Are Your CV and Cover Letter in English? – ATAR009 - a podcast by Winn Trivette II - A Translation Ace

Are your resume and cover letter in English?



Hello and welcome to the Atranslationace.com Radio Blog, Episode 9 – Are Your CV and Cover Letter in English?



I’m Professor Winn – a certified English instructor, and certified translator from Spanish, Portuguese, and French to English for more than 10 years.



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To listen to today’s audio or to read the blog, please visit: atranslationace.com/ep009.



Download the Show Notes at: atranslationace.com/ep009a.



The global economy and its universal language, English, open thousands of doors to bilingual professionals like you!



Perhaps you eye an internship in Australia, an au pair position in the United Kingdom (UK), a fellowship in Canada, or your big job in the United States (US).



Thus, your curriculum vitae (CV) and cover letter in English are indispensable.



To start, unlike the rest of the world though, a resume is preferred, especially in the US. From the French word resumir, a resume is a shorter summary of your knowledge, skills, and education.



Read on to learn how to prepare your resume for the English-speaking world and get ready to kick your career into high gear!



 

Convert Your CV into a Resume

Usually, your first contact with a potential employer is a black and white copy of your resume.



The old saying is true – you have one chance to make a great impression.



So, get your CV prepared for translation into English.



In my experience, students and professionals believe an English version of their CV suffices. It does not!



Thus, before translating your CV into an English resume, follow these 5 tips.



 

5 Tips for Translating Your CV/Resume into English

Some pre-steps are necessary to prepare your CV for your translator.



First, consider customization of your resume for the particular position you seek.



Some job candidates in the US have (or should!) three or more types of resumes depending on the type of position in question.



Think of the job experiences, and skills you need for that particular position and only add them to your resume.



If this requires a rewrite of your resume, then do it to get the job are applying for.



Second, remember, the purpose of a resume is to get an interview, not a job. The interview is your main focus here.



Third, you can sell your future employer better if you use active verbs and precise, but exciting adjectives and adverbs.



While a good rule of writing is to use verbs and nouns, your job presentation on paper (resume) should come alive to the hiring person.



Example: Monthly sales were increased by 5% in Q3 2010.

Better: Boosted monthly sales by 5% in Q3 2010.



Fourth, when your translator converts your CV into an English resume, make sure these elements are present:



Clarity

Good Organization

Easy to Read at a glance

Short in Words and Length

Customized to the particular position



Here is a quick guide to handle very personal information common in a CV:



–Date of birth / Age – YES in the UK, NO in the USA

– Nationality – YES in the UK, NO in the USA

– Sex – YES in the UK, NO in the USA

– Marital Status – YES in the UK, NO in the USA



Plus, skip your photo in the US and Australia. It will seem strange to include it.



Finally, it is your cover letter,

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