What Goes Into a CV for a Translator? - Writing Your CV

What Goes Into a CV for a Translator? - Writing Your CV

A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a long, extremely detailed type of resume that is often used outside the United States. You might also be required to send in a CV if you are applying for a job in industries such as law, medicine, science, and education. In the United Kingdom, a CV is equivalent to the standard resume used in the United States. Writing a CV can be daunting for someone who has never had to write anything other than a resume. Here are some tips for writing your first CV.

The first part of your CV will include personal information such as your name, address, and phone number. You will also need to include a photograph of yourself. A passport-style picture will work just fine. Do not include your social security number or passport information. Employers are just looking for basic information in this section. As with any other type of resume or business communication, you do not and should not mention your religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or marital status.

The second section of your CV should include your experience. Try to include all relevant work experience here, working backwards from your most recent position. Leave out positions that are not relevant to your translation career. If you do not have much work experience, simply list your language skills in this section. For example, create a list that includes your native language, languages in which you are fluent, those that you can speak, and those that you can read. Make sure to format this list so that it is easy to read. Make note of any gaps in your work history. If there are any gaps present, include a line that mentions what you were doing. For example, if you took a trip around the world after graduating college, your CV should say so.

Next, you should list your education and skills. As with your work history above, start from the most recent and work backwards. If you did not mention your language skills under the experience section, mention them here. Also include any relevant training in this section. You might also consider including hobbies or interests. Finally, include a list of references. You can choose to list all references here or simply state that references will be available upon request. Although a CV is longer than a resume, you should try to keep it as concise as possible; most employers prefer a CV that is two to three pages long.

-By Adriana Tassini

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