Foreign language proficiency for CV

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 applicants do not know by what criteria it is necessary to assess the degree of foreign language proficiency, and by which notation system it is better to indicate your language rating in the resume.

In Russia, an international system of standards is used to determine linguistic competence. However, many job sites offer their own grades table in Russian. For example: elementary, basic, conversational, good, free, perfect.

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

The second stage provides knowledge of the basics of foreign speech, reading texts with a dictionary and communication 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 for 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 summary, since it provides knowledge of the language base, and you can study professional vocabulary over time.

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

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

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He suggests ability to build any grammatical constructions, understand technical documentation, know and use slang and outdated expressions.

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

• Entry Level (A). It assumes basic knowledge appropriate to the school curriculum.
• Survival Stage (A1). Elementary communication, understanding 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 scoring 400-550 points.
• Advanced Level (B2). Reading complex texts, free communication with a native speaker, the presence of 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. Ability to simultaneous translation.

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

• Beginner / Elementary Level corresponds to the initial level A (less than 1000 words);
• Elementary Level - A1 (vocabulary of 1,500 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 4,500 words).

To indicate linguistic competence, the European Classification (Common European Framework of Reference) is used with the levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. According to the national system, Grundkenntnisse means the basic level, Fließend in Wort und Schrift - fluency in speech, Verhandlungssicher - fluent 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 level (A1), Pre-Intermediate (A2), Intermediate (B1), Upper-Intermediate (B2), Advanced (C1), Proficiency (C2)).

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

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

There are two ways to find out your language rating:

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

The best proof of a good command of 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 shall indicate 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 indicated in reverse chronological order.
• experience (Work Experience). It is necessary to start the list from the last place of employment.
• Language skills (Languages ​​Known or Language skills). This column reflects the types of foreign languages ​​and their degree of proficiency. Example: Fluent English (fluent in English). This language rating can be designated according to the European School of Assessment (C1) or in accordance with the international graduation (Advanced Level).
• Hobbies / Interests (Hobbies / Interests). It spells out options that reveal the applicant in a winning light.
• Recommendations (Reference). Recommended contact information is recommended only when applying for a specific vacancy. If the information is posted on the Internet, it can be noted that it is available on request (available upon request).

By the way, now there are many designer sites for compiling a resume, but here, for the correct filling, you need knowledge of 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-XXXX-XXXX-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 to finding a prestigious job. And in order to make it right, 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’s better not to indicate this at all when looking for a job.
• Information about a high language rating should be highlighted as a separate paragraph, but so that the resume does not take more than one page.
• If there are documents confirming knowledge of a foreign language, their data must be indicated (institution name, date of issue, number, assigned level). It is especially important for the employer to obtain certificates attesting to passing international exams: TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, FCE / CAE / CPE, TOEIK, IELTS.
• Business communication skills or work experience and living in the country of native speakers must be reflected in the summary. Such information can play a decisive role in obtaining a post.
• When indicating the level of knowledge of the language, 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 linguistic competence. But starting from the Intermediate level, the most reliable information can be obtained by passing the international official exams with certificates. For example, Cambridge University tests (BEC, FCE, CAE) with their own criteria for calculating English proficiency are now very popular.