Foreign language proficiency for a resume

An important requirement for obtaining a prestigious position is not only a good higher education, but also a decent knowledge of a foreign language. However, when looking for a job, some job seekers do not know what criteria should be used to assess the degree of proficiency in a foreign language, and what system of notation is better to indicate your language rating in the resume.

In Russia, the international system of standards is used to determine linguistic competence. However, many job sites offer their grade table in Russian. For example: basic, basic, conversational, good, fluent, perfect.

The first level assumes knowledge of the basics (alphabet, phonetics, minimal vocabulary). This degree of foreign language proficiency in the resume better not to reflect.

The second stage provides knowledge of the basics of foreign speech, reading texts with a dictionary and communicating on everyday topics within the framework of popular colloquial phrases, the ability to build simple questions and formulate answers. For example, find out the way, ask the time, book a hotel room.

This stage means understanding and maintaining conversations on everyday topics, a wide vocabulary, reading adapted texts and films with subtitles. The level should be reflected in the resume, as it provides for knowledge of the language base, and you can learn professional vocabulary over time.

Candidate with this degree able to conduct conversations on any topic and read professional literature.

It means almost perfect English proficiency. Applicant with this level of knowledge able to communicate on narrowly professional topics, understand any literature, conduct business correspondence and write texts of varying complexity. The level suggests a great advantage over other candidates.

This is the highest level of knowledge. He assumes the ability to build any grammatical structures, understand technical documentation, know and use slang and outdated expressions.

According to the CEFR (Unified European Assessment System), the language rating is distinguished three main stages and several gradations.

• Beginner level (A). It assumes basic knowledge corresponding to the school curriculum.
• Survival stage (A1). Basic communication, understanding of simple speech, reading simple literature, knowledge of simple grammatical and phonetic constructions.
• Intermediate level (A2). Ability to write letters and communicate on everyday topics.
• Threshold level (B1). Reading adapted literature, the ability to correspond and build speech structures, free communication in everyday life. According to the TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language), this level is assigned when a person scores 400-550 points.
• Advanced level (B2). Reading complex texts, free communication with a native speaker, having a rich vocabulary. To do this, when passing the TOEFL exam, you need to score 550-600 points.
• Professional degree (C1). Free communication in any area of ​​life, understanding the subtleties and nuances of the language, reading texts of any kind of complexity.
• Perfect level (C2). Perfect knowledge of the language. Simultaneous translation ability.

The resume will look much more professional, if you designate your language rating in accordance with the generally accepted international notation system:

• Beginner / Elementary Level corresponds to the initial level A (less than 1000 words);
• Elementary Level - A1 (vocabulary of 1500 units);
• Pre-Intermediate Level - A2 (1500-2500 units);
• Intermediate Level - B1 (2750-3250);
• Upper-Intermediate Level - B2 (3250-3750);
• Advanced Level - C1 (3750-4500);
• Proficiency Level - C2 (knowledge of more than 4500 words).

To indicate language competence, the European classification (Common European Framework of Reference) is used with levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. According to the national system, Grundkenntnisse means basic level, Fließend in Wort und Schrift - fluency in speech, Verhandlungssicher - free communication + translation skills, Muttersprache - mother tongue.

Two scales are used to determine the level of knowledge:

• national (Débutant, Pré-Intermédiaire, Intermédiaire, Intermédiaire-Supérieur, Pré-Avancé, Avancé, Avancé-Supérieur, Supérieur);
• and international (Beginner and Elementary (A1), Pre-Intermediate (A2), Intermediate (B1), Upper-Intermediate (B2), Advanced (C1), Proficiency (C2) levels).

In addition to international assessment standards, there is also a classification adopted in the country: Inicial corresponds to level A1, Elemental - A2; Pre-Intermedio - B1; Intermedio - B2; Avanzado - C1; Superior - C2.

The level of proficiency in this language is determined according to the international and national grading systems: level A1 is equivalent to Principianti or Elementare, A2 - Pre-intermedio, B1 - Intermedio, B2 - Post-intermedio, C1 - Avanzato, C2 - Perfettamente or Livello di padronanza.

You can find out your language rating in two ways:

• look in teaching materials, in manuals for schools and universities, information about the level of education is indicated;
• determine your language rating yourself by passing the online test, but for an accurate assessment, it is advisable to test your knowledge on different sites.

The best proof of good fluency in a foreign language is a resume written in English. When compiling it, it is better to use a ready-made structure.

• personal information (Personal Information). This paragraph indicates the full name (Name), date of birth (Date of birth), address (Address), marital status (Marital status), contacts (Mobile / E-mail).
• Career objective (Career Objective).
• Education (Educational Qualifications). All types of training should be listed in reverse chronological order.
• work experience (Work Experience). It is necessary to start the list from the last place of employment.
• Language proficiency (Languages ​​Known or Language skills). This column reflects the types of foreign languages ​​and the degree of their proficiency. Example: Fluent English. This language rating can be designated according to the European School of Assessment (C1) or according to the international gradation (Advanced Level).
• Hobbies / Interests (Hobbies / Interests). It prescribes options that reveal the applicant in a winning light.
• Recommendations (Reference). It is advisable to indicate the contact information of the referees only when submitting a resume for a specific vacancy. If the information is posted on the Internet, then it can be noted that it is available upon request.

By the way, now there are many website builders for writing a resume, but here, too, to fill it out correctly, you need to know the language base.

Example resume:

Name: Oleg Ivanov

Address: 102 Lenina Street, Moscow, 225200, Russia

Marital status: single

Date of birth: 29th July 1990

Telephone: + 7-XXX-XXX-XXXX

Email: your. name @ gmail. com

Career Objective: sales manager

Educational Qualifications:

2000-2005 Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Master's Degree in Computer science

1994-2000 Spring School college, Moscow

Work experience:

Company Name 1, 2009-2019, Krasnodar, Russia - Assistant manager.

Company Name 2, 2000-2009, Moscow, Russia - Sales manager.

Language skills: Advanced Level English.

Interests: traveling, reading.

Reference: available upon request.

A well-written resume is the first and most important step towards finding a prestigious job. And in order to arrange it correctly, it is important to adhere to some recommendations.

• If the degree of proficiency in a foreign language corresponds to the degrees "Elementary" or "Beginner / Elementary", it is better not to mention this at all when looking for a job.
• It is better to highlight information about a high language rating in a separate paragraph, but so that the resume does not take more than one page.
• In the presence of documents confirming knowledge of a foreign language, you must specify their data (name of institution, date of issue, number, assigned level). It is especially important for the employer to obtain certificates confirming the passage of international exams: TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, FCE / CAE / CPE, TOEIK, IELTS.
• Business communication skills or experience of working and living in the country of native speakers must be reflected in the resume... Such information can play a decisive role in obtaining a position.
• When designating the level of language proficiency, according to generally accepted standards, you can describe it in simple words in a more specific form.

By the way, now there are many sites that allow you to determine language competence. But starting from the Intermediate level, the most reliable information can be obtained by passing the international official exams with the receipt of certificates. For example, the University of Cambridge tests (BEC, FCE, CAE) are now very popular with their own criteria for calculating the indicators of English proficiency.