How to translate a resume for a job in another language
Applying in another country often means the job description and the resume should share the same language. Translating a generic English resume without first aligning it to the JD can preserve the wrong emphasis — the skills a machine-translated resume highlights are whatever your original resume happened to emphasize, not what this specific employer is screening for.
Why match before you translate
A resume is a set of choices about what to emphasize: which bullets lead, which skills sit in the summary, which tools get named outright. Translation carries those choices over faithfully — it doesn't add or remove emphasis, it just moves the same words into another language. If the underlying resume was written for a different role, or no role in particular, the translated version inherits the same mismatch, just now in Spanish or German instead of English.
Matching against the actual posting first — closing keyword and skill gaps, reordering bullets toward what the JD asks for — means the version you translate is already aligned to the job. Translation then preserves the right emphasis instead of a generic one.
The process, step by step
- Upload your resume and paste the job description. The matcher needs both to know what to check for.
- Close the skill and responsibility gaps you can honestly support. Add what's true and missing; skip anything you can't back up in an interview.
- Generate and edit the tailored version in your source language. This is the version that gets translated — get the substance right first.
- Translate the structured resume into the target language. Section layout, headings, and formatting carry over; only the text changes.
- Skim names, tools, and certifications, then download PDF or Word. Some terms are worth keeping in the original language — see below.
What actually gets translated
Translation updates the structured resume preview — summary, experience, skills, and related sections — so the underlying layout stays intact. The output keeps the same document structure, just in the new language, which is what keeps it ATS-parseable afterward instead of turning into a loosely-formatted paste job.
Supported languages: German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, Hindi, Chinese, Arabic, Korean, Italian, and Turkish, with more depending on your account settings.
What to keep in the original language
- Product and tool names — "Kubernetes," "Salesforce," "Figma" are searched for in their original form by recruiters and ATS filters regardless of resume language.
- Certifications with fixed abbreviations — a "PMP" or "CPA" is usually recognized as-is; translating the acronym can make it unsearchable.
- Company and school names — translate the description around them, not the proper nouns themselves.
- Local conventions — some markets expect different date formats, phone number formats, or a photo on the resume. Match the job description's country when in doubt.
Pick your language
A few markets have their own dedicated guide with country- and language-specific tips: Spanish, Hindi, German, and French. Applying to a specific country? See jobs in Germany or jobs in India.
FAQ
Do I have to match the JD before translating? You don't have to, but skipping it means the translated resume carries over whatever emphasis the original had — not necessarily what this employer is screening for.
Will translation break my formatting? No — translation updates the structured resume preview in place, so section layout and formatting carry over; only the text changes.
Is translation included on the Free plan? Yes, translation is unlimited on the Free plan.
Start from the homepage, or see how it works for the full flow. Translation is included on the Free plan — details on pricing.