How to Translate Your Resume for International Jobs
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Translating your resume for international jobs involves more than language conversion. Learn exactly what to change, keep, and adapt for different countries to maximize your chances.
Never Use Direct Translation for Job Titles
Direct translation often creates confusion. A “Senior Manager” in the US might be called “Responsable Principal” in France or “主管” in China, but these don’t carry the same weight. Instead:
- Research equivalent positions on LinkedIn in your target country
- Look at job postings for similar roles to find local terminology
- Use parentheses to clarify: “Product Manager (Chef de Produit equivalent)”
- Keep your original title if it’s widely recognized (like “CEO” or “CTO”)
Example: “Marketing Coordinator” → German: “Marketing Manager” (Coordinator doesn’t exist in German corporate hierarchy)
Address Format and Personal Information Rules
Each country has strict rules about what to include:
USA/Canada: Never include photo, age, marital status, or nationality Germany: Must include professional photo, date of birth, and nationality Japan: Include photo, age, gender, and even commute time UAE: Include nationality, visa status, and expected salary
For addresses, use local formatting:
- US: “Chicago, IL 60601”
- UK: “London SW1A 1AA”
- Germany: “10115 Berlin”
Convert Education and Grades Correctly
Don’t just translate your degree name—convert the entire system:
GPA Conversion:
- US GPA 3.7/4.0 → UK: “First Class Honours”
- US GPA 3.7/4.0 → Germany: “1.3 (sehr gut)”
- US GPA 3.7/4.0 → France: “15/20 (Bien)”
Degree Equivalents:
- US “Bachelor’s in Computer Science” → Europe: “BSc (Hons) Computer Science”
- US “Associate Degree” → UK: “Higher National Diploma (HND)”
- US “High School Diploma” → Germany: “Abitur equivalent”
Always include the original credential in parentheses if space allows.
Rewrite Achievement Bullets for Cultural Context
Americans love numbers and individual achievements. Europeans prefer team contributions. Asians value company loyalty and gradual progression.
Original (US-style): “Increased sales by 150% in 6 months, outperforming all regional managers”
For Germany: “Contributed to 150% sales growth through systematic process improvements and team collaboration”
For Japan: “Supported company’s sales objectives, achieving 150% growth alongside dedicated team members”
For UK: “Delivered 150% sales increase through strategic initiatives and stakeholder management”
Handle Salary and References Strategically
Include salary information:
- Middle East: Yes (expected and current)
- Germany/Switzerland: Yes (expected)
- Asia: Sometimes (depends on company)
- US/UK/Canada: Never
References section:
- US: “References available upon request” or omit entirely
- UK: Include 2 references with contact details
- Germany: Include reference letters as attachments
- France: Don’t mention references at all
Use Professional Translation Services Wisely
Free tools fail at resume translation because they miss context. Instead:
- Use Google Translate for the first draft
- Have a native speaker in your industry review it
- Pay special attention to:
- Action verbs (managed, led, developed have different connotations)
- Technical terms (may not translate at all)
- Company names (keep original or add explanation)
Red flags to fix immediately:
- Awkward phrasing that sounds “translated”
- Terms that don’t exist in the target language
- Culturally inappropriate content
- Formatting that looks foreign
Need Professional Resume Translation?
For faster results, try OpenL Online Resume Translator. It maintains your original formatting while translating to 100+ languages—perfect for when you need accurate translations without losing your resume’s professional appearance.
Remember: A poorly translated resume is worse than one in English. Many international companies accept English resumes, so when in doubt, provide both versions or use professional translation tools that preserve your document’s integrity.
