| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Advice needed for career in translation Thread poster: James Greenfield
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Tatty 
Local time: 09:25
Spanish to English
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| Social networking | Feb 20, 2013 |
Look at today's poll, some people use social networking sites and seem to be doing well. They are probably not to hard to get your head round...
| | | | Corbett AM
Ireland
Local time: 08:25
French to English
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| Same here but website idea and not listing projects is good | Feb 24, 2013 |
Jessie Linardi wrote:
Hi James,
I can't offer you any advice because I'm in the same boat! I just want you to know that you're not alone and that I'm soaking up all the good advice that's being offered in this thread as well...
Jessie
Same goes for me.
Too little of the right experience. The catch-22 situation is a pain. Also, some people won`t even accept you for doing volunteer work for say two years (which I started doing even before the Masters in Translation) - the same amount of time that people expect you to have professional experience!! They say it`s not enough and it`s not the same. Of course it`s not the same - but experience is experience. I`ve got a surprising variety of texts through this volunteer work but does that matter to them? Nope. I can only console myself with the thought of this volunteer work - translating for NGOs or charities was one of the reasons I decided to be a translator and at least I`m getting to do that for the meanwhile (though it doesn`t pay the rent, I`ve achieved a goal in some way).
@Tina Coulquhoun - I was actually wondering about whether you should list projects on your cv (not that I have many as I have said) so it`s good to know what someone else thinks of this. Thank for you mentioning that. As for the website you suggest, I have actually created a basic wordpress website for the moment but haven`t published it yet. I suggest James that you do that too as it`s free or relatively cheap until you can afford a more professional one. But really a Wordpress or one of those blogsites (I don`t work for Wordpress I swear!!) is quite sufficient anyway.
Well done James on the literary translation you did. Great experience. Most potential translation-related employers would admire you for volunteering to do a whole novel as it demonstrates your motivation and initiative. I suggest you specialize in another area though for the time being, as others have also suggested.
Like the people in the UK who are commenting on how languages are taught (or not taught) and how they are thought of, it`s the same in Ireland where I am. It`s probably complacency because both places speak English but we (well our governments and schools) should really be more Europe focused in our language education.
I wasn`t altogether happy with the particular Masters I did at the time I was doing it, as I thought it was mainly focused towards those in the class who already had a foot in the door in translation (and it definitely seemed that way) but as time goes on, I do see the value of having it on my cv anyway and it did have some benefits. So don`t think it`s a waste of time or anything.
| | | | | Expectations? | Feb 25, 2013 |
James Greenfield wrote:
I send about 20 emails a week to translation agencies with my CV. I include a professional cover letter including and also attach a sample translation. I receive very little interest,
By pure coincidence, I was induced to tell my story of how I got started this past weekend. I turned it into a blog post, here:
http://cbavington.com/blog/2013/02/25/in-the-beginning/
I can only emphasise the figures from that story. I investigated agencies thoroughly before contact, and even then only 5 from 125 replied to offer work (or tests, then work). From what I remember at the time of other people's experience, that hit rate was pretty high compared to some. You do need to get lucky with the timing, to an extent.
I guess this is because I don't yet have a lot of experience, the old catch-22 situation.
I suspect this could be factor, as it is for anyone, in any profession. You've had some good advice here. I always reckon actual experience in your chosen field, in a French-speaking environment (in your case), can only help. Easier said than done, I appreciate that.
| | | | | @charlie and everyone else | Feb 25, 2013 |
Hi Charlie, I have just read your post "in the beginning", thanks for taking your time to share your experience. I am also struggling to get established in this business- I know is not easy, and so far I haven´t been very lucky. I always get the feeling that I´ll never succeed but that others will do. This is a bit personal, but I am getting really depressed. At least I can come here and look for some advice. Thanks to all.
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XXXphxxx (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:25
Portuguese to English
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| Plenty to be getting on with | Feb 26, 2013 |
James, you’ve already had some excellent advice from some of the best. I haven’t got anything new to say, only to endorse their comments. Remember that this is an industry thousands believe they can turn their hand to with only a smattering of a foreign language. You need to stand out from the crowd:
1) Immersion - Spending some time in a French or Spanish-speaking country would of course be ideal, but I realise there is considerable expense involved in that and you cannot rely on bein... See more James, you’ve already had some excellent advice from some of the best. I haven’t got anything new to say, only to endorse their comments. Remember that this is an industry thousands believe they can turn their hand to with only a smattering of a foreign language. You need to stand out from the crowd:
1) Immersion - Spending some time in a French or Spanish-speaking country would of course be ideal, but I realise there is considerable expense involved in that and you cannot rely on being able to get even menial part-time work these days to supplement your income. However, if it is remotely feasible, do it. Provided you have a reliable internet connection, you can continue to build up your translation experience and it will help your c.v. to stand out.
2) Specialisation – build on existing experience or interests. Specialisations can change over time - ten years ago mine included finance and I.T., based on previous work experience and education in both areas. I don't touch either anymore. The important thing is that you are committed to researching and soaking up knowledge in your specialist area. Start thinking about that now.
3) Website – A good website brings your profile to life. It is your opportunity to showcase your talents and make you that much more memorable to clients.
4) Applications - I certainly agree with Charlie that you need to bump up the numbers of applications you are sending out. The hit rate on well-targeted direct clients is about 1%, about 5% for agencies. Since you're a member here you have full access to the Blue Board; it'll give you a fair idea of whom you should or shouldn’t contact. Personally, I wouldn't waste any time at all responding to job adverts on ProZ; the success rate is very low indeed and in the main the focus is on rock-bottom rates. It's a fast route to feeling rejected and despondent.
5) Professional associations - Finally, I would wholeheartedly endorse Aisha’s recommendation to join a professional association (the CIoL or ITI in the UK) where you will find mentoring schemes, CPD workshops and webinars, networking opportunities, forums, help with terminology - in short what you're getting here but in a genuinely professional environment. It is also where discerning clients go. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 03:25
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
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| Nancy Bee
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:25
French to English
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| Look for international companies | Feb 27, 2013 |
You are still quite young in your career, so getting some hands-on business experience would be good. Have you thought about looking for part time or full time work with a company which has an international dimension to its work? Bilingual secretarial work would put you in an industry where you could learn a lot about a particular sector, which will open the door to specialist translation knowledge and credibility, whether it be in oil rigs, microchips, whatever.
Otherwise lots of c... See more You are still quite young in your career, so getting some hands-on business experience would be good. Have you thought about looking for part time or full time work with a company which has an international dimension to its work? Bilingual secretarial work would put you in an industry where you could learn a lot about a particular sector, which will open the door to specialist translation knowledge and credibility, whether it be in oil rigs, microchips, whatever.
Otherwise lots of companies have an international department. I worked in international music copyright for several years; only part of my job entailed translation, but I obviously learned a lot about the industry whilst I was there, and it helped maintain my language skills. It is very tricky getting started. I would definitely try to get some kind of part time work to take the pressure off you re getting enough translation work whilst you get started, plus whatever it is you're doing will hopefully be instructive in some way. (I worked part-time in a women's sex shop, and became a sex educator...which has been amazingly useful in my translation career too, so you never know where work will lead you!)
There are also a few multilingual employment agencies out there, they might be worth a try for interesting temp work? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 03:25
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
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