RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Translation Resume Into a Hiring Magnet
Identify and correct the most common pitfalls that keep recruiters from seeing your language expertise.
How This Page Helps
Help translators spot critical resume flaws and apply proven fixes so they stand out to hiring managers and ATS platforms.
Spot the 7 most frequent translator resume errors
Learn concrete, ATS‑friendly fixes for each mistake
See before‑and‑after resume snippets
Download a ready‑to‑use checklist and PDF workshop
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Missing Language Pair SpecificsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters can’t tell which language combinations you master
- ATS keywords for language pairs are omitted, reducing match rate
- Clients may assume you lack the required expertise
How to fix
- Create a dedicated "Languages" section
- List each language pair with proficiency level (e.g., English → Spanish, native)
- Include relevant certifications (e.g., ATA, DELE)
❌ Before
Languages: English, Spanish, French
✓ After
Languages: - English → Spanish (Native) – Certified ATA - English → French (Professional) – DELF B2
ATS Tip
Use exact language‑pair phrases like "English to Spanish translation" as keywords
Detection Rules
Absence of "→" or "to" between languages
No proficiency level or certification listed
Resumly Tip
Add a concise language‑pair table to boost both readability and ATS hits.
Using Generic Job TitlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- “Translator” alone blends with hundreds of candidates
- Hiring managers miss niche expertise (e.g., legal, medical)
- ATS may not match specialized keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with specific ones (e.g., "Legal Translator – English/Spanish")
- Add a subtitle that highlights industry focus
❌ Before
Professional Experience Translator, XYZ Agency, 2018‑Present
✓ After
Professional Experience Legal Translator – English/Spanish, XYZ Agency, 2018‑Present
ATS Tip
Include industry modifiers (legal, medical, technical) in the title
Detection Rules
Job title exactly "Translator" without qualifier
Resumly Tip
Tailor each role title to the market you’re targeting for maximum impact.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters skim for results, not responsibilities
- ATS scores lower when bullet points lack action verbs and metrics
- You appear as a task‑doer rather than a value‑adder
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong verb
- Quantify results (e.g., words translated, turnaround time)
- Show impact on client satisfaction or revenue
❌ Before
- Translated documents for clients. - Managed translation workflow.
✓ After
- Delivered 150,000+ words of legal contracts per quarter with 99.8% accuracy, reducing client revision time by 30%. - Streamlined workflow by implementing memoQ, cutting project turnaround by 20%.
ATS Tip
Use verbs like "delivered," "optimized," "increased" and embed keywords such as "localization," "proofreading"
Detection Rules
Bullets begin with "Responsible for" or lack numbers
Resumly Tip
Swap duty‑focused lines for achievement‑driven statements to capture attention.
Poor Presentation of Translation ToolsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers look for tool proficiency quickly
- ATS may miss tool names if buried in paragraphs
- Lack of clarity suggests limited tech skills
How to fix
- Create a separate "Tools & Technologies" section
- List each tool with proficiency level (e.g., Advanced)
- Mention tools within achievement bullets when relevant
❌ Before
Experienced with CAT tools. Used SDL Trados occasionally.
✓ After
Tools & Technologies: - SDL Trados Studio – Advanced (used for 3+ years, 200+ projects) - memoQ – Proficient (implemented workflow automation)
ATS Tip
Include exact tool names as keywords; avoid abbreviations only
Detection Rules
Tool names appear inside paragraph text
No proficiency level provided
Resumly Tip
A clean tools list makes both humans and bots instantly recognize your tech stack.
Including Unrelated ExperienceLOW
Why it hurts
- Clutters the resume and distracts from core translation skills
- ATS weight drops when irrelevant keywords dominate
- Recruiters may question your career focus
How to fix
- Remove jobs that don’t showcase language or translation work
- If kept, frame them to highlight transferable skills (e.g., communication, research)
- Keep the resume to 1‑2 pages focused on translation
❌ Before
Sales Associate, Retail Store, 2015‑2017 - Assisted customers with purchases. - Managed inventory.
✓ After
Freelance Content Editor, 2015‑2017 - Edited multilingual marketing copy, sharpening attention to nuance and terminology—skills directly applicable to translation quality control.
ATS Tip
Prioritize translation‑related roles; keep unrelated roles to a brief line if they add value
Detection Rules
Job titles unrelated to language work appear without context
Resumly Tip
Trim the resume to showcase only language‑centric experience for a sharper narrative.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Languages, Tools & Technologies, Professional Experience, Education & Certifications, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Translator.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (max 2 for senior translators)
Date Format: MMM YYYY (e.g., Jan 2022)
Location Format: City, Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Include a clear language‑pair table
- Use specific job titles with industry focus
- Show measurable achievements for each role
- List CAT tools with proficiency levels
- Keep the document to 1‑2 pages
- Save as PDF with a clean filename
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: English to Spanish translation, legal localization, CAT tools, memoQ, SDL Trados, terminology management
Heading Format: Use standard headings like "Professional Experience" and "Languages" to match ATS templates
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste the bullet point you want to improve
- Add a strong action verb
- Insert a quantifiable metric
- Mention the translation tool used
- Highlight the client or industry
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