Choose the application language
A job posting often indicates the expected language. An English-language international process may call for an English résumé, but always check the instructions. Keep headings, dates and descriptions in a consistent language throughout the document.
Translate meaning and preserve names
A useful translation preserves the meaning of your experience. Company, tool and brand names usually stay unchanged. A job title may need a brief explanation if there is no direct equivalent. Do not convert a qualification into a foreign credential you do not hold.
- Check job titles and industry terminology.
- Explain local abbreviations the reader may not recognise.
- Keep official certification names where appropriate.
- Review numbers, units, dates and proper names.
Review automated assistance
Machine translation may misinterpret a responsibility, experience level or local expression. Read every section and, when possible, ask someone familiar with both the language and your industry to review it. You should be able to explain your résumé in an interview.
Grammatically correct text can still sound unnatural. Prefer direct sentences and familiar professional vocabulary over literal translations.
Describe your language skills accurately
The language of your document is separate from your ability to work in that language. State your level honestly and only list certifications you hold. If you use a scale such as A1–C2, check what the levels mean rather than assigning one because you translated your résumé.
Review the complete exported version, including headings and date formats, before sending it.