
How to list language skills on your resume
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Did you know that only 43% of the world’s population is bilingual? The percentage of the world population skilled in multiple languages is even lower. Only around 17% of the world’s population is multilingual. This is why your proficiency in e second or third language will be an asset for your job search.
Globalization has made language skills an essential requirement for many jobs across multiple industries. Employers are actively on the lookout for multilingual candidates today. If you speak multiple languages, you must mention it properly on your resume to grab the attention of recruiters.
Is it necessary to include language skills on your resume?
Though it may seem like you only need to mention language skills for jobs that specifically ask for them, resume experts have a different opinion. They believe that real language proficiencies are important and must always be mentioned on a resume. However, the importance you assign to language skills can differ based on the type of job.
Whenever language skill is a job requirement…
Add a separate Languages section to your resume and mention the languages in which you are skilled. Don’t simply mention languages by name, elaborate on them a little. You can even mention your level of proficiency and experience using the language.
First, determine your language proficiency
You must be able to speak, read, and write the language to be able to say that you are proficient in it. If you have only studied a language as a hobby and are only slightly familiar with it, it wouldn’t really be an asset for your resume.
To describe your level of language proficiency…
There are multiple proficiency level standards used to describe language proficiency. One simple method is the standards used by LinkedIn, which is based on the U.S. Foreign Service Institute's Interagency Language Round-table scale (ILR). This system is applicable all over the globe and has 6 levels:
- 1.Native/Bilingual
- 2.Full professional proficiency
- 3.Professional working proficiency
- 4.Limited working proficiency
- 5.Elementary proficiency
- 6.No proficiency/Novice
First, you should identify your level of language proficiency
Read the descriptions provided for each language proficiency level and assess where you stand with your languages. Always be accurate when selecting your level. Language skills are not something that you can lie about for long. A hiring manager can easily discover the truth if you exaggerate your language skills. Don’t underestimate your language skills if you are afraid that your proficiency has become a bit rusty with the lack of use.
Where should you include your language proficiencies on a resume?
You can mention language skills in several places on your resume. Usually, language skills are displayed in the education section, skills section, or in a separate section of its own. You can choose the place based on how important language skills are for the job.
Mention language skills in the skills section if it’s an additional skill
If the job description does not ask for language proficiency, you can simply mention your language skills in the skills section of your resume. Since it is not a vital piece of information, you don’t need to waste resume space creating a separate section. Write in a way that grabs the recruiter’s attention without much fuss.
Add your language skills in a separate Language Skills section if the job requires it
Some job descriptions will ask candidates to be skilled in several languages or a specific language. Create a separate Languages section for your resume. You can mention the language, your proficiency level, and your experience using the language briefly in this section.
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