| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Advice needed on cover letter Thread poster: James Greenfield
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James Greenfield 
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:52
Member (2013)
French to English
+ ...
Hi, I have been sending out my CV with a cover letter to translation agencies, and I would like more responses so I thought it would be a good idea to check that my cover letter is ok. Here it is:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I noticed that your company, XXXX, work in my language combinations, French and Spanish to English, so I decided to send you my professional details. I am a freelance translator and have been translating from French to English and Spanish to English for 2 year... See more Hi, I have been sending out my CV with a cover letter to translation agencies, and I would like more responses so I thought it would be a good idea to check that my cover letter is ok. Here it is:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I noticed that your company, XXXX, work in my language combinations, French and Spanish to English, so I decided to send you my professional details. I am a freelance translator and have been translating from French to English and Spanish to English for 2 years, having gained a Masters degree in translation studies at the University of Durham in 2011. My particular speciality areas are Legal, financial and business translation due to my experience working for various translation agencies in the UK and abroad. My many translation projects have included a 6000 word French to English translation of a legal contract and a 15,000 word Spanish to English project on waste management. My rates are £0.07/word for French and Spanish to English.
I feel that your company would benefit from my experience and expertise and you would find that I am very professional and able to consistently deliver work of a high standard to an agreed deadline.
I have provided full information about myself in my CV (attached). Please let me know whether you think we could work together and what your application procedure is for new translators. I look forward to working with you in the future,
Kind regards,
James Greenfield, Worcester, UK
Any thoughts and suggestions are very welcome, thanks, James ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 22:52
Spanish to English
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| Quick response | Jun 26, 2013 |
Apart from the errant capital letter in "Legal", at a glance your letter seems well-written and appropriate. I'd say off the top of my head that your rate is about average - or maybe even lowish - for UK-based freelancers, but most agencies will probably try to beat you down anyway.
I wish you the best of luck
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All right, James, here it comes.
First of all, you sound you, and that's good. You're a 2011 graduate, so you shouldn't sound like you went to school in 1950. This said, let's start from some arrant pedantry: I know that times are changing, but I'd still use the Present Perfect in your first sentence, even though it's a bit of an overkill to a modern ear. Also, you really need the apostrophe in Master's degree... See more All right, James, here it comes.
First of all, you sound you, and that's good. You're a 2011 graduate, so you shouldn't sound like you went to school in 1950. This said, let's start from some arrant pedantry: I know that times are changing, but I'd still use the Present Perfect in your first sentence, even though it's a bit of an overkill to a modern ear. Also, you really need the apostrophe in Master's degree... or anywhere else one is due. Also, lose the capital letter in 'Legal', unless you want to give the entire list more exposure by introducing it with a colon and putting every item in capital letters. These days, most agency owners and staff probably don't care, but those guys are still the same guys who employ your proofreader. If you run into an old-fashioned person, not even necessarily an avowed nitpicker, you might lose some points. More than it's worth, actually. Exaggeration is built into the system.
As far as the logic and structure go, you have it well covered. The information is where it belongs, and you don't waste words in telling it. I'd be tempted to make a thing or two shorter (e.g. 'French to English and Spanish to English' => 'French and Spanish (in)to English' in your second sentence), but you shouldn't unless you feel confident in doing so. Speaking of which, your writing must reflect the real you, and it must also be confident, the two of which overlap to a large extent. Also, if you feel particularly confident about the 'many' in 'my many projects', and if it matches your normal style, then I'd leave it there, but otherwise I'd opt for: 'some of my projects have included,' instead, without repeating the word 'project' or using the word 'translation' in individual items, of which I'd include at least three (three is a good number for such things), especially the oil & gas – or Oil & Gas, actually – which is a gold mine (trust me, I work the mine).
I'd work on the second paragraph (more on which in a moment) and preferably add one more sentence or two, if possible, to round it out. Some people are touchy about one-sentence paragraphs. Also, unlike in girls, you want to avoid the hourglass structure in business correspondence. Inverted pyramid is better; after all, cover letters are marketing ventures. Regarding the wording, I'd generally choose, 'I believe,' instead of, 'I feel,' especially when writing to more traditionally minded people who could get uptight about the coloquial feel of 'feel'. Also, while two years of experience are much more than zero and make a lot of difference in a translator, I would avoid referring my unqualified experience and expertise if I had two years of it (or four, or six, I'd consider it at eight or so). Similarly, I'd drop the 'very' from 'very professional'.
Instead, use a more elaborate (not necessarily Latinate... old short words are the best) adjective or adverb, or nothing. Your CV has a nice, customised version of 'professional': 'hard-working, reliable and motivated', which, incidentally, connected better with: 'I believe you would find that I am [a hard-working, reliable and motivated professional].' Follow through with: 'according to my project managers/editors/supervisors/last teacher (...),' just to kill the bear when you've already stunned it.
In the last paragraph (and three are enough), I'd try to escape the 'I' and instead go for something with, 'you can find (...).' However, you are you, and your style is much different from mine, hence you should just do your thing and be confident about it, unless you can find a good replacement that does suit your style. No, 'attached you can find,' and no, 'am attaching,' for sure. Or perhaps: 'attached with this letter you can find,' but that'd already be somewhat rigid. The rest is good. I'd definitely use a different wording, but like I said three sentences ago, you need to do your own thing and be good at it.
Okay, so now we can move on to my final point: you need to customise your cover letter to fit the recipient and the recipient's business profile, personality and everything else you can identify about the recipient. Basically, you're convincing the recipient that you're a right fit or valuable enhancement (e.g. one that warrants stepping out of the recipient's normal comfort zone). So, use the information that's available on the recipient's website, whatever you can find in Google, on Wikipedia, on the BlueBoard and in the other places.
Allude to the knowledge you have managed to find. Bridge the connections. Above all, show that you're smart and you walk the extra mile (and do your homework, especially as far as research goes). Make sure you don't miss any requirements the company makes of applications. Find out about the recruitment manager, screener or whoever it is who will read your mail (you can phone to ask for that information).
One more thing, actually, or two. Your profile states a slightly lower rather from the one you're quoting here. So, update the former. While at it, you might want to fix a couple of typos in your translation samples (mostly punctuation plus the word 'text' where you say the source is missing) – the screener will likely go there and take a look around. Like I said before, the consequences of imperfect punctuation are out of proportion to its real significance. On the other hand, boasting perfect punctuation benefits you more than it's really worth.
GL HF, James! Show them who's the boss! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Suggested changes | Jun 26, 2013 |
Dear Sir/Madam,
Change to "Dear YYYY", where YYYY is the name of a real person in your target agency. This requires more work on your part (you have to discover whonm to send your message to), but increases your chances of success. A message addressed to "Dear Sir or Madam" (and similar), is much more likely to land directly in the recipient's spam folder.
I noticed that your company, XXXX, work
Change to "I noticed that your company works": 1) there is no need to tell the recipient what the name of his or her company is, and 2)correct grammar is important.
have been translating from French to English and Spanish to English for 2 years,
"French and Spanish into English" (shorter)
My particular speciality areas are
"I specialize in" (briefer)
Legal, financial and business translation due to my experience working for various translation agencies in the UK and abroad.
If you specialize in something, better explain how, and perhaps why - the mere fact of having performed translations in a certain field is no proof of specialization. Try something like
"I specialize in legal and financial translation: I've always been passionately interested in these subjects, followed courses on them while at Durham (earning top marks), and have also gained experience translating in these areas for various ...."
My many translation projects have included a 6000 word French to English translation of a legal contract and a 15,000 word Spanish to English project on waste management.
Re-write this: you say you specialize in legal translation, but if can only offer as an example a single generic 6000-word contract, you would sound as a generalist. Offer more details and projects, if you can.
My rates are £0.07/word for French and Spanish to English.
Too early to mention rates. Do it only at a later stage of negotiations.
I feel that your company would benefit from my experience
You don't, as yet, have enough experience to highlight it as a selling point. Better not mention it yet.
to an agreed deadline.
Don't say that: that's the minimum that is expected of everybody.
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| What about normal post? | Jun 26, 2013 |
Thank you James for sharing your letter. I think it is quite OK, I would say maybe the same thing Lukas did, establish some connection, specify something in particular about the agency, so they can see that “you did your homework” as you are supposed to do. Anything personal is a thousand times better than a purely impersonal, general letter.
It is my intention to send cover letters this autumn to German agencies (up to now I was working only for direct clients, but need to in... See more Thank you James for sharing your letter. I think it is quite OK, I would say maybe the same thing Lukas did, establish some connection, specify something in particular about the agency, so they can see that “you did your homework” as you are supposed to do. Anything personal is a thousand times better than a purely impersonal, general letter.
It is my intention to send cover letters this autumn to German agencies (up to now I was working only for direct clients, but need to increase my workflow, because I am about to finish my Master’s studies). This is why I would like to ask you all, how do you feel about sending out the applications by e-mail? In another thread, I think Tomás Cano Binder said that nowadays the only good option is to send the applications by normal post. Sometimes I wonder which would be the best solution? It takes a lot of time and work to prepare the applications for sending them by normal post. On the other hand people are receiving so many e-mails nowadays, that they might oversee your e-mail. What do you think about it?
Best regards and I wish you great success,
Agnes ▲ Collapse
| | | | Diana Coada (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:52
Portuguese to English
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That's exactly what I'm thinking about these days and can't make up my mind.
But given that I am planning to target law offices, I think the best option would be direct mail.
| | | | | Additionally | Jun 26, 2013 |
Agnes Lenkey wrote:
Thank you James for sharing your letter. I think it is quite OK, I would say maybe the same thing Lukas did, establish some connection, specify something in particular about the agency, so they can see that “you did your homework” as you are supposed to do. Anything personal is a thousand times better than a purely impersonal, general letter.
Additionally, a smart agency owner/PM will realise that you can and will do research, which is important because nobody is an expert in every single thing that appears in a source text. Many translations are worse than they could be because people don't hit Google, Wikipedia etc. with the right keywords, don't spend the time. Prove you're different, and you'll be ahead. (Especially if you want to earn more than peanuts.)
It is my intention to send cover letters this autumn to German agencies (up to now I was working only for direct clients, but need to increase my workflow, because I am about to finish my Master’s studies). This is why I would like to ask you all, how do you feel about sending out the applications by e-mail? In another thread, I think Tomás Cano Binder said that nowadays the only good option is to send the applications by normal post.
Normal post is a mini-gift. It's tangible. It's warm and cosy. It's especially for you; it even has your name on it. What's not to like?
(Also, you look like a double jerk if you don't reply, so there is a chance you will.)
Sometimes I wonder which would be the best solution? It takes a lot of time and work to prepare the applications for sending them by normal post. On the other hand people are receiving so many e-mails nowadays, that they might oversee your e-mail. What do you think about it?
If you spend an entire day or two writing and printing and then make one trip to the post office, it shouldn't be that bad in terms of time investment. Don't overdo the stationery (or paper thickness and texture), but don't go totally standard, either.
Plus, doing things like that and seeing what comes out as a result is part of discovering your own personal style, which is very important. You can't really succeed without being confident, and you can't really be confident in a style that isn't your own.
Diana Coada, BA RPSI wrote:
That's exactly what I'm thinking about these days and can't make up my mind.
But given that I am planning to target law offices, I think the best option would be direct mail.
Or even personal service. Or, heck, walk in and request an appointment. Nobody does, so it might work. Plus, you'll earn some respect for knowing how to rock the boat.
[Edited at 2013-06-26 16:40 GMT]
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:52
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| Wow! You've been given some good advice there. | Jun 26, 2013 |
I couldn't add anything to improve that letter any more. OTOH, is that really the way to do it nowadays? Maybe it still is, in which case you're well armed now. But maybe it's much better to encourage these agencies to come to you. I keep hearing that "networking" is what it's all about these days. I'm a bit long in the tooth to "like", "follow", "connect", "tweet" etc., so I can't advise you. But it does seem to me that agencies must be bored out of their skulls after years of receiving hundred... See more I couldn't add anything to improve that letter any more. OTOH, is that really the way to do it nowadays? Maybe it still is, in which case you're well armed now. But maybe it's much better to encourage these agencies to come to you. I keep hearing that "networking" is what it's all about these days. I'm a bit long in the tooth to "like", "follow", "connect", "tweet" etc., so I can't advise you. But it does seem to me that agencies must be bored out of their skulls after years of receiving hundreds of similar emails every day. ▲ Collapse
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Tatty
Local time: 22:52
Spanish to English
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| Better couched | Jun 26, 2013 |
I think that it needs to be more to-the-point and punchier. It is a bit meandering for my liking.
I would skip the first sentence altogether and directly state the fact that you are a freelance French and Spanish to English translator, with 2 years experience, having earned a Master's Degree.
Then - I specialise in legal, financial and business translation, having performed numerous translations for language service providers based in the UK and abroad (see CV attached)... See more I think that it needs to be more to-the-point and punchier. It is a bit meandering for my liking.
I would skip the first sentence altogether and directly state the fact that you are a freelance French and Spanish to English translator, with 2 years experience, having earned a Master's Degree.
Then - I specialise in legal, financial and business translation, having performed numerous translations for language service providers based in the UK and abroad (see CV attached).
I would skip the examples of projects that you give, as they are not major projects and only really highlight the fact that you don't have much experience. Put them on your CV though.
Whether or not to state your rates? Personally, I do, others don't. For a person without much experience an agency will be looking for a low rate. Don't forget that you can offer a range of rates (trick is not to forget them). You may want to undercut the market for a while, just to see how it goes, and raise you rates later. Again, it is a personal choice.
My rate for this year is:
French to English: €0.07 per source or target word
Spanish to English: €0.07 per source or target word
It's important to make this part clear.
You could also write negotiable in brackets to indicate a bit of flexibility.
Sentence to round it off. I offer a professional service and consistently deliver high quality work to the agreed deadline.
I look forward to working with you.
HTH, good luck to you. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Rate per thousand words perhaps? | Jun 27, 2013 |
Hi James,
I've been looking into the UK translation market recently, and the usual way of expressing rates seems to be £ per thousand words. I'm actually in France, so feel free to disregard my point if I'm wrong!
Caroline
| | | | James Greenfield
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:52
Member (2013)
French to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Thank you very much all | Jun 27, 2013 |
Thanks so much for all your advice, it has been very useful. I have now edited the cover letter and corrected the grammar mistakes. I wasn't expecting such good and thorough advice, I now feel happy with my cover letter, hopefully I will now see the results. I was wondering, would it be worth building a website, and if so do you have any beginner's tips for that? Thanks
| | | | James Greenfield
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:52
Member (2013)
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Caroline Lakey wrote:
Hi James,
I've been looking into the UK translation market recently, and the usual way of expressing rates seems to be £ per thousand words. I'm actually in France, so feel free to disregard my point if I'm wrong!
Caroline
Hi Caroline,
I have found that some agencies in their online forms prefer your rate to be expressed per word, others per thousand words. I'd say that per word is maybe a bit more common in the UK but both are acceptable,
James
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James Greenfield wrote:
Thanks so much for all your advice, it has been very useful. I have now edited the cover letter and corrected the grammar mistakes. I wasn't expecting such good and thorough advice, I now feel happy with my cover letter, hopefully I will now see the results. I was wondering, would it be worth building a website, and if so do you have any beginner's tips for that? Thanks
Wordpress, James. Learning HTML and CSS, and even PHP, is easier than learning to use a CMS (Content Management System), but Wordpress has good themes, good SEO and is handy. You can focus on just creating content, which is the single most important thing for a website. A blog with a well-developed About Me section might actually work better than a traditional website that links to an external blog.
| | | | Balasubramaniam L.
India
Local time: 02:22
Member (2006)
English to Hindi
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SITE LOCALIZER
I found the letter slightly wordy and too much like the mass emails sent by people nowadays. I also noticed a grammar error in the very first sentence, which kind of kills the very purpose of this letter -
I noticed that your company, XXXX, works in my language combinations, French and Spanish to English, so I decided to send you my professional details.
In fact, this sentence is not even required and the letter could as well start off with the second sentence.... See more I found the letter slightly wordy and too much like the mass emails sent by people nowadays. I also noticed a grammar error in the very first sentence, which kind of kills the very purpose of this letter -
I noticed that your company, XXXX, works in my language combinations, French and Spanish to English, so I decided to send you my professional details.
In fact, this sentence is not even required and the letter could as well start off with the second sentence.
Here is my edited version of the letter, for what it is worth.
Dear Sir/Madam, [I would replace this with actual names]
I am a freelance translator translating from French to English and Spanish to English since the last 2 years. I have a Masters degree in translation studies obtained from the University of Durham in 2011. My specialty areas are legal, financial and business translation and I have worked for various translation agencies in the UK and abroad. My many translation projects have included a 6,000 word French to English translation of a legal contract and a 15,000 word Spanish to English project on waste management. My rates are £0.07/word for French and Spanish to English.
I feel that your company could benefit from my experience and expertise and you would find that I am very professional and able to consistently deliver work of a high standard to an agreed deadline.
I have provided full information about myself in my CV (attached). Please let me know whether you think we could work together and what your application procedure is for new translators. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Kind regards,
James Greenfield
Worcester, UK
There is still a slight inconsistency with the second experience you have mentioned with translating a project on waste management. It doesn't fit in with legal, financial or business translation. It is more an environment thing. May be you should add environment-related translation as one of your specialization, or you should replace this experience with something more in line with legal, financial or business.
I would post this letter rather than send it as an email, for the reason that most agencies, and translators too (I am one such victim), are flooded with mass emails in the same vein and as such your email won't elicit any other response other than being ignored or straightaway transferred to the spam folder.
I am ambivalent about mentioning the rate in the letter. If you are dangling this as an incentive to the agencies (the selling point being its lowliness), there could be some justification. But otherwise it is a bit irrelevant and even premature. Rate discussion will come at a later stage and you should give careful thought to it as once fixed, it is rather hard to change. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:52
Hebrew to English
| Talking of grammar errors... | Jun 28, 2013 |
Balasubramaniam L. wrote:
I am a freelance translator translating from French to English and Spanish to English since the last 2 years
First of all - needlessly wordy, a previous poster suggested "French and Spanish to English", should have stuck with that.
Secondly,....for what it's worth, "the last 2 years" specifies a period of time, not the starting point ("last"). Therefore it requires "for", not "since", in any event, the simple present here is ill-advised, it requires the present perfect. Either
a) I have been a freelance translator...for the last 2 years (highlighting the amount of time - the period of time)
or
b) I have been a freelance translator...since 2011 (highlighting the starting point - but essentially giving the same information as the other version).
[Edited at 2013-06-28 08:32 GMT]
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