ProZ.com Translation Forums

Translating CV? | Thanks again

Emily Scott — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:17:00 +0000

Forum: Getting established
Topic: Translating CV?
Poster: Emily Scott
Post title: Thanks again

Thanks everyone for your responses and for backing up what I thought. Rest assured, I haven't just been contacting UK agencies (although the bulk of them have been), I just haven't been sure how to approach companies who look like they deal exclusively in French/Italian for fear that I may not be approaching in the right way sending a CV in English and end up wasting mine and their time. I'll definitely be looking at getting French and Italian versions of my CV in the near future, hopefully when I've made a few more pennies :) Thanks again!

Translating CV? | It's an important mark of respect, IMO, but maybe not essential for English speakers

Sheila Wilson — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:07:00 +0000

Forum: Getting established
Topic: Translating CV?
Poster: Sheila Wilson
Post title: It's an important mark of respect, IMO, but maybe not essential for English speakers

[quote]Emily Scott wrote:
I'm nearing the end of my first year as a full-time translator and am starting to run out of English speaking agencies to contact (in the UK anyway). I've been thinking about broadening my search to French/Italian agencies (my source languages) but I'm not sure if I would need to get my CV translated into French and Italian first or if sending my English CV would be acceptable. Any experiences you could share on this matter would be greatly appreciated :) [/quote]
It sounds as though you're only targeting translation agencies (and only UK ones at that, so far :eek: ), never anyone outside the industry. I suppose in that case you can expect to deal exclusively with clients who have a high level of English and perhaps it isn't indispensable to have source-language CVs. It's when you want to contact direct clients and even other intermediaries based in your source-language countries (e.g. website developers, publishers...) that it becomes essential to have your marketing materials available in their language. NB, I've avoided saying "translated" because I really don't think an accurate translation is necessarily the best thing to go for. The CV needs to fit their idea of a good CV and appeal to them, rather than being an accurate translation of what works well for British readers.

I personally see it as a mark of respect to offer to communicate entirely in the client's language. A translator should be able to do that, after all. Just because your contact speaks English doesn't mean they're necessarily very comfortable in it, and for me personally it's important that the client feels comfortable. My current clients certainly get by in English, and occasionally write to me in English, but in the main we communicate in French. I proofread monolingual English texts for a Bulgarian translation agency, but although all communication with the end client is in English, even then contact with the agency is in French as that's their preferred language (after Bulgarian, which I definitely don't prefer). Occasionally, I quote for jobs here that are posted in French. In that case I automatically reply in French and send my French CV. More often, it's all done in English. If I were to cold-call potential clients in a French-speaking country I'd try to find out how they prefer to market themselves. If website, FB page, LinkedIn profile etc were mainly in French I'd write in French, otherwise I'd write in English. I'd send both CVs anyway so they can choose.

Translating CV? | Cv translated

Laura Tosi — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:54:00 +0000

Forum: Getting established
Topic: Translating CV?
Poster: Laura Tosi
Post title: Cv translated

Hi Emily!
I agree with Teresa, I think an English cv is going to be understood almost everywhere, but sending it in the language of the agency would be much appreciated. However, I would suggest you to make it translated or maybe even just proofread by a mothertongue so that it is flawless and makes a good impression. I know many of my friends were surprised when I told them I had my cv translated in my working languages - I must say not when I started my career but later on, when I could afford it... ;) - but I really think it's the best thing you can do. In the past I had to select Italian translators for a job and within tons of cvs one of my criteria was discarding who had typos or gramar mistakes in their Italian cv. I considered it a sign they were not enough detail-oriented. Just my thoughts though! :)
Good luck for everything!

Laura

Translating CV? | Hi Emily

Elizabeth Tamblin (X) — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:47:00 +0000

Forum: Getting established
Topic: Translating CV?
Poster: Elizabeth Tamblin (X)
Post title: Hi Emily

I haven't had mine translated. It's bad enough in English! (I'm rubbish at CVs.) If you have a good one, though, I'm sure it would be a useful thing to have for your future clients.

Translating CV? | @Emily

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:15:00 +0000

Forum: Getting established
Topic: Translating CV?
Poster: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Post title: @Emily

It's not a stupid question at all! As far as my experience goes, most PMs speak English but it will probably be seen as a nice gesture and appreciated if you write in their language provided you are fluent and don’t make any grammar mistakes.

Translating CV? | Thanks!

Emily Scott — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:04:00 +0000

Forum: Getting established
Topic: Translating CV?
Poster: Emily Scott
Post title: Thanks!

Thanks Fiona! I guess if my CV was in an obscure language then I should probably get it translated but with English being quite universal my gut said it should be okay but didn't want to assume - thank you for confirming my thoughts :)

Translating CV? | Not a stupid question!

Fiona Grace Peterson — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:02:00 +0000

Forum: Getting established
Topic: Translating CV?
Poster: Fiona Grace Peterson
Post title: Not a stupid question!

I used to have an Italian version of my CV, then I updated it and didn't get it translated. I've sent it to a lot of agencies in Italy and other non-English speaking countries, and no-one has ever complained.

Translating CV?

Emily Scott — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:44:00 +0000

Forum: Getting established
Topic: Translating CV?
Poster: Emily Scott

This may be a stupid question but here goes. I'm nearing the end of my first year as a full-time translator and am starting to run out of English speaking agencies to contact (in the UK anyway). I've been thinking about broadening my search to French/Italian agencies (my source languages) but I'm not sure if I would need to get my CV translated into French and Italian first or if sending my English CV would be acceptable. Any experiences you could share on this matter would be greatly appreciated :)