documents, I have honed my skills in English-Spanish language pairs, ensuring precise and culturally appropriate translations. I've completed over 1,000 projects successfully, including the translation of a landmark legal case that influenced major legislative changes.
- As a seasoned translator specialising in French-English literary translations, my background includes 8 years of crafting compelling and faithful renditions of classic and contemporary literary works. I've been recognised with the Translators' Guild Award for Best Fiction Translation in 2020, reflecting my commitment to excellence in my craft.
- Transitioning from a 5-year career in journalism to professional translation, I bring a unique perspective that enhances content translation, specialising in English-German pairs. My keen eye for detail and storytelling prowess ensure translated material retains its intended impact and nuances, despite the language barrier.
- After a successful career as a bilingual legal assistant, I am pivoting towards translation to utilise my dual-language proficiency in legal and administrative contexts, with a focus on English-Japanese document translation. My 7-year experience within legal environments ensures an expert understanding of technical terminology and confidentiality principles.
- Keen to embark on a journey as a freelance translator, I am eager to apply my BA in Modern Languages and Linguistics and my proficiency in Italian and Russian. Committed to learning through action, I aim to develop my translation expertise by working on a diversity of projects, while delivering accurate and engaging text translations.
- With a fresh degree in Spanish Literature and a passion for bridging language gaps, I am determined to start my professional translating career, focusing on English-Spanish language pairs. I am excited to bring my linguistic flair and dedication to translating cultural texts, aiming to provide authentic and enjoyable reading experiences for diverse audiences.
How to meet job requirements with your freelance translator CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Highlight your language pairs and your proficiency levels, stating any language certificates or accreditations you hold, such as from the Institute of Translation and Interpreting.
- Detail your specialisation areas, like legal, medical, or technical translations, providing examples of projects you have completed in these fields.
- Emphasise your ability to maintain the nuances, tone, and context of the original text in translations, and give examples of challenging projects that demonstrate this skill.
- Mention any CAT tools (Computer-Assisted Translation) you are proficient with, such as SDL Trados or MemoQ, and your knowledge of quality assurance practices for translations.
- Include your familiarity with localisation and cultural adaptation, referencing specific projects where you've ensured the content was appropriate for the target audience.
- Make note of your average words per hour or pages per day translation output to give a potential employer an idea of your work pace.
- Detail your experience with proofreading and editing translated texts, stressing attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.
- List any experience you have in project management for translation projects, including coordination between other linguists, clients, and managing timelines.
- Specify whether you've worked with direct clients or through agencies, and how that experience has shaped your approach to customer service and communication.
Work Experience
Technical Translation Specialist
GlobalWords Translations
01/2017-12/2019
- Translated over 500,000 words of technical documentation for engineering firms, enhancing the clarity and accessibility of complex materials for global clients.
- Worked closely with subject matter experts to ensure accurate representation of specialised concepts in translations, significantly reducing client review and revision time by 30%.
- Developed and maintained a glossary of technical terms in collaboration with clients, ensuring consistent terminology across all projects and improving translation efficiency.
Work Experience
E-commerce Localization Manager
TranslatePlus
06/2014-08/2017
- Implemented a streamlined translation workflow using CAT tools for a major e-commerce client, increasing productivity by 40% and ensuring timely delivery of project deliverables.
- Led a team of language experts to localise website content into 5 languages, directly contributing to a 20% uptick in international traffic and customer engagement.
- Managed project timelines and budgets effectively, resulting in high client satisfaction rates and securing repeat business worth over £200,000.
Work Experience
Literary Translation Expert
WorldLit Translations
03/2011-11/2013
- Provided high-quality, culturally adapted translations for over 40 novels and literary texts, broadening the market reach of several award-winning authors.
- Fostered partnerships with publishers to ensure translation nuances were preserved, resulting in positive reviews from literary critics for maintaining the original tones and styles.
- Spearheaded a collaborative initiative with other freelance translators to share best practices on literary adaptation, enhancing the overall quality of work within the network.
Work Experience
Legal Translation Consultant
LexisTrans Global
05/2009-04/2012
- Handled sensitive legal document translation for corporate mergers and acquisitions, playing a pivotal role in the facilitation of international deals and agreements.
- Ensured zero-error tolerance in translations of contracts and legal correspondences by implementing rigorous quality control procedures, safeguarding clients against potential legal issues.
- Collaborated with legal teams to develop a comprehensive legal terminology database that significantly expedited the translation process for future projects.
Work Experience
Video Game Localization Specialist
PixelPerfect Localisations
02/2019-Ongoing
- Orchestrated the translation and localisation of multiple video games, contributing to a 25% rise in sales in non-English speaking markets.
- Pioneered the use of AI-assisted translation tools to enhance the speed of localisation without compromising the playful tone and cultural relevance, delighting clients and end-users.
- Established a robust feedback loop with gaming communities to continually refine translations post-launch, ensuring an immersive and authentic gaming experience for all players.
Work Experience
Medical Translation Services Provider
HealthWords International
10/2012-07/2016
- Delivered accurate and timely medical translations for pharmaceutical companies, contributing to the expedited international release of new drugs and treatments.
- Coordinated with healthcare professionals to ensure that translations of medical reports and clinical trial data adhered to sector-specific regulatory standards, facilitating smooth operational progress.
- Conducted in-depth translation reviews and adaptation for patient-facing materials, ensuring comprehension and user-friendliness while maintaining medical accuracy.
Work Experience
Environmental Science Translator
EcoScript Translations
09/2015-01/2019
- Executed a comprehensive translation project for international environmental studies, supporting advocacy groups in disseminating critical research to diverse audiences worldwide.
- Actively participated in workshops to align translation practices with the evolving terminology of climate science, underpinning efforts to convey urgency and accuracy in global communications.
- Championed the adoption of eco-friendly work practices within the freelance translator community, reducing paper usage by digitising the majority of the translation process.
Work Experience
Marketing Translation Professional
BrandBridge Linguistics
08/2013-05/2018
- Facilitated cross-cultural communication for international marketing campaigns, adapting branding messages that resonated with new markets and increased brand visibility by 35%.
- Utilised cutting-edge localisation software to maintain brand voice consistency across multiple languages and platforms, driving a cohesive global marketing strategy.
- Empowered client decision-making with clear, concise translations of market analysis reports, enabling them to capitalise on emerging market trends and opportunities.
How to ensure your freelance translator CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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PRO TIP
If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your freelance translator CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your freelance translator CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your freelance translator CV:
HARD SKILLS
Linguistic proficiency in source and target languages
Translation and localisation
Knowledge of translation software tools
Cultural intelligence and cultural references understanding
Terminology research skills
Proofreading and editing skills
Subject matter expertise in relevant fields
Time management and meeting deadlines
Transcription abilities
SEO and keyword integration for web translation
SOFT SKILLS
Attention to detail
Critical thinking
Adaptability
Problem-solving
Client relationship management
Communication skills
Reliability and punctuality
Continuous learning and self-development
Negotiation skills
Teamwork and collaboration
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your freelance translator CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your freelance translator CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education, select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:
- List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
- Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
- Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your freelance translator CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
