Cover Letter for a Translator

Position
I. Elements to consider when writing this cover letter

Most translators work on a free lance basis. However there are certain companies which prefer
to have in-house translators as this ensures first-hand knowledge of the concepts that require
translation and also decreases the turnaround time when working to a tight schedule.

In most cases, translators translate into their mother tongue from a foreign language thus
allowing for a natural sounding final document. Therefore “mother-tongue knowledge” of at
least one of the languages mentioned in the job ad will be necessary and thus important to
include in your cover letter.

Working as a translator requires certain skills that a recruiter will look for in the cover letter, on
top of those which are purely linguistic. Communication skills, attention to detail, accuracy and
the ability to work to a high standard within tight deadlines are essential. Furthermore showing
a good understanding of the industry and company being applied to, will also show the person
reading your cover letter that you have enough background knowledge to successfully perform
the task that will be attributed to you, should your application be successful.
Gene Tode Ash Williams

CP Languages 15 Fleet Street

Nottingham Nottingham

NG5 6MD NG34NW

a.williams@gmail.com

24/2/2015

07451326598

Dear Mr Tode,

I am writing to apply for the position of Translator at CP Languages, as advertised on your

website. I believe I have the skills that you are looking for to fill this role.

I have a bachelor’s degree in French and Chinese and have several years’ experience working in
this field. Not only am I fluent in both languages, but I also have a working knowledge of
Romanian and Arabic. Learning languages and using them has been a passion of mine since
school, therefore this is a career that I feel strongly about. I am highly motivated by my work and
get job satisfaction from being able to help people.

Currently I am working as a freelance translator and interpreter; my main work consists of

translating documents and audio tapes into English and working with the police and
immigration in face-to-face interpreting. This is an emotional job but rewarding when I am able
to be of assistance. I also do some private language tuition for students preparing for exams or
for people who just want to learn a language.
I approach my work in a professional manner, I have excellent communication skills and can
adapt to different situations. I plan my work carefully but can also react to anything that may
crop up and change my style to suit this. I have a keen eye for detail and have been praised
regularly for my accurate work.

Having worked freelance for a number of years, I am now in a position where I would like to
work for one company and share my expertise. I have confidence I am the perfect candidate for
you and this position and would relish the opportunity to discuss my skills and attributes further
in an interview.

Thank you for taking the time to look over my application, I look forward to hearing from you
soon.

Yours sincerely