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Arabic job titles in English: a guide to translating a CV

2 min read

The hard part of translating a CV from Arabic isn't the sentences — it's the fixed words: job titles, section headings, qualifications and organisations. Literal translation produces words nobody searches for, and screening systems match words exactly. This guide gives the usual equivalent for each.

CV section headings

These are the headings screening systems look for. Use them as they are:

  • Professional Summary
  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Skills
  • Certifications and Licenses
  • Training
  • Languages
  • Projects
  • Volunteer Experience
  • References

Standard headings only — "My Journey" is not recognised, and the whole section is lost.

Common Saudi job titles

The term used in job postings, not a literal translation:

  • محاسب — Accountant
  • أخصائي موارد بشرية — HR Specialist
  • مساعد إداري — Administrative Assistant
  • مدخل بيانات — Data Entry Clerk
  • مندوب مبيعات — Sales Representative
  • أخصائي مشتريات — Procurement Specialist
  • أمين مستودع — Storekeeper / Warehouse Keeper
  • فني تكييف وتبريد — HVAC Technician
  • مهندس مدني — Civil Engineer
  • مستشار قانوني — Legal Counsel

Rank words

  • أخصائي — Specialist
  • منسق — Coordinator
  • مشرف — Supervisor
  • رئيس قسم — Head of Department
  • مدير — Manager
  • أول — Senior
  • متدرب — Trainee / Intern

Professional bodies in Saudi Arabia

  • Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS)
  • Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE)
  • Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA)
  • Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC)
  • Saudi Bar Association

Verbs to start experience bullets

"Responsible for" is the weakest possible opening. Start with a past-tense verb:

  • Led
  • Managed
  • Prepared
  • Developed
  • Improved
  • Reduced
  • Increased
  • Coordinated
  • Analysed
  • Trained

Names, dates and numbers

Your name as in your passport; cities as they are usually written — Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam; months in English (Jan 2024 – Present); Western digits; SAR for currency.

A good CV translation starts with the fixed words: headings, titles, qualifications and organisations. Use the usual equivalent for each and open every bullet with a verb.

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