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Resume example

Translator resume example

A translator renders written documents from one language into another, almost always into their native language. The texts change with the specialisation: contracts and court papers, user manuals and safety data sheets, marketing copy, subtitles or novels.

A working day is a mix of reading the source text closely, researching terminology, translating in a CAT tool such as Trados or memoQ, building glossaries and translation memories, and revising either your own work or a colleague's. Deadlines often come from agencies juggling several clients, so you also negotiate turnaround times and ask the client questions when the source is ambiguous. In France most translators are freelance, while some work in-house for international organisations, large companies or translation agencies.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Translator English and Spanish into French | Legal and Financial Documents

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Freelance translator for [x] years, working from English and Italian into French. I specialise in legal and corporate documents (contracts, articles of association, annual reports) for agencies and law firms, and I manage terminology databases for my regular clients.

Experience

Freelance Translator, English and German into French, [City]

[month year] to present

  • Translated maintenance manuals and safety instructions for industrial equipment manufacturers through [x] agencies
  • Built and maintained client-specific termbases in Trados Studio, shared with other translators on the account
  • Post-edited machine translation output for a software publisher, following its style guide and terminology
  • Revised colleagues' translations for consistency and accuracy before delivery
  • Handled formatted files directly in InDesign to deliver print-ready documents

Resume headlines

  • Translator English and Spanish into French | Legal and Financial Documents
  • Technical Translator (Traducteur technique) German into French | Industry and Engineering
  • Audiovisual Translator | Subtitling and Dubbing Scripts, English into French

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Recent graduate of a master's in specialised translation, with an internship at a translation agency in [City] where I translated technical documentation from English and German into French and maintained client glossaries in memoQ.

Experienced

Freelance translator for [x] years, working from English and Italian into French. I specialise in legal and corporate documents (contracts, articles of association, annual reports) for agencies and law firms, and I manage terminology databases for my regular clients.

Career change

Former export sales assistant who translated product sheets and contracts as part of my job for years. I completed a translation diploma to make it my profession and now focus on industrial and commercial texts from English into French.

Tips

  • Write language pairs with the direction clearly (English into French), never just a list of languages.
  • Put your specialisations near the top, because agencies search their databases by domain.
  • Mention your CAT tools and their versions; many agencies require a specific one.
  • If you are a sworn translator, indicate the court of appeal where you are registered.
  • Offer a reference list of document types rather than client names you are not allowed to disclose.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Claiming to translate into a language that is not your native one without proof of that level.
  • Listing too many specialisations, which makes none of them credible.
  • Leaving a single error in the French version of your CV.
  • Hiding post-editing experience, which agencies increasingly look for.

Working as a translator in France

Search for 'Traducteur' or 'Traductrice', with your field: 'traducteur technique', 'traducteur juridique', 'traducteur audiovisuel'. Translation is not a regulated profession in France, but certified translations of official documents (civil status records, diplomas, judgments) must be done by a 'traducteur expert judiciaire' registered with a court of appeal. Employers and agencies tend to recruit from master's programmes in translation such as ESIT, ISIT or university masters. Most translators work freelance under the micro-entrepreneur status or as an independent business, and literary translators are often paid as authors. Native English speakers are mostly sought for French into English work.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a translation degree to work in France?

No law requires one, and some translators come from a degree in another field plus strong language skills. In practice, agencies and direct clients favour master's degrees in translation from universities such as ESIT or ISIT, especially for specialised work.

What is a sworn translator in France?

A 'traducteur expert judiciaire' is registered on a list kept by a court of appeal and can certify translations of official documents. Registration involves an application and an assessment of your experience; it is not open to beginners.

Should my CV mention machine translation post-editing?

Yes. Many agencies now send post-editing jobs, and they want translators who can judge when a machine output must be fully rewritten. Mention the type of content and the tools you used.

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