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Native or bilingual proficiency? How to list language levels on your resumé

SEEK content team – updated on 24 November, 2023

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Do you have foreign language skills? You might want to put them on your resumé. Being bilingual or multilingual is a desirable asset in many roles, so listing your language skills could help take your job applications to the next level.

Whether you’re conversant, fluent or just starting out in a second language, your communication skills are one of your most valuable attributes as an employee. Being able to communicate with different people around the globe can open the door to new and exciting career opportunities.

Read on to learn more about how you can use your language skills to your advantage and make your resumé stand out from the crowd.

Understanding language skill levels

When it comes to understanding language skill levels, you can refer to several proficiency frameworks to describe your abilities. These frameworks can be used to measure how fluently you can understand and communicate in each language. Each of them take into account the different components of language, including speaking, reading, writing and listening.

While the specific levels depend on the framework, here are five common terms that you can use to describe your language proficiency on your resumé:

Basic or elementary proficiency
Conversational
Proficient
Fluent
Native

Commonly used language proficiency frameworks

Now it’s time to delve deeper into these proficiency frameworks. You have a few options to choose from, to clearly rank your language level on your resumé. Which model you use will depend on where you live and where the job you’re applying for is located.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Developed by the Council of Europe, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR for short, provides a standardised way of measuring language proficiency in various languages across Europe and other parts of the world.

Under the CEFR, your language proficiency is determined according to six different language skill levels:

A1 – Beginner
A2 – Elementary
B1 – Intermediate
B2 – Upper Intermediate
C1 – Advanced
C2 – Proficient

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) is a professional organisation in the United States dedicated to promoting and improving the teaching and learning of foreign languages.

Here’s a quick overview of the levels included in the ACTFL scale:

Novice
Intermediate
Advanced
Superior
Distinguished

Interagency Language Roundtable

The Interagency Language Roundtable (or ILR) determines a professional’s language proficiency based on their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. It includes six different levels as well as ‘Plus’ levels for those who display proficiency that’s higher than the base but not high enough to qualify for the next level up:

0 – 0+: No Proficiency to Memorised Proficiency,
1 – 1+: Elementary Proficiency to Elementary Proficiency Plus
2 – 2+: Limited Working Proficiency to Limited Working Proficiency Plus
3 – 3+: Professional Working Proficiency to Professional Working Proficiency Plus
4 – 4+: Full Professional Proficiency to Full Professional Proficiency Plus
5: Native or Bilingual Fluency

Defining language levels of proficiency

Which framework should you use? That depends on where you’re based and the location of the job you’re applying for. For example, the CEFR is widely recognised in Europe, whereas the ACTFL is more commonly used in the United States. Ultimately, it’s important to make sure you choose a single framework and stick to the levels of proficiency that it uses to ensure consistency and avoid any confusion.

Here’s how the levels across the three language proficiency frameworks compare to each other:

Determining your current language level of proficiency

When working out your language level of proficiency, it’s important to get an accurate reflection of your abilities. This will help minimise the risk of potential employers overestimating your abilities, which could put you in a tough situation. You can determine your level of proficiency by using one of the following methods:

Self-assessment: while self-assessments can be a helpful way to gauge your language proficiency, they require you to be honest. And because admitting limitations can be difficult, self-assessments aren’t always the most accurate method for determining your level of language proficiency.
Language tests and certifications: when it comes to describing your language proficiency on your resumé, it’s often best to use an official language test so you can add a certification that proves your level of proficiency.

Self-assessments and language tests are tools you can use to determine your language level of proficiency, but you should also evaluate your practical, real-world language skills. This helps to provide a more holistic and contextually relevant assessment of your abilities. To do this, think about how your skills translate into real-life situations, whether or not the language you use is relevant and how effectively you’re able to communicate in that language with native speakers.

Creating a language skills section on your resumé

Adding language skills to your resumé will help you stand out to hiring managers. It’s important that you effectively and accurately represent your abilities. Here are some tips for showcasing your language fluency on your resumé.

Organising your language skills

You might be wondering how to organise your language skills on your resumé, but there’s no definitive right answer. Because they pertain to your skills and abilities, it makes sense to group them near, or include them in, your technical skills. If the job you’re applying for requires language proficiency, you can make your language skills a separate section. Otherwise, it may be best to integrate them into your wider skill set.

Formatting and presenting your proficiency levels

If you’ve undergone official language testing and received a certification detailing your proficiency level, it’s worth staying consistent with the language naming criteria used by the test method. While it’s appropriate to simply list your language proficiency and certifications, you might choose to use a simple graphic that provides a visual representation of your level of proficiency.

Listing specific language skills

Regarding listing your language skills on your resumé, you might want to consider including your native language and any additional foreign languages you’re proficient in. Prioritise your list by your level of fluency in languages.

Primary languages

The best way to list your language skills on your resumé is to start with your native language/s and work your way down from most proficient to least proficient. Primary or native languages refer to those you were first exposed to in your home when you were growing up. By listing your native or primary languages at the top of your list, you’re better able to showcase your fluency across multiple languages.

Foreign languages

Foreign languages, or secondary languages, refer to those you learned after your native tongue/s. Once you’ve listed your primary language/s, you can move onto any secondary languages that you speak. List each language in order of your level of proficiency, with those you’re most fluent in at the top. As you progress and improve on your skills, don’t forget to update your resumé to reflect your current level.

Describing your language competency levels

Regardless of what testing method or which language proficiency framework you’re using, it’s important to remain consistent when describing your language skills.

Using standardised proficiency descriptors

Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the language proficiency framework that you intend on using, you can start to rank your language skills according to the descriptions on the scale. Of course, if you’ve undergone official assessment, you’ll have a certificate to prove your proficiency. Otherwise, you’ll have to use your own judgement to honestly and objectively align your abilities with the scale.

Providing context and examples

When listing your language proficiency levels on your resumé, you might want to demonstrate your skills in relation to your work experience or highlight the language skills you gained as part of your education.

Here are some examples of how you can list your language competency skills on your resumé to provide the hiring manager a little more context:

English — Native/Bilingual Level 5 (ILR)
Mandarin — Full Professional Proficiency (ILR Level 4+). Negotiated contracts with Mandarin-speaking clients at [company name]
Bahasa Malaysia — Professional Working Proficiency (ILR Level 3). Conducted research in Bahasa Malaysia on [research project]

Highlighting language-related achievements

Another great way to showcase your language skills is to include any language-related achievements you have, including certificates, diplomas and experiences.

Language certifications and diplomas

One of the best ways to determine your level of language proficiency is to take an exam. Based on your results, you’ll be provided with a certificate of proficiency as proof of your language abilities. Some people even undertake additional studies in a language, which is another great way to improve language skills.

Language-related experiences and achievements

Beyond official certifications, language-related experiences can help to demonstrate the level of skill you have in a specific language. From study abroad programs to language immersion experiences and even translation or interpretation work, these kinds of achievements are often looked at favourably by potential employers.

Keeping language skills relevant and updated

It’s important to only put skills on your resumé that you’re confident in. Just because you took a language class in high school doesn’t mean you should list that language as a skill on your resumé, unless you can confidently showcase your ability. With that said, if you're continuously striving to improve your abilities, then it’s important to update your resumé so it reflects your current language levels of proficiency.

Continuous learning and improvement

There are so many different ways you can continue to learn and develop your language skills. While some people choose to take classes and courses, others prefer to use learning apps and websites to improve their skills in their own time and at their own pace.

Professional language development

Mastering conversational language is one thing, but being able to use that language in a more formal, professional setting is a skill in itself. With a quick internet search, you should be able to find opportunities for practising your professional language skills outside of the workplace. For example, you might be able to find a local community or group where you can practise conversing with others. Or there might be opportunities to attend language workshops to bring your skills up to business communication levels.

Being proficient in multiple languages is a great skill set, and one that can help you stand out from the crowd. If you’ve reached a level of proficiency in more than one language, don’t be afraid to highlight your skills on your resumé – you never know how far they could take you.

FAQs

Should I include every language I know on my resumé?

Although it can be tempting, it’s usually not the best idea to include every language you know on your resumé – unless doing so is relevant to your job application. Instead, just list the languages that you’ve achieved a reasonable level of proficiency in and that are needed for the position you’re applying for.

Can I mention a language I am learning but not yet fluent in?

While you don’t need to be fluent in a language to list it on your resumé, you should at least be at a conversational level to include it. If you’re a complete beginner and the language holds no relevance to the role you’re applying for, then it’s probably best to leave it off – unless you want to include learning languages as a hobby.

How do I express my proficiency level if I am a native speaker?

The way you describe your level of proficiency as a native speaker depends on the language proficiency framework you’re using. With that said, simply listing that you have native or bilingual proficiency will be enough to communicate your skill level to any potential employers.

Should I provide evidence or proof of my language skills?

There’s no need to provide evidence of your language skills on your resumé, simply listing your proficiency is enough. However, if possessing a certain level of proficiency is a requirement for a job, you may need to provide supporting documentation as part of your job application. If you’ve completed a language test, it could be worth providing your certificate as proof of proficiency.

How do I update my language skills on my resumé as I progress?

As your language skills improve, it’s worth updating your resumé to reflect your current level of proficiency. If you’re proficient in more than one language, you might need to reorganise your list of languages so that it reads from the highest level of proficiency to the lowest.