I am bilingual in English and Spanish, however saying I am fluent in Spanish isn’t really accurate. I’m able to conduct counseling sessions and do translations for colleagues, but I definitely have limitations. Sometimes it’s vocabulary, and I can find a way around what I need to say, or it’s getting tripped up on my verb conjugations.
I want to present my Spanish ability on my resume but haven’t ever found quite the right way. I used to have “Proficient in Spanish” but I think someone later advised against that. Right now I have “Spanish language” but that seems weird. I am open to suggestions!
Hmm that feels like what you’d say if you were able to get by visiting a foreign country, like asking “where is the market?” Or maybe I don’t have a proper understanding of “conversational.”
Spanish—native speaker
Means: accent and command of idiom will be good, but some domains will be restricted.
Spanish—educated native speaker
Means: your Spanish is like your English
If you learned it formally with any sort of major, degree, or certificate, say that.
Spanish major
Spanish—three years in college
Spanish—lived two years in Guatemala
Otherwise, how about
Spanish—fluent second language
Any qualification after “fluent” will mean “I can speak rapidly and proficiently, but I’m not perfect.”
On my résumé, I just list languages (Languages: Spanish, French). I figure if people want details, they can ask. Chances are all the other person cares about is “some Spanish” vs. “no Spanish.”
You could say something like “intermediate proficiency/fluency in Spanish” or “advanced proficiency in Spanish” or “intermediate proficiency in written Spanish. Advanced proficiency in spoken Spanish” if you feel your level differs. Something to give some detail while not locking you into a very specific level of performance. If it matters, someone can ask what you mean by that, which is good.
The words I used on my resume were ‘‘functionally fluent’’ in Spanish.
Which basically means I spoke pretty damned well but not perfectly. If you locked me in a room with some people speaking Spanish and told me to communicate any specific concept, it might take some time but eventually, I’d get the message across.
I’ve been in your shoes and ‘‘proficient’’ is underselling your skills. The language program at my university had a five-hour proficiency exam as the bare minimum requirement for graduation. I took advanced level courses for two years beyond that including drafting research papers in Spanish, plus later I conducted customer service intakes and credit review sessions in Spanish as an employee at a consumer credit counseling agency. Don’t sell yourself short.
A friend suggested I Google advice on the matter and, to no surprise, there were many articles written about the issue. It seems like “proficient” is the most appropriate word. Functionally fluent is definitely an interesting choice, I might go with that.
Many companies want specific strengths: if you’re going to be a tour guide you need “conversational”, if you’re going to be doing business you want “business”. Many people in touristy locations speak multiple languages but with the “for tourists” specialty: they can quote prices or give directions, but not talk about the weather.