Embarking on your freelance interpreting career, you've likely realized that crafting the perfect cover letter is a key step in landing your dream job. This pivotal document should not merely mimic your resume but rather weave a compelling narrative around your proudest professional triumph. Striking a balance between formality and originality, without falling into the trap of clichés, can seem daunting. And remember, brevity is your ally; your story must unfold within the confines of a single page.
- Create a freelance interpreter cover letter to persuade the recruiters you're the best candidate for the role;
- Use industry-leading freelance interpreter cover letter templates and examples to save time;
- Dedicate your freelance interpreter cover letter space to your best achievement;
- Make sure your freelance interpreter cover letter meets recruiters' expectations and standards.
Avoid starting at the blank page for hours by using Enhancv's AI - just upload your resume and your freelance interpreter cover letter will be ready for you to (tweak and) submit for your dream job.
If the freelance interpreter isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Freelance interpreter cover letter example
Carter Rodriguez
Dallas, Texas
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Highlighting relevant work experience, such as the creation of a comprehensive glossary for healthcare and legal terms, underscores the candidate's initiative and practical impact on their previous position, which signifies capability and results-driven work ethic.
- Emphasizing a measurable achievement like the reduction in interpretation errors and improvement in client satisfaction offers concrete proof of the candidate's effectiveness in their role and implies a commitment to quality and client-centric service.
- Customizing the cover letter to reflect the company’s values, in this case, inclusivity and effective communication, shows the candidate's understanding of the company's mission and indicates that their professional values align with the company's culture.
- Expressing desire to bring specific skills to the team, such as linguistic accuracy and cultural competency, directly relates to the core competencies required for an Interpreter and shows the candidate's focus on contributing valuable attributes to the organization.
The format of your freelance interpreter cover letter: structure, fonts, margins, and more
Your freelance interpreter cover letter should include a header (with your name, position, and date); a greeting and introductory paragraph; a body and closing paragraphs; and an optional signature.
Remember that you're writing your freelance interpreter cover letter for recruiters - as the Applicant Tracker System won't scan this content.
Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep in mind when formatting your freelance interpreter cover letter:
- Use the same font in your freelance interpreter cover letter and resume. We recommend modern fonts, e.g. Lato and Rubik, to help you stand out, instead of the stereotypical Arial and Times New Roman.
- Each paragraph should have single spacing, which is already set up for you in our cover letter templates.
- Our cover letter builder follows industry standards for your freelance interpreter cover letter formatting - with a one-inch margin, surrounding your content.
- Always export your freelance interpreter cover letter in PDF to ensure the image or text quality stays the same and your writing isn't moved about.
The top sections on a freelance interpreter cover letter
Header with Contact Information: This section is crucial as it provides the recruiter with your name, professional title, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable), ensuring they can easily identify and reach you for potential interpreting assignments.
Greeting: A personalized greeting addressing the recruiter or hiring manager by name establishes a respectful and professional tone, showing your attention to detail, which is an important quality for an interpreter.
Introduction: Your introduction should succinctly highlight your language proficiency, interpreting experience, and any certifications, setting the stage for your qualifications and demonstrating immediate relevance to the interpreting role.
Professional Experience and Skills: This section should elaborate on your interpreting experience, including the types of interpreting (e.g., simultaneous, consecutive, legal, medical), specific language pairs you work with, and any specialized terminology knowledge, which is imperative for an interpreter's effectiveness.
Closing and Call to Action: The closing should reaffirm your enthusiasm for the opportunity, invite the recruiter to review your attached resume, and suggest a meeting or conversation to discuss how your interpreting skills can benefit their specific needs, showing initiative and a readiness to engage.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
Proficiency in multiple languages: Recruiters seek candidates who have advanced fluency in at least two languages to ensure accurate and efficient interpretation.
Cultural awareness and sensitivity: Interpreters must understand cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions to accurately convey messages across different cultures.
Confidentiality and ethical standards: Interpreters often handle sensitive information and must maintain discretion and adhere to professional ethics.
Specialized industry knowledge: Having expertise in a specialized field (e.g., medical, legal, or technical) makes an interpreter particularly valuable due to the specific terminology and context involved.
Active listening and clear speech: The ability to listen carefully and speak clearly, without an accent that could impair understanding, is crucial for effective interpretation.
Certification or credentials: Professional certifications from recognized organizations can demonstrate a commitment to the profession and an established level of competence.
How to address hiring managers in your freelance interpreter cover letter greeting
Goodbye, "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern!"
The salutation of your freelance interpreter cover letter is how you kick off your professional communication with the hiring managers.
And you want it to start off a bit more personalized and tailored, to catch the recruiters' attention.
Take the time to find out who's recruiting for the role (via LinkedIn or the company page).
If you have previously chatted or emailed the hiring managers, address them on a first or last name basis.
The alternative is a "Dear HR team" or "Dear Hiring Manger", but remember that a "Dear Ms. Simmons" or "Dear Simon," could get you farther ahead than an impersonal greeting.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department Name] Department,
- Dear [Mr./Ms. Last Name],
- Dear [Professional Title] [Last Name],
- Dear [Committee or Group Name],
Introducing your profile to catch recruiters' attention in no more than two sentences
The introduction of your freelance interpreter cover letter is a whole Catch 22 .
You have an allocated space of no more than just a paragraph (of up to two sentences). With your introduction, you have to stand out and show why you're the best candidate out there.
Set out on a journey with your freelance interpreter cover letter by focusing on why you're passionate about the job. Match your personal skills and interests to the role.
Another option for your freelance interpreter cover letter introduction is to show you're the ideal candidate. Write about how your achievements and skills are precisely what the company is looking for.
However you decide to start your freelance interpreter cover letter, always remember to write about the value you'd bring about. Making it both tangible (with your metrics of success) and highly sought out.
Storytelling in the middle (or body) of your freelance interpreter cover letter
You've got your whole resume sorted, detailing your achievements and skills. What else can you write in your freelance interpreter cover letter?
For starters, take the time to re-assess the job requirements and re-discover the most crucial skills and requirements (or keywords).
After making a list of these important keywords, look back on your experience to select just one of your past accomplishments.
Choose the achievement that is the most noteworthy, relevant to the role, and matches the required skills.
Use the next between three and six paragraphs to narrate how:
- you've grown your skill set, thanks to your achievement;
- you'd use the know-how you've gained in your new role;
- your accomplishment could help your potential employers grow.
Remember that recruiters don't need a retelling of your whole resume, but want to find out what makes you, you.
Two ideas on how to end the final paragraph of your freelance interpreter cover letter
Closing your freelance interpreter cover letter, you want to leave a memorable impression on recruiters, that you're a responsible professional.
End your cover letter with how you envision your growth, as part of the company. Make realistic promises on what you plan to achieve, potentially, in the next six months to a year.
Before your signature, you could also signal hiring managers that you're available for the next steps. Or, a follow-up call, during which you could further clarify your experience or professional value.
The zero experience freelance interpreter cover letter: shifting the focus to your unique value
Don't worry if you have no conventional professional experience. Within your whole experience, there's plenty more you can write about in your freelance interpreter cover letter.
Take, for example, your biggest achievement or award - dedicate your cover letter body to describe it and the job-relevant skills you've learned.
Your professional ambitions could also take center stage. Describe what you plan on achieving in the next five to ten years and the efforts you're making towards your dreams.
Key takeaways
Creating your freelance interpreter cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:
- Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
- Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
- Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
- Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
- End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.
