A CV in another language
Applying abroad, or to an international team? The right language for your CV is usually the advert's. Here is how to decide, and what to check.
The cvscored team
Check your CV against a job. Free, no account.
Add your CV and the job. You see your match score and how far it can rise.
We never train AI on your CV. Hosted in Germany under GDPR.
Contents
Step by step
Look at the advert's language first
Write in the language of the advert, unless it says otherwise. If it asks for documents in English, send English ones.
Check which language the job needs
An advert in English may still need German in the team. Read the requirements, not only the language of the text.
State your levels honestly
Use the European levels A1 to C2, or native for your first language. Name the level you can show in an interview.
Adapt, do not only translate
Use job titles and degree names a local reader understands. Explain a qualification the reader may not know.
Check every line yourself
Read the new version aloud. Names, numbers, dates and tools must match the original exactly.
Keep the versions in step
When you change one version, change the others. An old line in one language is easy to miss.
Which language to choose
EURES, the European job network, gives a simple rule: write in the employer's language or the advert's, unless the advert says otherwise.
It adds that English is often the accepted language for jobs across borders.
If the advert is in German and the team works in German, a German CV shows you can work in it.
If the advert is in English, an English CV is the safe choice, even in Germany.
Not sure? Use the advert's language, and say in the letter which other languages you work in.
Your language levels, stated clearly
Employers across Europe know the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference: A1 and A2, B1 and B2, C1 and C2.
Europass, the EU's CV service, publishes a self-assessment grid. It describes each level for listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Give your level for each language, and a certificate if you have one. Do not round up: the interview will show it.
For languages other than your first, a level is clearer than words such as "good" or "business fluent".
Translate the meaning, not only the words
A job title can mean different things in two countries. Use the title a local reader would use for the same work.
Degrees and grades do not translate one to one. Name the degree as it is, and add a short, plain explanation if needed.
Keep company names, product names and tools as they are.
Check how the country writes dates and decimals.
EURES also notes that some jobs, for example in the public sector, may ask for a certified translation of your qualifications.
Letters and form answers
The letter follows the CV's language. Greetings and closings differ by country, so use the local form.
Answer form questions in the language they are asked in.
If you are not fluent in the advert's language, do not hide it. Name your level and say how you would work.
How cvscored helps
The app is in ten languages. cvscored writes your CV and cover letter in six: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch.
You keep one CV per language. Edit one, and cvscored marks the others out of date.
You build the CV and letter as PDFs, in the languages you choose.
The letter gets the greeting and closing for the country you apply in.
Answers to form questions are drafted in the question's language. Read every line before you send it.
Lena Hoffmann chooses a language for each job
Lena Hoffmann is the made-up person in our examples. German is her first language, her English is fluent and her Spanish is B1. The jobs are made up.
| The advert | Her choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Northwind Logistics, Berlin: advert in German | A German CV and letter | The advert and the team work in German. |
| Vasara Analytics, Amsterdam: advert in English | Her English CV and letter | The advert asks for documents in English. |
| A bank in Zurich: advert in English, German a plus | English CV, with her German stated as native | English is asked for; her German is a strength to name. |
| A logistics firm in Madrid: advert in Spanish, fluent Spanish required | She does not apply yet | Her Spanish is B1, and the job needs more. |
An invented example.
Good points
- A CV in the reader's language is quicker to read.
- Clear levels avoid a surprise in the interview.
Not so good
- Each version needs its own check.
- Versions get out of step if you edit only one.
Checklist
- The CV is in the advert's language, unless it asks otherwise.
- Each language has a level: A1 to C2, or native.
- Job titles read naturally in the new language.
- Degrees are named and briefly explained.
- Names, numbers and dates match the original.
- The letter uses the local greeting and closing.
- All versions say the same thing.
One honest limit
A good translation makes your experience easy to read. It does not replace the language skills a job needs, and you still read every line before you send it.
Sources
Checked on .
- EURES, 6 steps to starting a professional career abroad, part 2: eures.europa.eu/6-steps-starting-professional-career-abroad-part-2-2019-07-12_en
- Europass, create your Europass CV: europass.europa.eu/en/create-europass-cv
- Europass, Common European Framework of Reference for language skills: europass.europa.eu/en/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills
Key takeaways
- The advert's language first.
- Levels, not vague words.
- Translate meaning, keep names and numbers.
- Change all versions together.
Frequently asked questions
- Should my CV be in English or in the local language?
- In the advert's language, unless the advert asks otherwise. For international teams, English is often accepted.
- Should I send my CV in two languages?
- Send one, in the language the advert asks for. Keep the other ready for the interview.
- How do I write my language level?
- Use the levels A1 to C2, or native for your first language. Add a certificate if you have one.
- Is a machine translation enough?
- It is a start. Read every line, fix the job titles, and check names, numbers and dates.
- Do I need a certified translation of my degree?
- Usually not for the CV. EURES notes that some jobs, for example in the public sector, may ask for one.
- Which languages can cvscored write my CV in?
- Six: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. The app itself is in ten languages.