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Time to Update Your CV – A Guide for Freelance Translators

Most of my daily work involves recruiting freelance translators. I send hundreds of emails and screen dozens of CVs every week. I have held the role of Resource Administrator for a year and during this time I have been able to interact with translators from all around the globe. This has given me an overview of how freelance translators present themselves to their potential clients.

Recruiting freelance translators is not an easy job. The market is endless and finding the right freelance translator for your projects can seem like finding a needle in a haystack. Personal impressions play a big part in the recruitment process. We all have different personalities, priorities and goals and this should be clearly shown on your CV. Together with your introductory e-mail, this is the first impression your new client will have of your business. Therefore, I would like to share with you my opinion of what makes a successful freelance translator CV.

As a freelancer, you are not applying for any position within the company but you are offering your services as a professional. That is where the CV of a freelance translator must differ from a regular job-seeker's CV. The recruitment process is also different, so the information you hand to the recruiter varies.

In my opinion, you should always have an up-to-date version of your CV within reach; whether you are looking for new clients, or you just want your existing customers to have an updated version of the one you gave them 10 years ago. First thing you might think, “I want my CV to reflect my experience and skills in a professional way”. Being a freelancer looking for new clients, you can’t afford to appear unprofessional to your clients and peers.

Your CV should be short, informative and colourful. As I said before, skills and experience aside, you want to show your personality and you should choose a design that is most relevant to you. The way you choose to present your professional career to your potential clients is the most exciting part, in my opinion.



You can choose the layout according to the content you would like to add, the most important thing is that the information should be clearly visible and understandable to the recruiter. Your contact details, language combination, years of experience, favourite subject matters and services and CAT tools (or lack of them) are essential on a CV. It is always relevant to mention any membership, certification or even your usual availability per week.

Regarding publications or past projects you have worked on, I am in favour of keeping a CV and a portfolio separately. Your CV should show your skills and your portfolio can list the clients you have worked for and/or the different projects you have been involved in. Nowadays, there is an increasing focus on CPD recording. Your CV and portfolio are the best places to record and demonstrate to your clients all the new skills you have acquired.


I hope you find this advice useful when creating your new CV. Advertising your new skills, and the development of your career, is the best way to win new clients and projects. Best of luck!



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