How to List Languages and Proficiency Levels on Your Resume
Language skills can make your resume stand out, especially for international roles or customer-facing jobs. But how do you list languages on your resume correctly?
Recruiters often look at language skills to assess communication abilities, cultural awareness, and international experience. Listing your language level correctly helps employers quickly understand your abilities and whether you’re suitable for roles that require multilingual communication.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How to describe your language level on a resume
- Where to list language skills on your resume
- Examples of language levels and how to write them
Why list language skills on your resume?
Language skills can strengthen your resume and help you stand out from other candidates. They show that you can communicate with different clients, adapt to international environments, and learn new skills.
Language skills are especially important if you:
- Apply for international jobs
- Work in customer service or sales
- Apply to multinational companies
- Want to work abroad
- Work in tourism, business, or education
How to list language skills on your resume
Let's first take a look at how to properly place language skills on your resume. Follow the next three steps to clearly share your linguistic skill set with the reader:
1. Choose which language proficiency scale to use
Before listing languages on your resume, you need to determine your language level. The easiest way to do this is by using an official language proficiency scale. There are several popular options for measuring your foreign language skills. The most common proficiency scales are all listed below:
Scale | When to use it | Levels |
|---|---|---|
CEFR | Most common scale in Europe and international jobs | A1–C2 |
ILR | U.S. government and federal jobs | 0 (no proficiency) to 5 (native speaker) |
ACTFL | Education and academic settings | Novice → Distinguished |
Decide which framework you plan to use, and then check your proficiency level. This may include taking a test online, or simply reading the guidance to determine where your skills lie.
In most cases, the CEFR scale is the best choice for your resume because it is widely recognized by employers.
CEFR language levels explained
The CEFR scale is one of the most well-known language proficiency scales. Here’s a breakdown of the different levels in this framework :
Level | Description |
A1 Level: Beginner | Can speak basic words and phrases. |
A2 Level: Elementary | Can understand common phrases. |
B1 Level: Intermediate | Can handle simple situations while traveling abroad. |
B2 Level: Upper intermediate | Can understand complex ideas, and technical discussions related to their specific field. |
C1 Level: Advanced | Can understand a wide range of difficult topics and demanding, long text. |
C2 Level: Proficient | Can understand virtually everything spoken or written to them, and can summarize and translate text easily for others. |
2. Where to include language skills on your resume
Next up, you need to figure out where to include your language skills on your resume. There’s a handful of places you can note these skills, and you don’t have to choose just one.
You can include language skills in:
- Resume summary
- Skills section
- Dedicated languages section
- Education section (if you studied the language)
- Work experience section (if you used the language professionally)
Think about the structure of your resume, and where it makes the most sense to talk about your language skills. You might want to reference them in your summary, for instance, and then elaborate on them in your work experience section. However, If you speak several languages, it’s best to create a dedicated “Languages” section so recruiters can quickly see them.
3. Format your language skills clearly
When listing your language skills either in a dedicated section or your skills section, you need to keep things brief. Using the right formatting helps the employer quickly see your level.
We recommend creating a separate languages section on your resume and including your known languages in a bullet list. Like this:
French - Native/Bilingual (CEFR C2)
German - Intermediate (CEFR B1)
This covers the main way you would list resume language skills in these sections. Of course, for your education, experience, or summary sections, you’d take a different approach.
Need help getting started? You can start by browsing our collection of resume examples for dozens of industries and job titles.
Practical example of languages on resume
You can include language skills in several sections of your resume, depending on how important they are for the job. If languages are essential, mention them in your resume summary so the employer sees them immediately. You can also include them in your work experience section by showing how you used them professionally, in your education section if you studied the language, in your skills section as part of your competencies, or in a dedicated languages section if you speak multiple languages.
Below you'll find one of CVwizard's resume templates featuring a resume with languages listed in various sections including work history, education, certifications and the summary.
How to determine your language proficiency level
If you’re not sure which language level to choose, try to evaluate how you use the language in real situations, not just what you learned in school. Think about what you can comfortably do in that language in a professional or everyday context.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Can I introduce myself and ask simple questions? |
Can I write emails in this language? |
Can I participate in meetings? |
Can I work fully in this language every day? |
Can I have a basic conversation? |
In general, basic knowledge (A1–A2) means you can use simple phrases and understand everyday expressions. Intermediate levels (B1–B2) mean you can communicate independently in most situations, including at work. Advanced levels (C1–C2) mean you can communicate fluently and professionally, understand complex topics, and work in the language without difficulty.
Expert Tip
Be honest about your language level on your resume. Employers may test your language skills during the interview, so it’s better not to lie on your resume and choose a level you’re comfortable using in a professional environment.
Describe your language proficiency level in common terms
You can also describe your language proficiency level using common language. This gives the employer a broad idea of your language knowledge, especially if they are not familiar with the above scales. Here’s the terminology you might use and how it measures up:
Fluent |
|
Very good |
|
Good |
|
Moderate |
|
Beginner |
|
For clarity, you can combine a descriptive term and a CEFR level, for example: German: Intermediate (B1).
Assess your proficiency across key skills
You may have different levels depending on the skill (speaking, writing, reading, or listening). If languages are important for the job, you can specify your level for each skill. Showing the gaps here is important. Let the employer know where your strengths and weaknesses lie, across the following skills.
For example:
Spanish: Speaking C1, Writing B2, Reading C1
German: Speaking B1, Reading B2
If you don’t know what your proficiency level is for any of the above skills, it’s time to find out. There are both paid and free tests that give you an accurate understanding of your language proficiency level. Consider which one best applies to your career. This is very useful for jobs where communication skills are important, such as sales, customer service, or international roles.
Expert Tip
If you've studied abroad, volunteered in a foreign country or have another meaningful work experience to share involving a foreign language, your cover letter is a great place to explain how the experience shaped you and how your language skills would contribute to your ability to do the job.
Language skills on a resume: what to remember
Language skills can make your resume stronger and open the door to more job opportunities, especially in international roles or customer-facing positions. The key is to clearly show your level, use a recognized scale like CEFR, and place your languages in a section where recruiters can quickly see them.
If you want to create a resume with a clear and professional language section, you can use CVwizard’s resume builder. Choose a template, add your languages, and download your resume in just a few steps. To save time, you can also use our cover letter templates and adapt them to your experience and language skills.
Frequently asked questions about languages on your resume
What if I don’t speak a foreign language?
Even knowing a small amount of a foreign language is a bonus to your resume. Language proficiency shows dedication to learning new things and an interest in other cultures.
It might also interest an employer situated in certain areas. For example, a retail store near a Chinese neighborhood would like their employees to at least know basic greetings in Mandarin.
However, if you only speak your mother tongue and it's the language of the country where you plan to work, you can leave languages off your resume.
Should I list language certifications or formal test results on my resume?
Absolutely. If you have formal certificates in languages, such as DELF for French or DELE for Spanish, mention them on your resume. You can include these either in your education section or in a dedicated certification section.
Is it important to put languages on my resume?
Yes. Listing language proficiency levels on your resume shows employers your learning agility, passion for different cultures, knowledge retention abilities, and communication skills. It helps you stand out from other candidates by showcasing key soft skills.
Listing language skills on your resume is essential if you’re applying for an international or bilingual role. It’s also a good idea if your target company is trying to expand to new markets.
Can I write languages on my resume with CVwizard?
Yes. Adding resume language skills is quick and easy with our resume templates.
Simply choose a resume template, click “Use template,” and begin to fill it out. Start with your personal details, education, employment history, and skills.
Then click the drop-down arrow on the “Languages” tab. From here, type in the name of the language you know and choose from one of the CEFR levels:
- A1
- A2
- B1
- B2
- C1
- C2
You can also hit the “Add language” button to add any extra known languages.
How can you list bilingual on your resume?
Include languages in a dedicated languages section and mark each as "Native or Bilingual" alongside the corresponding scale level.
You can also mention that you are bilingual in the resume summary, especially if it’s central to the role.
Should I include beginner languages on my resume?
If you only have a Novice level (e.g. 0 or A1), you should leave it off your resume most of the time. This proficiency level is unlikely to help you in the workplace, so it is not relevant.
Make an impression with your resume
Create and download a professional resume quickly and easily
