Find your niche

The tranlsation world can be highly competitive just like any other business.  It is essential to have specialty areas that you work in.  If you are not part of the group of legal, financial, engineering or medical translators out there, (which actually might be beneficial since there could be less competition), what is your specialty?  What do you know?  What is your passion?  Do you know a lot about fishing? cooking? sword fighting? Do you volunteer behind the scenes of a theatre or at the APL? In the competitve world of translation you must find your niche. There are definitely clients out there searching for the translator that is familiar with a not-so-common area.  This might mean fewer projects, but it could also mean bigger projects since clients will be much more apt to give them to you, as well as any related material, and hopefully continue to use you for future work (related to your specialty or not).

Professional translation associations



Certified Translator!!

Depending on where you live there is more than likely a professional translator association such as the American Translator's Association (ATA) in America or the Société française des traducteurs (SFT) in France, or the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpretors (IAPTI) which is based in Argentina. Many of these organizations also give certification exams.  Becoming a member is sometimes not cheap but worth it in my opinion.

I found these links that list translator and interpreter associations worldwide and thought it might be helpful:  Hot links for translators  or Foreignword.com.  Membership to any of these associations can prove to be a very resourceful tool for the freeelance translator/interpreter and they often offer a range of services for both clients and members such as advice, training, and basic information.  They also hold seminars and meetings which provide the opportunity to meet others in your field - a great networking experience!

Do you think that agencies feel that it is advantageous to be a "certified" translator?  Personally I think it helps but I don't deem it essential.   The topic of certification is controversial.  I have a degree in French translation but I am not a "certified" translator so to speak.  I have come across clients that want a "certified" translator and then those that do not specify.  Would a "certified" translator get the project before one that was not?  The ATA gives certification exams. I am a member and have even went as far as buying a "practice" exam to assess my translation abilities (they mail it back to you with your mistakes), and to get a feel for the real exam when, and if I decide to take it.  I am still on the fence about this subject but will probably eventually get certified,

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

The other day I received an email inquiring about my translation services and to please send my rate per word.  All seemed fine. I sent my rate and asked to see the document in order to give a proper quote.  The sender got back to me and was in agreement with my rate, but then proceded to ask me to sign a contract but did not send me a copy of the document.  I responded asking them once again to send me the document, even a portion of it, to get an idea of the subject matter and so forth and reiterated that I would not sign a contract without seeing it.  The email I received in response went on to explain how they were a reputable agency, that the document was some 1 million words (a little odd), and that I would be given a period of 6 months to complete the translation.  Scrolling down to the bottom of the page, expecting a copy of the document, I found nothing.  Needless to say I wrote back explaining that I can not do business with them. Naturally I have not heard back.

This is amazing to me! This email was certainly cause to be on alert. First, the1 million words was a bit fishy and secondly it is definately a red flag when, even after asking twice, they refused to send a copy or even part of the document and I was still asked to sign a contract. 

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

Keeping up my language skills

Obviously living in the U.S. doesn't call for speaking French on an everyday basis.  All around me is English.....this is one thing that I really miss about living in France....hearing it daily, 24/7.  With this said it is even more important for me to keep up with my language skills.  As with any language that you don't speak on a regular basis you tend to lose it. You're not as fluid as before, and you might even lose some vocabulary.

To avoid this problem, besides the not-as-often-as-I-would-like trips to France (I work for an airline so this is semi-easy to do), I read novels in French.  I found a wonderful bookstore in Manhattan that sells untranslated literature -the livres de poche that you find in the bookstores in France.  I also try to buy magazines in French or Le Monde when I can. I also try to watch Scola TV which broadcasts news directly from the foreign countries. If I'm lucky I get to talk to a French speaking passengers at the airport or my great French aunt.  There are also groups out there that get together and talk in your language.  Join in! 

Keeping up with your language skills is essential, especially for the translator that doesn't live where their source language(s) is/are spoken. 

Getting motivated

So I'm trying very hard to contact at least 5-6 translation agencies a day. Sometimes this number is less  but my daily goal is at least 5 total.  I have a sort of cover letter (in both French and English) that I have prepared and send out via email. For some reason, however, I find that this task is easier said than done.  This is not a difficult or challenging thing to do, I copy and paste the letter into the body of my email and send my CV in an attachment (usually PDF), it only takes a total of 3 minutes for each contact I make.  A total of 15 minutes a day if I want to get all 5 done.  Amazingly, these 15 minutes are hard to find for me!  I don't know why.  I have a tendancy to put it off until later.  Why?  Maybe because this is the part of the business I like least....maybe because I usually only hear back from one or two agencies and start feeling like it's all usless...or maybe I'm just lazy sometimes. 

Making these contacts is such a necessary and important part of the translation business.  Keep a record of who you did contact and if they responded to you.  You might be surprised by how many responses you do get back and how much work can come from it.  You never know.  That agency that you contacted a year ago might finally have a great project that fits into your specializations and they give it to you!! 

For me getting motivated is one of the hardest things to do, especially when things are slower than usual.  The slower times are the best times to do some contacting since you have a little more time on your hands.  During the slow periods maybe strive for 7 contacts a day.  There is definately enough translation work to go around but no one will know of your services if you don't promote them.

Volunteer translations

So you want to be a translator do you?!  As with any job, however, you usually need some kind of experience.  For translators this experience can very well come from, (and often does) doing volunteer translations.  You can translate for non-profit organizations, free newsletters, newspapers, etc....the list goes on.  There is always a need for volunteer translators.  I did several translations for both Ashoka (a global assocation of entrepreneurs) and IAI  (International Alliance of Inhabitants), both very reputable organizations, when I started my career and let me tell you it helped enormously!!  Not only do you get a feel for the subjects you like to work in, which eventually can become specializations, but you can assess how you work and where you need to improve before you dive into paid work.  I'm not insinuating at all that volunteer work is any less important, however, with a paid client the stakes do tend to be a little higher.

Today I still do the occasional volunteer translation when I have the time.  Not only does it keep me on my toes but I also know that I am doing a good deed for someone who needs my help.

Inaccurate translations

Ever see a bad translation? Be it on the label of a new purse or on the internet? Being a translator really opens my eyes and makes me realize the importance of not only proper spelling but having a good, solid understanding of your maternal language and its grammar. Sometimes I would love to see the original text of something I have read in English (supposing it was from French), just to see what the translator had to work with. I hate to say it but there have been times where I have seen translations and can't imagine it having been edited by a proofreader. If it was, the editor needs a new job!

Of course we are only human and everyone overlooks things from time to time, translators and editors alike. Everyone makes mistakes. However, for someone who has always been an overall good speller, being a translator has really forced me to become extra particular when sending emails (even to my family) for example.

And then there is the meaning you are trying to convey. Ever read something in your native language that just doesn't sound right or is ambiguous? This is the main reason I love translating. I love having to rack my brain at times to figure out how something would be said logically while still keeping the message of the source text. To me this is fun! Though it can be frustrating at times - especially when working on a text that is not really in your comfort zone, which we all do from time to time.

I really do love my job!

*For those of you who commented on this post on my old blog on my website I thank you!  Just giving my old blog a facelift!