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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.
Get your competitive advantage with my translations.
Send me details of your translation project and upload your digital or scanned files at:
Atranslationace.com/contact
I will respond with a free quote upon evaluation of your files.
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, not resume, that should s-e-l-l.
In your cover letter, make the employer, internship coordinator, or fellowship advisor want to interview you.
Do not repeat your resume, though.
Create a sales pitch to help you stand out from the crowd so you get the interview and hopefully, the job!
Your certified translator can help you write your resume and cover letter.
Let me – Professor Winn – transcreate your Resume and Cover Letter in English.
Transcreation is a combination of translation and creation – transcreation.
Your certified translator is your partner to help you accomplish your career goal.
She or he can help you trans-create your resume and cover letter to fit a particular job position.
You provide the basic information in your CV and if possible, in a cover letter.
Then let your translator who knows what an employer seeks to help you customize your resume and cover letter.
If you really want a certain job, fellowship, internship, or scholarship, invest in a certified translator to perfect your sales presentation on paper.
When you pass the interview, you can feel the relief and prepare for the next phase of your exciting career in an English-speaking country.
Your Turn
Professor Winn is available to translate (and customize?) your CV and cover letter in English.
He is a certified translator of more than 10 years.
If you have a CV and/or cover letter in Spanish, Portuguese, or French, contact him at Atranslationace.com/contact to take the first step to a better career!
