Congratulations on completing your first cover letter. However, as you look back, you realise it’s simply a copy-paste of your CV.
Repeating your curriculum vitae is a common pitfall that many candidates encounter, making the cover letter redundant.
Your cover letter should provide fresh insights, adding more value to your application. It’s also the ideal space to address career gaps or major transitions that might not be covered in your CV.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to use your cover letter to demonstrate why you’re the best candidate for the role, while confidently addressing your career history and key achievements.
Cover letter examples for freelance translator
Explore additional freelance translator cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Entry-Level Freelance Translator
- Highlighting Experience: Featuring roles at prominent news outlets like The Belfast Telegraph and BBC News provides credibility and displays a strong background in journalism.
- Specific Skills: Emphasising skills such as AP Style, content creation, and social media strategies aligns with core responsibilities of a reporter role.
- Quantifiable Achievements: Mentioning reader engagement increases and site traffic boosts with precise percentages illustrates impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
- Relevant Courses and Training: Including courses like the Digital Journalism Specialisation from Michigan State University showcases commitment to professional development and a desire to stay updated with industry trends.
Mid-Level Freelance Translator
- Highlighting Relevant Experience: The cover letter effectively draws attention to Lucas's extensive experience in interpreting roles, showcasing over 10 years in various sectors such as healthcare and legal settings. This conveys expertise and the ability to handle diverse interpreting challenges.
- Emphasising Achievements: By mentioning specific achievements like enhancing community service usage by 30% through strategic language programmes, the cover letter demonstrates measurable impact, which is crucial for roles focusing on community engagement and multilingual communication.
- Certification and Education: Including specialised courses such as 'Community Interpreting Level 2' and academic credentials in translation and languages highlights the applicant's commitment to continuously advancing their skills, making them a more credible candidate for interpreter roles.
- Skills Showcase: The cover letter lists critical skills like 'simultaneous interpreting' and 'cultural sensitivity,' directly relevant to a multilingual interpreter's responsibilities, thereby reinforcing Lucas's suitability for this position.
Senior Freelance Translator
- Emphasise relevant certifications, such as the "Advanced Medical Interpreter Certification", which demonstrates specialised medical terminology and ethics knowledge crucial for a professional interpreter role.
- Highlight experience with technical interpreting equipment and remote interpreting platforms, showcasing adaptability and the ability to handle various interpretation environments.
- Showcase achievements, such as the development of terminology glossaries for both medical and legal fields, which underline dedication to accuracy and professionalism in interpretation services.
- Underscore the impact of work experience, such as training junior interpreters and facilitating over 200 community-focused events, which illustrates leadership, mentoring skills, and contribution to social integration.
By Role
Freelance Medical Translator
- Emphasise relevant certifications: Highlight the "Certified Healthcare Interpreter" qualification, which demonstrates advanced skills specific to medical context, aligning well with the role's requirements.
- Showcase leadership experience: Mention the experience as a Senior Medical Interpreter at LanguageLine Solutions, where leadership led to measurable improvements in client satisfaction.
- Highlight multilingual skills: The proficiency in both English and Spanish is crucial, given the role's focus on English-Spanish communication, which directly impacts patient advocacy and quality of service.
- Demonstrate impactful achievements: Include key contributions like developing training programmes and pilot projects that led to significant improvements in service delivery and patient outcomes.
Freelance Legal Translator
- Highlight Language Efficiency: Emphasise fluency in both English and Chinese, as demonstrated by the successful handling of over 500,000 words of technical and marketing content translation, achieving a high client satisfaction rate.
- Showcase Translation and Editing Expertise: Mention specific experiences working with translation software like SDL Trados and CAT tools, along with advanced proof-reading abilities that enhance translation accuracy and client satisfaction.
- Achievements and Recognition: Highlight awards like the Client Satisfaction Excellence Award and winning an International Translation Competition, which underline professional competence and industry recognition.
- Focus on Professional Development: Include relevant education and specially completed courses that reflect advanced technical translation skills and commitment to continuous learning in business environments.
Freelance Technical Translator
- Specialised Skills: The cover letter emphasises specialised skills pertinent to translation and language, such as MTPE and localisation, which are crucial for roles in translation and language services.
- Achievements Highlight: It effectively illustrates achievements, such as leading a successful translation project for a tech company and receiving awards, demonstrating a high level of capability and recognition in the field.
- Relevant Experience: The letter details relevant work experience with notable contributions, such as reductions in turnaround times and errors, which shows an aptitude for improving processes and achieving results in technical translation.
- Engagement in Continuous Learning: Mentions of courses and training, such as the "Advanced MTPE Techniques" course, reflect a commitment to ongoing professional development and staying updated in the industry's best practices.
Freelance Literary Translator
- Clear and Relevant Experience: The cover letter effectively highlights relevant roles and accomplishments that directly pertain to the role of a Learning Content Developer. It details specific contributions, such as developing interactive language courses and improving engagement, which demonstrate the candidate's suitability for the position.
- Specialised Certifications: The inclusion of a Certificate in Advanced Language Instruction and a Translation and Localisation Certification showcases the candidate's commitment to professional development in language education and localisation, which are important for the role.
- Quantifiable Achievements: The use of specific metrics, such as a 60% increase in user engagement and a 70% reduction in errors, provides tangible evidence of the candidate's effectiveness and impact in previous positions, making the accomplishments more compelling.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Highlighting experiences with remote collaboration platforms and working with diverse teams emphasises the candidate's ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment, which is crucial for a role focused on remote content development and language expertise.
Freelance Financial Translator
- Highlighting certifications, such as the Professional Interpreter Certification by ATA, which enhance credibility and demonstrate specialised skills relevant to language services.
- Emphasising specific achievements, like reducing translation errors by 40% and contributing to revenue growth, showcases the applicant's impact on operational excellence and business success.
- Using experience in well-known firms like KPMG and Deloitte adds prestige and suggests a high level of competence in both translation and tax consultation environments.
- Detailing cultural adaptability and skills in cross-cultural communication aligns perfectly with the bilingual specialist aspect of the role, crucial for a culturally diverse clientele.
Freelance Video Game Translator
- Highlighting Industry Experience: The cover letter effectively showcases over 5 years of experience in gaming content creation, which is crucial for establishing credibility and expertise in the role of a gaming journalist or writer.
- Focus on Achievements and Impact: Notable achievements such as increasing readership by 30% and contributing to award-winning content teams demonstrate a proven track record of success and ability to make a tangible impact.
- Specific Skills and Knowledge: Emphasising relevant skills like SEO strategy and gaming industry knowledge aligns the applicant's capabilities with the demands of a writing role focused on gaming content, ensuring they are seen as a well-rounded candidate.
- Professional Recognition and Awards: Mention of industry accolades, like the Best Niche Site award, lends additional credibility and highlights the applicant's contribution to recognised successful initiatives.
Freelance Subtitle Translator
- Emphasising industry experience: Highlighting over 7 years of experience in subtitle translation and localisation can reinforce credibility and expertise in the field.
- Achievements and Metrics: Providing quantitative results from past roles, such as improving subtitle accuracy by 25%, demonstrates the candidate's positive impact and capability to deliver results.
- Education and Certifications: Mentioning an MA in Translation Studies and certifications like "Localisation Engineering Certification" showcases formal training and a commitment to staying current in specialised skills.
- Cross-functional Skills: The cover letter underlines the candidate's experience with cross-functional teams, enhancing their ability to collaborate and meet client-specific needs.
Freelance Website Translator
- Emphasise Specific Certifications: Highlight certifications such as the Advanced Certification in Legal Interpretation from The Chartered Institute of Linguists, which is significant for roles requiring specialisation in legal translations.
- Detail Experience with Relevant Organisations: Mention experiences with notable organisations like LanguageLine Solutions and TransPerfect, stressing the impact of your work, such as a reduction in communication barriers or enhancement of service quality.
- Showcase Problem-Solving Achievements: Cite achievements that demonstrate problem-solving abilities, like improving translation processes or developing targeted training programmes that resulted in enhanced team performance and translation precision.
- Highlight Relevant Skills: Focus on skills pertinent to the role, such as consecutive interpretation and emergency response, to underline capability in managing high-pressure scenarios and maintaining clear communication in humanitarian settings.
Freelance Scientific Translator
- Specific Achievements: The cover letter effectively highlights specific achievements such as enhancing client satisfaction by 30% through cultural adaptation, which provides concrete evidence of impact and results in the translation field.
- Relevant Certifications: Highlighting certifications like Advanced Simultaneous Interpretation showcases advanced skills and dedication to professional development in the specialised role of a translator/interpreter.
- Diverse Skill Set: Emphasising multilingual proficiency and real-time translation skills demonstrates versatility and readiness to handle a variety of communication scenarios, which is crucial for this role.
- Industry Experience: Detailed descriptions of past roles and responsibilities offer insight into the candidate's extensive industry experience, underlining their capability to manage complex projects and lead teams effectively.
Freelance Marketing Translator
- Emphasising specific achievements such as launching a successful business blog series and authoring an Amazon best-selling ebook demonstrates proven impact and expertise, which is highly relevant for a Senior Freelance Writer role.
- Mentioning awards, such as the 'Best Business Article', establishes credibility and showcases recognition within the industry, making the applicant stand out in the field of business communications.
- Highlighting skills like SEO optimisation, content strategy, and deadline adherence illustrates the candidate's proficiency in key areas that align closely with the demands of the role.
- Including education and relevant courses, like a Master's in Journalism and advanced content marketing strategies, shows a strong foundation and continued professional development in writing and content strategies.
Freelance Document Translator
- Highlighting Specialised Experience: The cover letter effectively showcases specialised experience in technical, marketing, and medical translation, which is crucial for a freelance translator role targeting diverse sectors.
- Emphasising Proficiency with Tools: Proficiency in MS Office, Adobe, and TM Tools is emphasised, underscoring the candidate's ability to leverage technology to enhance translation accuracy and efficiency.
- Certification and Continuous Learning: Mentioning certifications like the Advanced Certificate in Translation Technology and the Legal Translation Masterclass demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and expertise growth in translation technologies and specialisations.
- Quantifying Achievements: The letter quantifies achievements, such as increasing client satisfaction by 35% and reducing turnaround time by 20%, to provide evidence of the candidate's impact and success in previous roles.
Freelance Business Translator
- Emphasis on Experience: The cover letter highlights extensive experience in storytelling and interviewing, including senior roles and leadership positions, which demonstrate a strong track record in the memoir industry.
- Skills and Achievements Highlighted: Key skills such as active listening, verbal communication, and project management are underscored alongside significant achievements like leading projects and developing new storytelling techniques.
- Focus on Technological Proficiency: The letter mentions the implementation and utilisation of digital tools which are crucial for modern memoir creation and demonstrate adaptability to technological advancements.
- Passion for the Role: There's a clear emphasis on personal passions that align with the job role, such as exploring human narratives and crafting personal legacies, showing a genuine dedication to the field.
Freelance Software Translator
- Cleverly highlights expertise: By mentioning over 5 years of experience in translation and localisation, the candidate establishes credibility and showcases their extensive industry knowledge.
- Emphasises achievements and impact: The cover letter provides quantifiable achievements such as increasing project efficiency by 30% and a 98% client satisfaction rate, demonstrating the candidate's ability to deliver results.
- Showcases specialisations and relevant tools: Skills like translation memory tools and CAT tools are highlighted, indicating the candidate’s technical proficiency which is crucial for the role.
- Mentions ongoing learning and development: The inclusion of courses such as Advanced Localisation Project Management and CAT Tools Mastery Certification illustrates continuing professional development and alignment with industry trends.
Freelance Patent Translator
- Emphasise Industry Certifications: Highlighting courses like the "Advanced Legal Translation" ensures potential clients or employers are aware of specialised skills in high-demand areas such as legal translation.
- Quantifiable Success Measures: Including specific statistics, such as achieving a 98% customer satisfaction rate or translating over 250,000 words with 99% accuracy, provides tangible evidence of expertise and reliability.
- Specialisation in Niche Areas: Expressing proficiency in translating complex legal documents and the strategic use of translation software showcases the ability to handle specialised and high-value projects.
- Skill in Client Retention: Demonstrating achievements in improving client retention by detailing how client-specific needs were addressed underlines the value of personalised service, which is imperative in client-driven roles.
Freelance Diplomatic Translator
- Highlighting extensive experience in translation with a focus on global projects underscores the candidate’s capability to handle complex tasks with precision, a key requirement for any translation role.
- Mentioning specific achievements in client satisfaction and workflow efficiency demonstrates a results-oriented mindset, valuable for prospective employers looking to enhance their service quality.
- Emphasising experience in leading teams and developing training materials reflects strong leadership and educational skills, important for roles involving team management or mentoring of junior translators.
- Including education and course certifications, such as a Master’s in Translation Studies and a Multilingual Project Management Certification, showcases the candidate’s dedication to their professional development and expertise in relevant areas.
Freelance Translator Project Manager
- Highlighting Critical Certifications: The cover letter mentions the qualification of a "Certified Medical Interpreter" which is crucial for roles that require professional credibility and assurance of expertise in medical interpretation.
- Emphasising Language Expertise: Demonstrating proficiency in critical languages such as Spanish, which is invaluable in medical translations to bridge communication gaps, is essential for a role focused on linguistic accuracy.
- Showcasing Related Achievements: The cover letter effectively quantifies accomplishments, such as interpreting over 3,500,000 minutes annually, to establish credibility and demonstrate experience in handling high-pressure situations.
- Underscoring Confidentiality and Compliance: Highlighting the maintenance of 100% confidentiality and HIPAA compliance can reassure employers of the candidate's commitment to upholding strict confidentiality standards required in the medical field.
Freelance Translator Team Lead
- Specialised Certifications and Training: The cover letter effectively highlights Charlotte's expertise through certifications such as Advanced Subtitling Techniques and proficient use of CAT Tools, which are critical for a Translator specialising in subtitling and localisation.
- Proven Track Record of Efficiency and Quality: The emphasis on efficiency improvements such as increasing translation speed by 25% and reducing errors by 30% showcases Charlotte's capability to deliver high-quality results promptly, an essential trait in translation roles.
- Leadership and Mentoring Skills: Mentioning the development of training modules for junior translators and achieving significant productivity boosts demonstrates leadership potential, a valuable asset in a collaborative or team-leading translation environment.
- Industry-Specific Experience: Highlighting roles with organisations like Iyuno-SDI Group and BBC Monitoring aligns her experience with industry needs and establishes credibility in handling professional translation and localisation tasks.
Freelance Translator cover letter example
Max Wright
Leicester, United Kingdom
+44 1234 567890
help@enhancv.com
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my interest in the Senior Conference Interpreter position at your esteemed organization. Having thoroughly researched your company’s commitment to excellence in linguistic services, I am inspired by the significant role you play in facilitating effective communication across global platforms.
In my current role as a Senior Conference Interpreter at Global Language Solutions, I have successfully delivered over 300 hours of simultaneous interpretation for international conferences, including complex technical discussions. By pioneering a new interpretation technology, I managed to increase remote interpreting efficiency by 30%, showcasing my ability to incorporate innovative solutions to translate precision and context effectively. My focus on maintaining high standards in both interpretation and training has resulted in a 15% service quality improvement among junior interpreters.
I am highly motivated to bring my skills in simultaneous interpretation, rapid topic preparation, and cultural sensitivity to your team. Please feel free to contact me to discuss how my experience aligns with your needs. I am eager to explore the opportunity to contribute to your team and am available to schedule an interview at your convenience.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing this exciting opportunity with you.
Sincerely,
Max Wright
Professional Interpreter
Why this cover letter works:
- Highlight Specialized Experience: Emphasize experience relevant to the role, such as delivering over 300 hours of simultaneous interpretation for international conferences, to demonstrate expertise and relevance.
- Showcase Innovation and Efficiency: Mention innovations, such as pioneering a new interpretation technology increasing efficiency by 30%, to illustrate problem-solving skills and a forward-thinking mindset.
- Quantify Achievements: Use specific metrics like a 15% service quality improvement to provide measurable evidence of contributions and effectiveness in similar roles.
- Express Enthusiasm and Alignment: Clearly communicate passion for the role and alignment with the company’s values and goals, which helps to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.
Importance of cover letters in the United Kingdom
Cover letters provide recruiters with the opportunity to learn more about your career aspirations, hinting at how you’d integrate within the organisation over the long term.
Here are three additional reasons why cover letters are important:
- Making an excellent first impression (and a formal introduction): Your cover letter is often the employer’s first introduction to you, showcasing your personality, communication skills, and motivation for the role.
- Complementing your career history: While your CV lists qualifications and experience, a cover letter provides the context, explaining how your background fits the role.
- Demonstrates your genuine interest: A well-crafted cover letter reflects the effort you’ve put into researching the company and role as well as your attention to detail.
What UK employers expect from a cover letter
Your UK employers will appreciate your application if you've taken the effort to tailor your cover letter to their job requirements.
Here’s how to ensure yours ticks all the right boxes:
- Research the company thoroughly: It's not enough to have only read the job advert. Look into the company's history, products, services, and recent achievements to demonstrate your genuine interest and knowledge.
- Connect with the company’s values: Every company has core principles that shape its culture and operations. Identify these values and use your cover letter to show how they align with your professional conduct and ethics.
- Emphasise your relevant skills: Highlight specific skills that match the job description and are most in demand. Use examples from your previous experience to support your claims and set yourself apart from other candidates.
How to format a freelance translator cover letter
Keep in mind that your cover letter is intended for the recruiters' eyes only, not for the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) software that aligns your job application with role requirements. That's why it's essential to concentrate on the quality of the content and presentation to make a memorable first impression.
Don’t forget to include:
- Your address and contact details
- The employer’s name and address
- Date
- Greeting
- Introductory paragraph
- Body paragraphs
- Closing paragraph
- Sign-off and signature
Now for some formatting tips and tricks: choose modern fonts such as Rubik, Volkhov, or Raleway instead of traditional ones like Arial. Keep your cover letter single-spaced with margins of around 1-inch (2.5 cm). To maintain a professional and consistent look, ensure that both your CV and cover letter use the same font style.
Lastly, always send your cover letter as a PDF to preserve its formatting and prevent any edits once it's sent, ensuring your design and layout remain intact for the recruiters.
How to write your freelance translator cover letter salutation
It's never advisable to begin your cover letter with 'Dear Sir/Madam', as it sounds comes across as impersonal.
Take the time to find out who is hiring for the role and address them directly in your cover letter greeting (e.g., 'Dear Mrs Chanceworth', 'Dear Harrod').
If you're uncertain where to find the hiring manager’s name, check the company website, look on LinkedIn, or send a courteous email requesting this information. Don't hesitate to ring reception either—they are unlikely to refuse to assist.
How to write your freelance translator cover letter intro
One of the best ways to grab a hiring manager's attention? Show them the unique value you'd add to the team.
Review the skills or requirements listed in the posting and draw connections to your previous work experiences.
Focus on specific (and quantifiable) accomplishments and qualifications that align with the job description to make a strong first impression.
Cover Letter Intro
Having deeply admired XYZ Company's steadfast commitment to fostering cross-cultural communication and understanding, I am drawn to the opportunity to contribute my skills as a seasoned freelance translator within your dedicated team. Your work in supporting diverse global voices aligns closely with my passion for accuracy and cultural nuance in translation.
RIGHT
How to write your freelance translator cover letter body
Which makes for a stronger cover letter body: a long-winded account of everything you’ve ever done, or a focused achievement that’s directly relevant to the job?
Hint: recruiters prefer the second.
When writing your cover letter, select your most impressive achievement that:
- Directly aligns with the job description and role.
- Is quantifiable with tangible metrics like numbers or percentages.
- Maps out your hard and soft skills, showcasing what makes you unique.
- Tells the story of the impact you could have on the organisation.
Cover Letter Body
During my career as a freelance translator, I had the opportunity to work on a significant project with the International Publishing House, where I was tasked with translating a series of technical manuals from German to English. This project spanned over a year and involved translating over one million words of complex technical content. By employing my meticulous attention to detail and exceptional linguistic proficiency, I successfully reduced the translation error rate to less than 0.05%, a marked improvement from the industry standard of 0.25%. This achievement not only enhanced the clarity and accuracy of the manuals, leading to increased readership satisfaction but also resulted in a 20% rise in the client's customer retention rates within the first quarter post-publication. My ability to deliver high-quality translations while maintaining consistency across large volumes of work is a testament to my dedication and expertise in the field.
RIGHT
How to write a closing paragraph
Looking to leave a lasting impression with your cover letter closing?
Then, you should certainly end with a promise—one that outlines what you aim to achieve in the role. Ensure your goals are realistic and align with the company’s needs.
You might also include a call to action, enquiring when you can expect to hear back and what the next steps in the hiring process will be.
Cover Letter Closing
In closing, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute my expertise as a freelance translator to your esteemed project. I am confident that my linguistic skills, combined with my dedication to accuracy and cultural nuance, make me an ideal candidate for this role. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss how I can assist your team in achieving its goals. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience to schedule an interview. I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to the possibility of working together.
RIGHT
Conclusion
Creating a compelling cover letter is vital in making a positive first impression on potential employers. Personalise your letter by addressing the hiring manager directly and ensuring your skills align with the job description.
Highlight specific achievements that demonstrate your suitability for the role, and express genuine enthusiasm for the opportunity. Finally, maintain a professional format that complements your CV for a cohesive application.
