How to start as a translator? Thread poster: Vito Russi
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Vito Russi 
Italy
Local time: 00:57
Russian to Italian
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Hi collegues.
My name is Vito and I'm from Italy. I signed in ProZ a few days ago and I saw there were many opportunities in the translation field. The problem is that I graduated a month ago and I've got no experience, even if I think that I'm good in translation and that I can deal with the majority of texts. I passed all my translation exams with full marks and my translations were considered always correct and precise. I would like to show to someone my language skills and work as a tr... See more Hi collegues.
My name is Vito and I'm from Italy. I signed in ProZ a few days ago and I saw there were many opportunities in the translation field. The problem is that I graduated a month ago and I've got no experience, even if I think that I'm good in translation and that I can deal with the majority of texts. I passed all my translation exams with full marks and my translations were considered always correct and precise. I would like to show to someone my language skills and work as a translator but...what do I have to do? How can I demonstrate my language skills in order to show the way I work (even if I have no experience)? ▲ Collapse
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Hi Vito
Perhaps the best thing to do is to look for work with agencies in the first instance in order to gain some experience. When you don't have experience in the professional field, you will need to prove your skills in some other way. After all the study you've done, I'm sure you've done many translations and this all counts towards experience. When you write your covering letters, make solid reference to all the types of translations you've done, the fields they were in, the... See more Hi Vito
Perhaps the best thing to do is to look for work with agencies in the first instance in order to gain some experience. When you don't have experience in the professional field, you will need to prove your skills in some other way. After all the study you've done, I'm sure you've done many translations and this all counts towards experience. When you write your covering letters, make solid reference to all the types of translations you've done, the fields they were in, the software you have used (if any), your experience in working to tight deadlines, the importance of proofreading etc.
If you've done any translations for friends, even unpaid, these also count towards experience, especially if you have someone you can use as a reference to attest the quality of your work. You could also use a University professor as an academic reference.
Just because you don't have professional experience in translation, does not mean you don't have translation experience, so try to write down all the experience you have to put yourself forward as an eligible candidate.
Try to Google a list of translation agencies. Proz can help you out a lot, but also TranslationDirectory.com has a compilation of agencies and you can purchase this list - might seem like a lot but it's a good investment to make to get started. There are a few e-books floating around as well about how to get started as a translator and there are loads and loads of forum threads on Proz.com about how to get started as a translator and they are all really helpful. Just look them up in the forum search engine.
We all have to start somewhere - some agencies want translators with over 3 years experience and some are happy with newly graduated translators who can show their skills by doing a translation test. Just make sure that these tests are not over 300 words or you could find you are doing a lot of translations for free!
Good luck ▲ Collapse
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Hello Vito,
and welcome to ProZ.com
You will find plenty of useful information and tips in the "Getting established" forum. I suggest you read some of the past threads for further details.
There is also an Italian forum available.
http://www.proz.com/forum/italian-26.html
... See more Hello Vito,
and welcome to ProZ.com
You will find plenty of useful information and tips in the "Getting established" forum. I suggest you read some of the past threads for further details.
There is also an Italian forum available.
http://www.proz.com/forum/italian-26.html
I posted a link there to a book which seems to address your issues just a few days ago.
Ciao,
Daniela ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anne Brose
United States
Local time: 18:57
English to Spanish
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I started like you, with the education but not much experience. What I did was exactly what you are doing, asking around. I also networked among friends and went to networking events to promote my services. Many agencies work with freelancers and you may want send your resume to them.I you know of a small translation agency (one or two people) offer your services for a low rate just to get the experience. I've been at it for two years and am slowly but surely getting steady work. Connections are... See more I started like you, with the education but not much experience. What I did was exactly what you are doing, asking around. I also networked among friends and went to networking events to promote my services. Many agencies work with freelancers and you may want send your resume to them.I you know of a small translation agency (one or two people) offer your services for a low rate just to get the experience. I've been at it for two years and am slowly but surely getting steady work. Connections are also very helpful; mention what you are doing to them and let them spread the word among their connections. Perseverance is key.
Good luck. ▲ Collapse
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Vito Russi
Italy
Local time: 00:57
Russian to Italian
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TOPIC STARTER | I know but... | Aug 5, 2010 |
Thanks for your help!:))
Yeah I know that translation agencies are a good point form where to start but...it is difficult to find one who lets you work! They usually find professional translators with experience! When you talk about refrences...well I translated for a friend of mine a text relate to psicology...and my friend said it was translated quite well!:))But I don't think this can be considered "real experience"...
| | | | | Start with your special expertise | Aug 6, 2010 |
Vito Russi wrote:
-------- I passed all my translation exams with full marks and my translations were considered always correct and precise. I would like to show to someone my language skills and work as a translator but...what do I have to do? How can I demonstrate my language skills in order to show the way I work (even if I have no experience)?
Translation markets nowadays are segmented deeply and new comers may not get jobs easily. I understand that you have special strong points in yourself to sell e.g. good at history subjects. In this way you can seek a niche market and promote yourself successfully. You may offer free-of-charge trial translation or volunteer translation to pile up your portfolio. Next, you can use the work records to gain many paid jobs. Please search Internet for translation job marketing know-how e.g. forum in American Translators Association. Many attractive methods can be mastered by you.
Hope this help.
Best regards,
Soonthon L.
| | | | Emma Goldsmith
Spain
Local time: 00:57
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
| Make the most of proz | Aug 6, 2010 |
I think you need to make yourself visible on Proz for a start. There are 3 ways to do that and I think they are all essential.
1. Complete your profile. Yours is (almost) empty. Upload CVs in Russian and English (get them proofread by natives beforehand).
2. Answer Kudoz questions in your language pair.
3. Become a member.
If you check out your Directory Ranking (under the Jobs&Directories tab) you will see where you come if an outsourcer searces for a trans... See more I think you need to make yourself visible on Proz for a start. There are 3 ways to do that and I think they are all essential.
1. Complete your profile. Yours is (almost) empty. Upload CVs in Russian and English (get them proofread by natives beforehand).
2. Answer Kudoz questions in your language pair.
3. Become a member.
If you check out your Directory Ranking (under the Jobs&Directories tab) you will see where you come if an outsourcer searces for a translator in your pair. You go up in the ranking by being a member and according to how many Kudoz points you have.
And you need to specialise in a specific area. Think of your interests, other things you have studied, and develop those areas so that outsourcers will want to choose you for a translation from the hundreds/thousands who are out there. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tai Fu
United States
Local time: 15:57
English to Chinese
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| don't give up | Aug 6, 2010 |
Complete your profile, making sure that you list any strengths and credentials you have, as well as translation exams if any.
Then go look for jobs on the job board. I believe most agencies just look at the directory when looking for translators and only post on the job board as a last resort. However there will be jobs available in the job board and make every effort to contact anyone looking for a translator. Also, talk to your professor or teachers to see if they can help you fin... See more Complete your profile, making sure that you list any strengths and credentials you have, as well as translation exams if any.
Then go look for jobs on the job board. I believe most agencies just look at the directory when looking for translators and only post on the job board as a last resort. However there will be jobs available in the job board and make every effort to contact anyone looking for a translator. Also, talk to your professor or teachers to see if they can help you find an agency to work with, as they generally have these types of connection.
In your spare time, answer kudoZ questions to rake up your directory ranking.
If your grammar isn't exactly perfect, you can do what I do, which is working with another professional editor. You will have to split your earnings with him but I believe the costs are worth it because it ensures that you have future work from agencies if the editor can help you deliver a high quality work. At the same time complete as much editing work as you can (or learn from your editor) in order to improve your grammar.
It will be hard in the beginning but after a while it gets a little easier. ▲ Collapse
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Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 23:57
Member (2007)
English
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| Market yourself as a professional | Aug 6, 2010 |
Emma Goldsmith wrote:
I think you need to make yourself visible on Proz for a start. There are 3 ways to do that and I think they are all essential.
1. Complete your profile. Yours is (almost) empty. Upload CVs in Russian and English (get them proofread by natives beforehand).
2. Answer Kudoz questions in your language pair.
3. Become a member.
I definitely agree but would add that your partying photo, combined with a Facebook website, will really let you down when potential clients visit your profile.
And you need to specialise in a specific area. Think of your interests, other things you have studied, and develop those areas so that outsourcers will want to choose you for a translation from the hundreds/thousands who are out there.
You don't say what your specialisations are but you seem to be offering a lot of language pairs. Your native language is Italian and you live in Italy - are you really qualified to compete against others for Russian to English translations
| | | | Tai Fu
United States
Local time: 15:57
English to Chinese
+ ...
| do not focus on your weakness | Aug 7, 2010 |
Always translate to your best language, not from!
If your native language is Italian, and you are also good at another language, then translate to Italian. The reason being that you only need to understand the meaning of the source language but you must re-write the target text to reflect the meaning of the original. Also, find out what you specialize in, by evaluating works that you have completed in the past. If say you are especially good at telecommunications and finds no diffic... See more Always translate to your best language, not from!
If your native language is Italian, and you are also good at another language, then translate to Italian. The reason being that you only need to understand the meaning of the source language but you must re-write the target text to reflect the meaning of the original. Also, find out what you specialize in, by evaluating works that you have completed in the past. If say you are especially good at telecommunications and finds no difficulty in translating even poorly written source texts, then I would specialize in that. You can also find out your specializations by reading source texts and deciding if you are able to know the meaning of those texts. Having a second profession (for example doctors) would mean you are familiar with that field and that can also be a specialization as well.
Do not accept jobs that you know you can't do (that is where translation tests will help you to decide) since it is very frustrating to have your work rejected. ▲ Collapse
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Few days ago, an agency contacted me telling me that it got a positive feedback from a client that I did a translation test for.
After adding me to its database, I was asked to provide the agency with three referees who could vouch for my experience as professional translator !
Since I am freshly graduated and unexperienced as a freelancer...I could not provide them with those details
any ideas ?
[... See more Few days ago, an agency contacted me telling me that it got a positive feedback from a client that I did a translation test for.
After adding me to its database, I was asked to provide the agency with three referees who could vouch for my experience as professional translator !
Since I am freshly graduated and unexperienced as a freelancer...I could not provide them with those details
any ideas ?
[Edited at 2010-11-26 20:37 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Your teachers? | Nov 26, 2010 |
Mokhtar Oussama Alliouche wrote: Since I am freshly graduated and unexperienced as a freelancer...I could not provide them with those detalis any ideas ?
Maybe your teachers could give you a letter of recommendation?
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Tomás & Suyash, thanks for the tips..that was really helpful
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