Post job
zippia ai icon

Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Foreign language interpreter skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical foreign language interpreter skills. We ranked the top skills for foreign language interpreters based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 27.9% of foreign language interpreter resumes contained target language as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a foreign language interpreter needs to be successful in the workplace.

9 foreign language interpreter skills for your resume and career

1. Target Language

The target language is the language in which a text, document, or speech is translated into the final language. It is a foreign language that a non-native speaker intends to study or learn, as well as the individual elements of the language they want to learn. The target language is the opposite of the source text, which is the initial text to be translated.

Here's how foreign language interpreters use target language:
  • Translate written documents from source language into target language accurately and completely following international translation rules and regulations.
  • Perform simultaneous or consecutive interpreting into main target language: Spanish.

2. Foreign Language

A foreign language is a language that is not the official language spoken in a given state or country. It's a language that is native to another country but can be studied in addition to one's native language as a means of fostering international relationships among countries.

Here's how foreign language interpreters use foreign language:
  • Provide foreign language oral interpreting, legal written document translation for attorneys.
  • Coordinate contract foreign language and contract interpreter services as requested/needed.

3. Medical Terminology

Here's how foreign language interpreters use medical terminology:
  • Be aware, and know medical terminology.
  • Acquired additional knowledge of medical terminology from medical personnel and volunteer certified medical interpreters to enhance comprehension of the Spanish language.

4. Facilitate Communication

Facilitating communication helps a person with a communication disability interpret and communicate with their peers. A facilitator is assigned in a medical/schooling environment who bridges the gap between a doctor, teacher, or classmates and the person with communication disability. Facilitating communication can also help a professional interpret the disabled person or help the disabled person communicate through hand gestures, motion, or eye movement. These facilitators can be employed in many settings, including a church, school, weddings, funerals and more.

Here's how foreign language interpreters use facilitate communication:
  • Facilitate communication between Spanish-speaking parents/guardians and faculty/administrators.
  • Facilitate communication between organization representatives i.e.

5. Interpretation Services

Interpretation services refers to the process of translating information from one language to another. These services can be for languages that are spoken or signed and require the translator to be fluent in both languages and even the tones necessary to convey the messages.

Here's how foreign language interpreters use interpretation services:
  • Provide translation and interpretation services to needy Chinese immigrant families with students currently enrolled in CCSD.
  • Provided Spanish to English translation/interpretation services to all programs within the Department of Social Services.

6. Court Proceedings

Here's how foreign language interpreters use court proceedings:
  • Provide an accurate, impartial interpretation of court proceedings.
  • Interpreted for Spanish speaking individuals during traffic court proceedings * Translated texts for Spanish speaking individuals

Choose from 10+ customizable foreign language interpreter resume templates

Build a professional foreign language interpreter resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your foreign language interpreter resume.

7. Translation Services

Translation Services turn spoken words or texts into another dialect. During the interpretation cycle, somebody with expertise in two dialects takes the words and context and places it into another dialect for others to understand.

Here's how foreign language interpreters use translation services:
  • Provided translation services for legal depositions, independent medical examination, examinations under oath, foster care agencies and family issues.
  • Participate in on call coverage to provide interpretation/translation services during non-business hours and business hours as assigned.

8. Telephone Calls

Telephone calls are a communication means through which a caller is connected to the called party. The call is done through a telecommunications device called a telephone. The caller can use a landline, mobile phone, or satellite phone to make the call.

Here's how foreign language interpreters use telephone calls:
  • Provide interpreting/translating services for staff and families for meetings, telephone calls, including one to one and group settings.
  • Provide interpreting / transliterating services to internal and external customers for meetings, interviews, telephone calls, etc.

9. Hindi

Here's how foreign language interpreters use hindi:
  • Translate, transcribe, and analyze work of foreign media and foreign language audio files in Bengali and Hindi.
  • Work as an Interpreter in Hindi and Gujarati - mostly for customers of various hospitals and clinics.
top-skills

What skills help Foreign Language Interpreters find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

List of foreign language interpreter skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a foreign language interpreter resume and required skills for a foreign language interpreter to have include:

  • Target Language
  • Foreign Language
  • Medical Terminology
  • Facilitate Communication
  • Interpretation Services
  • Court Proceedings
  • Translation Services
  • Telephone Calls
  • Hindi

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs