How to show language skills on the Resume?
When one sits to analyze how well they speak a foreign language, the answer is almost never as straightforward as “I’m fluent.” However, their skill level is probably somewhere between being able to say “hello” and “goodbye” and total fluency, and that’s a vast central ground to find your place in. When they talk about learning a new language, it’s easy to confuse proficiency for fluency and vice versa. Each level has different characteristics that could impact how your team players learn. As per definition, fluency is a matter of having the same language skill level as a native speaker. Fluent speakers treat their new language like second nature in how they pronounce specific words, phrases, and vocabulary.
If you are applying for a job in India, your resume will most likely be in English, which will show your comprehension of British/American English. Including language proficiency/fluency is a must when making a resume skills list.
Job candidates with language proficiency in their resumes have a significant advantage over monolingual candidates, those who know one language, in many different professional roles and sectors. The language skills one puts on their resume could include any other languages in which they have intermediate, advanced, proficient or native comprehension abilities.
The only thing to consider is whether the language skill section inclusion is relevant or not. The job one is applying for requires the language skills for that position, then one should definitely include and highlight it. If it’s not relevant, it should be included but should not give it much more importance.
- Communication is an extremely critical part of any job, and depending on the role, one may need to communicate with colleagues, managers or customers.
- Knowing a second language shows cultural knowledge, which is an important tool to have since businesses are globalizing across all industries.
- Language skills can help one advance their career in several ways. One can build relationships directly with the employer’s international contacts/clients without going through a translator.
Where to show language skills in Resume:
- On the top of your resume: If the language level is crucial for the position you’re applying to, or it can majorly benefit your employer, add the section right after the resume summary. Emphasize on it.
- After the Work Experience section: If your language level is not crucial for the job, but more like a bonus skill, add it to the bottom section on your resume.
- Language Sidebar: Information on a resume sidebar catches the eye, making the reader feel like it’s in a special spot for a reason. If the position specifically calls for language proficiency/fluency—and one meets the mentioned proficiency level—consider listing your languages in the sidebar.
- In the Education section: If language levels are not relevant for the position, one must mention their proficiency levels in the Education section.
Always list your language skills according to fluency and proficiency. Before putting in any information about your language skills, make sure you understand the difference between fluency and proficiency as that’s the first thing the recruiter might ask you. It is always advisable to prepare the CV with utmost care and you must be thorough with it.
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We hope that we were able to help you understand some tips about how and why putting language skills in a resume can turn the table in your favour! To explore more Click Here.
