Many roles in China, and many Chinese candidates applying abroad, need a CV in both languages. A literal translation reads badly in both: Chinese CVs and English CVs follow different conventions. This skill writes two native-feeling documents from one set of facts, and checks that the facts match exactly.
Part of the pm-cv bundle. Uses country-cv-format for the conventions of each side.
What This Skill Produces
- The Chinese CV, in mainland conventions, or Traditional Chinese if the role is in Hong Kong or Taiwan
- The English CV, in the conventions of the target country
- A consistency table: every date, title, employer and number in both versions, side by side
- A glossary: the translation chosen for titles, employers, degrees and specialist terms
Required Inputs
Ask for these if not provided:
- The person's experience, in either language
- Where each version is going: for example a multinational in Shanghai, a Chinese company's overseas office, or a UK employer
- Simplified or Traditional characters
- The official English names of employers and universities, if the person knows them
Framework
Chinese version (mainland conventions):
- Header: name, contact details, and job objective (target role, city, and expected salary only if the person chooses)
- Personal details, including age, 籍贯 (hometown) and 政治面貌 (political status), are optional. Include them only when the person chooses and the role expects them.
- A photo is common; the person decides
- Sections: Education, Work Experience, Project Experience, Professional Skills, Certificates and Honours, self-evaluation (keep this short and evidence-based, or leave it out)
- Use one consistent date format: 2021.03 至 2023.06 or 2021年3月至2023年6月.
English version:
- Follows the target country's conventions (photo and personal details usually removed for the US, UK and Australia)
- Name order: given name then family name for most Western employers, with the family name in capitals if helpful (Wei ZHANG); keep the person's preferred English name if they have one
- No self-evaluation section; its content becomes a short summary with evidence
Rendering rules:
- Employers and universities: use the official English name. If unknown, use pinyin and say so in the glossary; never invent an English brand name
- Job titles: translate the function rather than the literal words. 高级经理 may mean Senior Manager; 总监 usually means Director. Flag ambiguous cases.
- Degrees: 本科 corresponds to Bachelor's, 硕士 to Master's, and 博士 to PhD; include the major.
- Numbers and money: keep the currency (RMB or CNY) unless converting is agreed; never change a figure between versions
Output Format
Bilingual CV: [name]
1. Chinese CV 2. English CV 3. Consistency table | Fact | Chinese | English | Match | 4. Glossary | Chinese term | English chosen | Note |
Quality Checks
- Every date, number, title and employer matches between versions
- Official English names are used, or pinyin is flagged in the glossary
- Personal details follow each version's target country and the person's choice
- Neither version reads as a word-for-word translation
Anti-Patterns
- Literal translation. "Responsible for" chains in English and stiff passive-voice constructions in Chinese read as machine output.
- Different facts in each version. Recruiters at bilingual employers compare them.
- Invented English company names. Use the official one or pinyin.
- Keeping self-evaluation adjectives in English. "Hard-working, strong sense of responsibility" says nothing to an English reader.
Example Trigger Phrases
- "Help me prepare matched Chinese and English CVs."
- "Translate my Chinese CV into English for a job in London."
- "I need my English resume in Chinese for a role in Shanghai."
- "How should I write an English CV? I want to apply to foreign-invested companies."