How to Show Bilingual Skills on a Resume

Bilingual Skills on a Resume | Tips & Examples

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Providing a detailed description of your unique skills is a great way to get your resume noticed, especially if one of those skills is being bilingual. When looking for a job, it can be challenging to stand out from all of the other competing applicants. This article explains why it’s a good idea to list bilingual skills in your resume, provides steps for how to effectively showcase these abilities, and addresses frequently asked questions regarding listing language skills on a resume.

Why is it important to show bilingual skills in your resume?

Listing language skills is almost always a way to increase your employability and earning potential when looking for a position. If you are proficient in more than one language, talking about it on your resume can greatly improve your chances of getting hired.

Benefits of including bilingual skills in your resume

Here are the benefits of making hiring managers aware of your bilingualism:

  • Demonstrates an ability to help their company create and pursue new opportunities
  • Highlights your awareness of other cultures
  • Tailors your resume to align with a job description
  • Shows your cognitive abilities and knowledge
  • Sets yourself apart from the other applicants
  • Demonstrates an ability to remain flexible and adapt to a wide range of situations

When you speak another language, you are a valuable asset to the organization, especially with companies that communicate with international clients or customers.

How to show language skills in your resume

Here are some steps you can take when including bilingual skills in your resume.

1. First, decide where to list your language skills

Where you place your bilingual skills on your resume will vary depending on their relevance to the position you are applying for. Typically, you can place linguistic abilities in the skills section of your resume. Still, some people prefer to create a separate Languages section to draw attention to their bilingual abilities. Before determining where you should place your language skills, examine the job description to determine how beneficial bilingualism will be for the position.

Options for placement of your bilingual skills in your resume:

  • If your bilingual skills will benefit the employer and are relevant to the position, place them in the skills or languages section at the top of your resume to make them more apparent. It’s usually a good idea to place this section just below your resume objective or summary. If bilingualism is a required skill to be considered for the role, make sure to mention your language skills in your resume objective and your cover letter in addition to your resume.
  • If the ability to speak another language is more of an unrelated bonus, you can place the skills on your resume, but it is unnecessary to make it a focal point. Instead, place your skills or languages section lower on your resume after your education and professional experience sections.

2. Second, gauge your proficiency

When listing language skills on your resume, you need to include the general level of your ability. It can be beneficial to take a language proficiency test to accurately describe your bilingual abilities on your resume. Unless this skill is essential to the job, limiting the description of your proficiency level to one or two words will suffice. The specific proficiency levels can be worded or categorized differently depending on the resource. Still, some primary levels are commonly used for resumes.

Examples of proficiency levels:

  • Beginner. Sometimes referred to as an elementary or basic proficiency, this skill level indicates a limited vocabulary and basic understanding. It’s best to refrain from listing a language on your resume if you have only a beginner proficiency level.
  • Intermediate. You can have basic interactions at an intermediate level of proficiency but still struggle with making syntax and grammatical errors.
  • Proficient/fluent. Those who are proficient in a language possess a high level of skill but speak the language less easily than a native speaker.
  • Native. Native speakers have mastered a language in all areas, including speaking, writing, and reading.

3. Third, describe your skill

Along with providing your level of proficiency, it can be beneficial to include details about where you learned a second language and how long you have spent studying it. For example, you could say, ‘Studied Spanish at the University of Miami for four years,’ or ‘Born into a bilingual home with family members speaking both English and French daily.’

4. Fourth, detail how you’ve used bilingual skills

If bilingual skills are relevant to the position you are applying for, consider highlighting some of the ways you’ve used your mastery of a second language. This may help provide employers with a clearer idea of your abilities in this area. For example, you could mention that you worked at a foreign-speaking summer camp, completed a bilingual translation, or tutored someone in the language. This showcases that your knowledge of the language goes past a basic understanding and that you have experience applying it to real-life situations.

5. Finally, provide proof

Some employers may prefer that you provide evidence of your bilingual abilities, especially if they are relevant to the position. You can include any type of confirmation of your skills, such as certifications or standardized exam grades, in a dedicated section for your certifications and/or awards. If you are in an interview setting, simply speaking to the hiring team in your fluent languages demonstrates your ability and verifies the claims listed on your resume.

Frequently asked questions about bilingualism on resumes

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding listing languages on a resume.

What does it mean to be bilingual?

The word bilingual literally means having two tongues in Latin, which can be translated as a person’s ability to fluently speak two different languages.

What is bilingual proficiency?

When someone is proficient at something, they possess a high level of skill or expertise in that specific area. There are different levels of proficiency that you can possess in languages, ranging from an elementary understanding to a fluent or native speaker.

Is being bilingual a skill?

Bilingualism is a valuable skill that can be an asset throughout your career. Just like with many other skills, bilingualism requires training and practice to become proficient. Additionally, it requires analytical skills and a developed memory.

Why is being bilingual an advantage?

Aside from the many cognitive benefits associated with speaking several languages, bilingualism is an advantage on a resume because it indicates a person’s ability to communicate with a wider range of customers and clients.

Is being trilingual impressive to employers?

With every language that you master, you increase your chances of employability. Multilingualism is an asset in any organization and skill that employers actively search for when seeking candidates for a position, especially with international companies that can benefit from such employees.


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