Listing languages – Page 2

List it only at your current level, not the level you once had. If you can no longer use it in a basic conversation, leave it out.

Examples:

• Previously fluent, now rusty: "French – Intermediate (previously lived in France)".
• Studied at school only: usually not worth listing unless relevant.

An honest current level protects you if an interviewer switches to that language. You can also refresh the language with a short course or practice before interviews if it matters for the role.

A separate Languages section is clearest when you have two or more languages. For one or two lines on a tight resume, combining them into skills is fine.

Options:

• Separate: "Languages: English (Fluent), Arabic (Native)".
• Combined: "Skills: Customer service, SAP, Excel | Languages: English, Arabic".

A separate section with a standard heading makes it easy for readers and recruiter searches to find. If languages are a key requirement, separate them and place the section higher on the page.

List your language pairs and direction, your level in each, and any professional qualifications or specialisms.

Example:
"Language pairs:
Arabic > English (native Arabic, C2 English)
French > English
Specialisms: legal and medical translation
Qualifications: Diploma in Translation, CIOL (2023)"

For these roles, the languages are your core skills, so place them near the top. In your experience section, describe the type and volume of work, the tools you use (for example CAT tools such as Trados or memoQ) and the subject areas.

Yes, if the employer or country expects it. Write the resume in the language of the job advert, unless the advert asks for something else.

ResumeBuilder.ae supports resumes in English, Arabic (laid out right to left), French, Spanish, German, Hindi and Malayalam. You choose the resume language on the Design tab. Chinese, Japanese and Korean are not supported in the PDF yet, and the builder warns before payment if any character cannot be included.

If you apply to employers in several countries, keep separate versions in each language rather than mixing languages in one document.

No. Put programming languages such as Python or Java in your Skills section, under a heading like "Technical skills". The Languages section is for human languages.

Example:
"Technical skills: Python, Java, SQL, JavaScript
Languages: English (Fluent), Hindi (Native), Arabic (Basic)"

Mixing the two can confuse both readers and software. Keeping them separate makes your resume easier to scan for both kinds of skills.

List the test, your grades and the year in your Languages section, and mention it in your summary if it is required for registration.

Example:
"English – OET (Nursing): Listening B, Reading B, Writing B, Speaking A (2025)"

Healthcare regulators and employers in some countries set specific English requirements for registration. Check the exact test and grades they accept with the official regulator in your target country, as these differ and can change. Only state results you have achieved, exactly as shown on your result.

Many do, especially when a language is part of the job. Checks can include an interview in that language, a written test, a phone screen or asking for a test certificate.

Common situations where levels are checked:

• Customer service and call centre roles.
• Bilingual and international roles.
• Healthcare, education and public sector positions.
• Translation and interpreting.

This is why stating your level honestly matters. If an interviewer switches language and you cannot continue, it damages trust in the rest of your resume. A slightly conservative but accurate level is the safer choice.

Yes, if the language is a main requirement or a clear advantage for the job you want.

Examples:

• "Bilingual Customer Service Specialist (Arabic and English)"
• "Sales Executive | French and English"
• "Registered Nurse | Fluent in Tagalog, English and Arabic"

Putting the language near your name makes the match obvious immediately. If the job does not need the language, keep it in the Languages section instead, so your headline stays focused on your main profession.

Use CEFR levels, as employers in Germany and across the EU are familiar with them, and include certificates such as Goethe or telc if you have them.

Example:
"Deutsch – B2 (Goethe-Zertifikat B2, 2025)
English – C1
Arabic – Native"

If the job advert asks for a specific level, such as B2 German, state clearly whether you meet it. If you are working towards it, write your current level and the planned exam date. For a CV in German, use the German language names and headings.

Use "Languages". It is short, standard and recognised by readers and applicant tracking systems.

Alternatives that also work:

• "Language Skills"
• "Languages and Certifications" if you combine them.

Avoid creative headings, such as "Tongues I Speak", which may confuse readers or software. In a resume written in another language, use the standard word in that language, for example "Langues" in French or "Sprachkenntnisse" in German.

List each language you can use and be clear about writing ability, since the scripts differ.

Examples:

• "Hindi – Native (spoken and written, Devanagari)"
• "Urdu – Fluent spoken; basic reading"
• "Punjabi – Fluent spoken (Gurmukhi script: basic)"

Spoken Hindi and Urdu are closely related, but reading and writing use different scripts. Listing both is fine when true, as long as you show your real reading and writing levels. This matters for jobs that involve written communication with customers or documents.

Yes. Many UAE employers value English and Arabic, and other languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Russian or Chinese can be useful in customer-facing roles serving diverse communities.

Tips:

• List English and Arabic levels clearly if you have them.
• Add other languages that match the employer's customers or markets.
• Mention languages in your summary for sales, hospitality, retail and customer service roles.

Example: "Languages: English (Fluent), Arabic (Conversational), Hindi (Native), Malayalam (Native)".

Be accurate: bilingual roles often include a language check during interviews.

Mention it in the language entry or in the relevant job or education line. Real use is strong evidence of your level.

Examples:

• Languages section: "French – C1 (worked in French for three years in Geneva)"
• Education: "BSc Economics, taught in English, Cairo University"
• Experience: "Prepared monthly reports in German for the head office in Munich."

This helps employers who cannot easily test your level and gives context to self-assessed levels. Keep each mention short and specific.

No, you write the content yourself. ResumeBuilder.ae lets you choose the resume language on the Design tab (English, Arabic, French, Spanish, German, Hindi or Malayalam), and Arabic is laid out right to left, but the builder does not translate your text; it stays as you write it.

If you need a version in a second language:

• Write or translate the content carefully, ideally with help from a fluent speaker.
• Save it as a separate resume, so each version stays consistent.
• Check the preview for layout, especially for right-to-left Arabic.

Ready-made writing help is in English for now. A professional translation is worth considering for important applications.

List them like any other language, with your level and any test result, written in English: "Mandarin Chinese – HSK 5 (2024)" or "Japanese – JLPT N2".

Points to know:

• For Chinese, specify Mandarin or Cantonese where relevant, and mention reading of simplified or traditional characters if useful.
• JLPT levels run from N5 (basic) to N1 (advanced); HSK and TOPIK have their own scales.

In ResumeBuilder.ae, Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters are not supported in the PDF yet. Write the language names and test results in Latin letters, as in the examples above, and the builder warns before payment if any character cannot be included.