| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Breaking the cycle of inexperience Thread poster: Manuel Rodriguez
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| Contacts, contacts, contacts! | Apr 25, 2004 |
Sooner or later you or a friend or relative of yours will be talking to someone who needs a translation and has no idea where to turn. They (or you) should then be ready to suggest... YOU! ¡Deja que corra la voz! [Let the word spread.]
My first major translation project was won through my husband's doctor's wife's colleague's friend.
With that project, I had experience and a portfolio to promote myself with agencies.
[Edited at 2004-04-26 02:31]
| | | | Nikita Kobrin 
Lithuania
Local time: 09:27
Member (2010)
English to Russian
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| Re: Please in English | Apr 26, 2004 |
Tayfun Torunoglu wrote:
If the reply was only to starter of this thread, it could be done via personal e-mails as well, only reason to post here is to make it readable and understandable for general Public.
I do agree with Tayfun:
- If you want to communicate with posters in their native languages why not to contact them directly via email?
- If you still want to make your message public why not to use English in order to let the majority of the site members and visitors to understand it?
And don't forget that there are many non-English forums at ProZ.com specially created for communication in languages other then English.
Regards,
Nikita Kobrin
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ICQ: 233779923
| | | | Atenea Acevedo (X)
Local time: 00:27
English to Spanish
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| Please notify the poster | Apr 26, 2004 |
Nikita Kobrin wrote: Tayfun Torunoglu wrote:
If the reply was only to starter of this thread, it could be done via personal e-mails as well, only reason to post here is to make it readable and understandable for general Public. I do agree with Tayfun: - If you want to communicate with posters in their native languages why not to contact them directly via email? - If you still want to make your message public why not to use English in order to let the majority of the site members and visitors to understand it? And don't forget that there are many non-English forums at ProZ.com specially created for communication in languages other then English. Regards, Nikita Kobrin ======
Totally agree, Tayfun. I was in a rush and wanted to provide some insight and just thought it easy to do it in my first language.
However, I wish a moderator had notified me that my posting would be erased from this thread or advised me to re-write it in English for the stated reasons. I was browsing through the fora and so realized that my posting was gone. It'd have been nice to be e-mailed about it.
Regards,
Atenea
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Anna Villegas (X)
English to Spanish
| Ok, Ok... (Bad English permitted?) Here I go again! | Apr 27, 2004 |
Dear Manuel,
In addition to I agree with Lesley Clarke's questions, given that the answer to them make a curriculum, other advices are, FIRST: Increase your rates, amigo: you are charging one American cent per word ...! If I was your client, you would be suspicious to me.
SECOND: Write a good cover letter on your e-mail and invest time in searching every day for companies on the Internet that you think might need your services (most of them contain one or several e-mail addresse... See more Dear Manuel,
In addition to I agree with Lesley Clarke's questions, given that the answer to them make a curriculum, other advices are, FIRST: Increase your rates, amigo: you are charging one American cent per word ...! If I was your client, you would be suspicious to me.
SECOND: Write a good cover letter on your e-mail and invest time in searching every day for companies on the Internet that you think might need your services (most of them contain one or several e-mail addresses), and send them your letter. Address to 40 or 50 companies each day. This won't disappoint you, since you are opening a space in the Universe that HAS to be filled. And, though there wouldn’t be a response precisely from those whom you firstly wrote to, the work comes IRREMEDIABLY. On the other hand, for own experience I tell you that these companies will keep your e-mail and some day they will request your services, sooner or later. Believe me.
It’s an immense world of businesses on Internet; just write. There is work for all.
Some will think that I am suggesting you to become a "spammer", but, as we say in Mexico, "that who does not show does not sell". Furthermore, if a company or business don't want to receive any kind of messages or enter in negotiations with other companies or individuals who offer their services, then what's the case to announce themselves on Internet? This is a forum opened to the world: isn't true?
In order that you see a living example of what I'm telling you, I will soon invite you to collaborate with me.
(If I hadn't seen you here in ProZ, I had never found out about your existence.)
See you!
Anna. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Manuel Rodriguez
Mexico
Local time: 23:27
English to Spanish
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TOPIC STARTER | What is the normal rate? | Apr 27, 2004 |
Anna Villegas:
Ha! you cheked me out? O.k. I agree with you in that I'm charging too low a rate for my servies. I thought clients liked things cheap, but did not considered the downside. So, what is the current rate for a english>spanish translation, assuming I can do 1,000 words in roughly 4 hours (that includes checking and re-checking)?
Also, I do plan on writing a cover letter and/or a CV, but for that I need references, 1 year experience, and so forth, things whic... See more Anna Villegas:
Ha! you cheked me out? O.k. I agree with you in that I'm charging too low a rate for my servies. I thought clients liked things cheap, but did not considered the downside. So, what is the current rate for a english>spanish translation, assuming I can do 1,000 words in roughly 4 hours (that includes checking and re-checking)?
Also, I do plan on writing a cover letter and/or a CV, but for that I need references, 1 year experience, and so forth, things which I don't have for the moment.
What I plan to do right now, is to work for free, or for that minimum price of $.02 per word. Hopefully, thinks will begin to pick up around summer time, when I'll be able to say, he! I have 1 year in this business.
Best regards.
P.S.: Thank you for considering me. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Carina Arias
Argentina
Local time: 03:27
English to Spanish
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| Contacts YES! Quality, too | Apr 29, 2004 |
Mi question is, how did you manage to break that vicious cycle?
R.Ramírez
Personally, I never felt that vicious cycle. Really, my reply is going to be very personal, but it´s just my experience. I got my first real translation jobs by doing in-company teaching. Of course, I was teaching the right person, at the right time: a Human Resources manager and director. I had been teaching for 4 or 5 years, and I was already doing pretty well in my classes (as far as I can tell), and in third year of translation training. So it was really a godsend. My first assignment was a training manual, a pretty long one, and thank God I did a good job because after that this manager continued giving me translations to do. Eventually, I also began to get jobs from other managers, now in the field of finance, for example. So, for your first job you will need CONTACTS, definitely. But a word of warning: unless your quality levels are high enough, your clients won´t call again! So ALWAYS make sure to deliver great quality. Do your best! Because there will be a lot of other translators willing to do the same task, for the same money, and the only thing that will make a difference is how well you can do the job. Besides, the more professional we are, the better our profession will be recognized.
| | | | | Free translation - where to look?? | Apr 29, 2004 |
I feel the same "vicious cycle" - I have no certification as a translator or experience, as I am just beginning to look into this. I can say I've taught Spanish for a year, but that's about the only solid "credit" to my name right now (plus a minor in Spanish). I like the idea of building up experience by volunteering my services, but I don't have the first idea where to look! I understand non-profit organizations are a good place to start, but which ones - just internationally-connected ones...... See more I feel the same "vicious cycle" - I have no certification as a translator or experience, as I am just beginning to look into this. I can say I've taught Spanish for a year, but that's about the only solid "credit" to my name right now (plus a minor in Spanish). I like the idea of building up experience by volunteering my services, but I don't have the first idea where to look! I understand non-profit organizations are a good place to start, but which ones - just internationally-connected ones...? And what is the best way to contact them? I am in desperate need of information on getting started. I don't know where to go from here! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Gracias!!! ▲ Collapse
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| How to get certified anyway?? | May 3, 2004 |
Okay, I hate to be constantly begging for answers here, but I am just so lost. After looking at agencies, and even considering freelance, it seems the only way to be taken seriously, unless I had a lot of experience (which I do not), is to be certified, especially by ATA. So I've been nervously looking into that, but not only is it apparently an expensive and difficult test, but now I'm seeing that you have to be "eligible" just to take it! Why do they make this so hard?? If I had a master's deg... See more Okay, I hate to be constantly begging for answers here, but I am just so lost. After looking at agencies, and even considering freelance, it seems the only way to be taken seriously, unless I had a lot of experience (which I do not), is to be certified, especially by ATA. So I've been nervously looking into that, but not only is it apparently an expensive and difficult test, but now I'm seeing that you have to be "eligible" just to take it! Why do they make this so hard?? If I had a master's degree or "5 years experience in translation," I wouldn't be so in need of TAKING the test! If I sound frustrated, it's because I am. Does anyone have any advice for me at all? Thanks. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 08:27
German to English
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| Breaking the cycle of inexperience | May 3, 2004 |
Samantha Janci wrote:
not only is it [ATA certification] apparently an expensive and difficult test, but now I'm seeing that you have to be "eligible" just to take it! Why do they make this so hard??
If it were easy, it presumably wouldn't be worth anything.
Marc
| | | | | experiences of a newbie | May 4, 2004 |
Hi Manuel,
I started working as a freelance for German/Irish/French to English in March 2004 and it is only now I find I am really getting my foot in the door and a couple of agencies and clients are now becoming repeat customers - which is nice
True, I do have a translation degree and 1 year's in-house experience but I had only a vague notion on how to conduct translation work as a full-time freelancer.... See more Hi Manuel,
I started working as a freelance for German/Irish/French to English in March 2004 and it is only now I find I am really getting my foot in the door and a couple of agencies and clients are now becoming repeat customers - which is nice
True, I do have a translation degree and 1 year's in-house experience but I had only a vague notion on how to conduct translation work as a full-time freelancer. It took me about 2-3 weeks til I started to get work.
My main piece of advice is to look beyond your own country for translation work. Send a good cover letter and CV to as many agencies as possible and register with as many translator databases as possible. Some agencies may ask you to do a test translation. OK, it is a freebie, but it is still good practise. Do you have any other skills or specialist area knowledge that could be useful - for example, marketing, computers, engineering?
It's important to know what your strongest subjects are, otherwise you will find yourself doing translation work that you find difficult and dull. (Which is why I will never do legal translation! )
Now that we have the internet, there is nothing stopping you from applying to countries where Spanish speakers are not especially common. For example, all my Irish Gaelic translation work comes from North America and not from Ireland (strangely enough!). See if you can create a niche for yourself.
Ask around if there are any companies where you live that require translation services or even if you can meet up with other translators in your region and offer to do work that they cannot do. I did this in Dublin and you would'nt believe the amount of contacts I gained from this.
Regards,
Orla ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Getting registered | May 4, 2004 |
If it were easy, it presumably wouldn't be worth anything.
Marc[/quote]
True - also, when you are starting out, it demonstrates to prospective clients that you are serious about working as a translator even if you do not yet have lots of experience. Everyone has to start somewhere.
In Ireland it is not necessary to be registered, but it impresses my clients when I say I am and most important... See more If it were easy, it presumably wouldn't be worth anything.
Marc[/quote]
True - also, when you are starting out, it demonstrates to prospective clients that you are serious about working as a translator even if you do not yet have lots of experience. Everyone has to start somewhere.
In Ireland it is not necessary to be registered, but it impresses my clients when I say I am and most importantly, it has helped me clinch jobs.
Think of it as an investment and a networking tool if that helps
Orla ▲ Collapse
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Manuel Rodriguez
Mexico
Local time: 23:27
English to Spanish
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TOPIC STARTER | Contents of a CV | May 5, 2004 |
My main piece of advice is to look beyond your own country for translation work. Send a good cover letter and CV to as many agencies as possible and register with as many translator databases as possible.
Hello Orla:
Yes, your comments are very helpful. In fact, I'm gonna try and find work, thru the internet, in Spain and, maybe, in the Philippines.
But, my question again is, if you lack some experience at first, what can you put in a CV? Right now, I'm working for a religious congregation, can one put that in a CV, even though they are not specialized in translation?
Regards,
R.Ramírez
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But, my question again is, if you lack some experience at first, what can you put in a CV? Right now, I'm working for a religious congregation, can one put that in a CV, even though they are not specialized in translation?
I'm sure you can, if you are working for the religous group in some kind of bilingual capacity?
Having worked in translation project management, it is important to make your CV as translation-focused as possible - well you know that already. If it is not st... See more But, my question again is, if you lack some experience at first, what can you put in a CV? Right now, I'm working for a religious congregation, can one put that in a CV, even though they are not specialized in translation?
I'm sure you can, if you are working for the religous group in some kind of bilingual capacity?
Having worked in translation project management, it is important to make your CV as translation-focused as possible - well you know that already. If it is not strictly relevant to the job application, just gloss briefly over it. Don't forget to try agencies in English speaking countries too.
But until you start getting work, I would emphasise your language fluency and specialise subject knowledge to the max - your grades and on-the-job subject experience. Make that your selling point.
Otherwise how about if you could just say that this job is what you are doing at the moment, whilst building up your translation experience and skills.
Have you put an ad in your local phone book or newspaper offering either language tuition or translation? That could help you get your one break!
Hope that helps
Orla in Dublin ▲ Collapse
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