If you speak a second language, you may wonder how to highlight language skills on your resume. Being able to communicate in more than one language can be the key to opening new doors in your career, so you should showcase your language skills as much as possible.
It’s also important to describe your language proficiency accurately without overstating or understating your language skills on your resume.
Learn how to list language skills on your resume so you can put your best foot forward as you work toward your goals.
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Why You Should Include Language Skills on Your Resume
If you are proficient in more than one language, you have a skill that can advance your career. The three most frequently requested languages in job postings, according to Preply, are French, Spanish, and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin).
Consider this: As of May 15, 2022, Indeed has posted over 900 jobs in the U.S. with the keywords “multilingual speaker”. In 2021, Indeed also posted an article on the 13 Best Careers for Multilingual Professionals.
Learning another language is a skill that requires dedication and commitment. In addition, those who are bilingual and multilingual are known to be better multitaskers and problem solvers — qualities you want to make known while job hunting.
Achieving a level of expertise in another language is impressive and should definitely be highlighted, even if you’re not looking for a job where a second language is required.
When to Include Language Skills on Your Resume
Knowing how to add language skills on a resume starts with understanding when you should include them. Consider how your language skills are relevant to the position for which you’re applying. When applying for jobs, you want your resume to be as accurate and honest as possible while highlighting skills that make you a valuable candidate.
If the job listing requires specific language skills, be sure to include information on your language proficiency in your resume. It is also a good idea to mention your language skills in the summary section of your resume to ensure recruiters scanning resumes can see them and can tell you’re confident about your language proficiency.
You may also want to add the languages in which you’re proficient to the skills section of your resume, even if the job listing does not specifically ask for it. Research the company’s locations and determine whether it conducts business internationally. The company may find it valuable for you to have language skills in one of the languages in which they conduct business, especially if the job is public-facing.
Tips for Including Language Skills on Your Resume
Here are some of the main tips to keep in mind when you want to include language skills on your resume.
Determine Your Language Proficiency
Language proficiency can be subjective without the right context or criteria. In other words, your idea of being proficient in a second language may differ from someone else’s, including the recruiter who will be looking over your resume or interviewing you. Being able to carry a conversation in Italian with a waiter in Rome is far different than being able to negotiate trade deals or act as a translator in Italian.
To know how to describe language skills on a resume, you must honestly judge your language skills across four communicative mediums — speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Some employers may be more interested in your ability to write or read in a second language. Others may look for candidates who can speak and listen proficiently in a second language. You need a way to let your potential employers know how well you can communicate in the language and medium they require.
The best way to determine your second language proficiency in an objective way that potential employers can understand is by taking language proficiency tests. Language Testing International® is the exclusive licensee of ACTFL language proficiency tests, which employers and institutions worldwide recognize and trust when determining a candidate’s language proficiency. LTI delivers tests that can be scored in the following proficiency scales:
- The ACTFL proficiency scale
- The Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) proficiency scale
- The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages proficiency scale
When you can include results from an ACTFL test delivered by LTI in one of the above proficiency scales on your resume, a potential employer will have accurate information about your language skills.
Make Your Language Skills Visible Everywhere
Your resume is the first place where you should put your language skills. To ensure recruiters notice these special skills, consider including them both in the skills section and the summary. As recruiters often only skim resumes, writing your language skills at the top of your resume will increase your chances of getting noticed.
LinkedIn is another place where you should highlight your language skills. If a job application process also requires a cover letter, be sure you mention your language skills there, too. Many companies are looking to expand globally in the near future, so even if language skills aren’t required for the job, being proficient will certainly make you a stronger candidate.
Be Clear About Your Language Proficiency
You may know several world languages and want to include your proficiency in each one. Or perhaps you want to get more specific and include your language skills in a particular medium, whether that’s reading, writing, speaking, or listening. Format your resume’s language skills section accordingly and clearly list your proficiency for each language skill you want to showcase.
For the most accurate list, choose a proficiency scale to use to display your language skills. The ACTFL, ILR, or CEFR frameworks of proficiency are common scales for assessing language skills. Then list all languages and mediums you have results for, including the specific results next to each language and medium. Listing these details makes it easy for recruiters to understand your language skills.
Be Specific With Your Examples
Have you used your language skills in professional settings before? Talk about it! Instead of simply stating that you command another language, give specific examples of how you used them.
Having a few concrete examples of how you incorporated your language skills into your work shows the hiring manager your level of ability and your proficiency level. Another idea is to post videos of yourself speaking or presenting in another language on your professional networks, such as LinkedIn. Recruiters searching for candidates will immediately notice them and acknowledge your language skills.
Get Language Proficiency Testing From LTI
The best way to show your language skills on your resume is to include your proficiency rating from ACTFL tests delivered by LTI. We have certification tests for individuals that can accurately assess your language proficiency when you need an objective rating to share with prospective employers. As the exclusive licensee of ACTFL tests, LTI is the leader in delivering language proficiency testing you can trust to achieve your goals. Once your language skills are validated and certified, you will also receive an official digital badge through Credly. A language proficiency badge provides evidence of an indispensable skill and can be easily embedded in your resume, digital signatures, and on digital platforms, such as LinkedIn.
Browse our available tests online and schedule your language assessment today.
