Language skills on cv

Order Resume
Posted on by

If until a few years ago inserting one’s language skills on the CV was not mandatory but was reserved for the most important positions, today it is necessary information and that cannot be omitted. In this guide, we explain how to best present your language skills on your curriculum vitae, to enrich it with important details.

The importance of foreign languages ​​today

Knowing Speaking or writing in another language is one of the things many companies expect from candidates for a certain position, not necessarily if you are applying for an international job. In fact, even the superficial knowledge of a language is fundamental and is able to make a difference in the selection phase. If English is the language that everyone expects from a candidate and that most candidates master more or less correctly, knowing other languages ​​is a further distinguishing element that cannot be omitted from the CV. This is why, like the other specific sections such as professional experiences or extracurricular activities, this too requires attention to ensure that linguistic knowledge is presented at its best.

Why insert foreign languages on the curriculum vitae?

It is clear today that inserting foreign languages ​​on the curriculum is essential to make a good impression on the employer. These are just some main advantages related to the presence of languages ​​on the CV:

  • Expand their skills: one or more languages ​​help to give an even more detailed idea regarding the competences of the candidate and help to give a more precise and complete image of the same;
  • They make the difference in the selection phase: declaring that you know a language puts you in an advantageous position compared to another candidate who does not know any language. The level of proficiency in a language is another variant to consider, so the candidate who knows a language more thoroughly than another candidate will have more opportunities to stand out;
  • They allow you to get assignments international or international: it is not necessary to apply for positions abroad to benefit from the knowledge of one or more languages ​​because even a company based in Italy may need someone who speaks other languages ​​to entrust tasks particularly delicate or important.

If you then master a “difficult” language, for example Russian or Chinese, job opportunities expand dramatically, without the need to apply for positions outside the ‘Italy.

When to indicate their language skills on the CV?

Given that all candidates should always indicate their knowledge of one or more languages ​​on the CV, there are some positions for which one cannot really do without. These include:

  • All professions in the tourism and hospitality sector
  • Positions as interpreter / translator
  • Professions involving commercial relationships with clients foreigners.

When applying for positions abroad, the position does not matter, but knowledge of the language of the place where you are applying is essential and must always be specified.

Indicate the levels of knowledge of the language on the CV

If it is true that indicating knowledge of a foreign language on your CV is essential for some positions and in principle always important for all other job positions, there are criteria you can use to indicate your level of knowledge of a particular language.

Here are the levels on which to personally calibrate one’s knowledge of a language:

  • Mother tongue: the language that is perfectly mastered;
  • Bilingual: if you master two or more languages ​​at native level;
  • Excellent: no problem understanding the language and communicating fluently;
  • Good: basic knowledge of the language and use of a limited but understandable vocabulary;
  • Elementary: basic notions of the language, both at of understanding than of practice.

Mistakes not to make when specifying your language skills on the CV

It is not uncommon to make mistakes when specifying your language skills on the CV, these are just two of the mistakes that candidates make in this sense and which must always be avoided:

  1. Believing to be able to master a language when this is not the case: one must always be honest and declare your actual level of knowledge of a language, where possible supporting it with objective data (tests, exams, etc);
  2. Lying about real knowledge of a language: insert knowledge of a language without really knowing it is not only incorrect, but it is also dangerous and risks compromising an interview and also the maintenance of a certain job position (the same thing applies to all other information on the CV, for which you should never lie).

Lying about the knowledge of a language is dangerous and even harmful at a professional level.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​CEFR / CEFR for language certification

If assessing your language knowledge can be difficult, the European Union has issued a Common Framework that allows an objective assessment to be used for your CV and which is used by employers during the selection and interview phase. Here it is, specifically:

A1 – Beginner

A2 – Elementary

B1 – Pre-Intermediate

B2 – Intermediate

C1 – Post-Intermediate

C2 – Advanced

Language certifications: how important are they?

Language certificates can be an element of more than a resume that can officially confirm a certain level of language proficiency. For this reason they must always be mentioned, as long as they are internationally recognized and have been issued by accredited bodies.

Rare languages ​​vs classical languages ​​

Knowledge of a rare or difficult language, for example Chinese or Russian can be a significant competitive advantage if you apply for a position that may require its use. At the same time, it may not be an advantage if you apply for positions that do not require them and that perhaps requires knowledge of more “classic” languages, such as English or Spanish. Therefore, they must be specified if the position expressly requires it or if it does not require it, but you want to demonstrate your flexibility, on the other hand, they must not become fundamental elements when the job position for which one is applying requires the knowledge of other languages. If you find yourself in the condition of knowing a rare language but having little knowledge of a fundamental language, for example English, emphasizing the knowledge of the rare language over the base language is never a good thing because there will be no working advantage from it.

Let’s take three examples to better understand:

1. Job position as Sales Assistant, required languages ​​English and Chinese.

Candidate 1 has English and Chinese at high levels, candidate 2 has only English, candidate 3 has only Chinese. Candidate 1 will have an advantage with no ifs and buts.

2. Job position as Sales Assistant, required languages ​​English.

Candidate 1 has English at a high level, Candidate 2 has only Chinese at a high level, Candidate 3 has English and Chinese at a high level. Candidate 3 will have an advantage with no ifs and buts [Same thing happens if the required language is Chinese and there is someone who speaks English and Chinese at a high level].

3. Job position as Sales Assistant, required languages ​​English.

Candidate 1 has English at an advanced level, Candidate 2 has Chinese at a high level and elementary English, Candidate 3 has English and intermediate Chinese. Candidate 1 will have an advantage with no ifs and buts, followed by candidate 3 and finally candidate 2.

Basic rules for inserting language skills on a CV

  • Languages they must be entered in order of knowledge, from the one that is best mastered to the one that is mastered worst;
  • Certificates and awards must be added only if they come from recognized organizations and where it is possible to insert a concrete result;
  • If you do not master any language, you can omit this entry on your CV since a simple elementary knowledge of a language may not be advantageous in the selection phase.

In conclusion

  • Foreign languages ​​are the extra element of a CV and absolutely cannot be omitted;
  • When adding languages ​​on a CV, you must be honest about your level of knowledge;
  • Foreign languages ​​should only be added if they are actually understood and spoken;
  • When adding foreign languages, it is good to insert certificates and the like only if officially recognized.
  • If for some positions foreign languages ​​can be avoided, for others they should be specified as one of the most important elements.