How do I get started? Thread poster: Spanishtime
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Spanishtime
United States
Local time: 23:55
English to Spanish
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I am interested in working as a remote translator.
I am fluent in English and Spanish, and ready to translate albeit slowly.
Where is a good place to start? Where should I apply?
Any suggestions on getting the ball rolling would be much appreciated.
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I would start by getting rid of the assumption that translating professionally is only about being fluent in two languages [if this is an idea you hold, however: I don’t want to make assumptions myself]. Should this be true, it would entail learning more about translation as a process and as a profession.
Then, I would hone my ability to conduct searches and seek answers, making sure I ask for help after doing a certain amount of homework first. Sometimes, all you need is to ask b... See more I would start by getting rid of the assumption that translating professionally is only about being fluent in two languages [if this is an idea you hold, however: I don’t want to make assumptions myself]. Should this be true, it would entail learning more about translation as a process and as a profession.
Then, I would hone my ability to conduct searches and seek answers, making sure I ask for help after doing a certain amount of homework first. Sometimes, all you need is to ask better questions. Research will help you with that, too. The Internet is your oyster.
As for a place to start, ProZ.com is a good place as any.
Ball’s in your court now.
[Edited at 2017-12-25 10:39 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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There is so much info out there, you’ll probably be flooded with a bunch of varied opinions here.
I found reading the book, ‘How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator’ very helpful.
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:55
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Spanishtime wrote:
.....I am fluent in English and Spanish.....
Only one of these can be your native language. You should only translate into your native language.
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Kevin Fulton 
United States
Local time: 02:55
German to English
| Don't quit your day job | Dec 25, 2017 |
It could be a long time before you earn enough to support yourself translating.
Watch out for scams.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 07:55
Member (2007)
English
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| The thing is... | Dec 25, 2017 |
There are literally millions of people who are fluent in both Spanish and English. It isn't a rare skill, and it's miles away from being the only skill that a freelance translator needs. Of course, speaking two languages is a good start  but fluency isn't nearly enough. Target language writing skills have to be at professional level, not mere standard native-speaker level, and source language comprehension skills need to be very g... See more There are literally millions of people who are fluent in both Spanish and English. It isn't a rare skill, and it's miles away from being the only skill that a freelance translator needs. Of course, speaking two languages is a good start but fluency isn't nearly enough. Target language writing skills have to be at professional level, not mere standard native-speaker level, and source language comprehension skills need to be very good in general, including all the cultural nuances, and excellent in your intended specialisations, which means knowing jargon in your source language(s) that most native speakers may not know. Even then, why should clients come to you for their translations? You have to offer them something other than "best rates" (aka bargain-basement prices), because Google Translate and all the "hobby translators" out there will always beat you on price.
Are you young? If so, I really advise you to go the route of recognised qualifications. Do a degree in something - any subject that interests you as a translation specialisation - while keeping up the study of both languages. And then add a Master's in translation. Supplement that with a short course in entrepreneurial skills. Then think about becoming a freelance translator. OTOH, if you already have solid proven experience using languages and/or in a profession that you could specialise in as a translator, then maybe you could just add a short course in the basic techniques of translation (see my profile for the one I did, as an example) and a short course in entrepreneurial skills.
Then you need to think about how to actually get clients. That's where this site comes in. Hone those research skills that are absolutely essential for every translator by searching this site for all the information needed. The free webinar is a good start as your profile has to be very convincing if you're to meet clients here - and of course the same principle applies everywhere else. If you have specific questions, come back and ask them. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Language skills plus other skills | Dec 25, 2017 |
You need as near as you can get to native-level understanding of your source language and excellent finely-honed level of writing in your target language skills. I concur with the advice others have already given.
That will give you part of the skills you need to match those already on the market. These skills are improved upon every day. Then you you need to think hard about what esle you know particularly well, better than others ad/or that others don't know at all. That will mak... See more You need as near as you can get to native-level understanding of your source language and excellent finely-honed level of writing in your target language skills. I concur with the advice others have already given.
That will give you part of the skills you need to match those already on the market. These skills are improved upon every day. Then you you need to think hard about what esle you know particularly well, better than others ad/or that others don't know at all. That will make you unique in some ways and be something you can sell. The extra knowledge can be acquired by study, work experience or a particular are of interest you have.
The rest of it will be about marketing yourself and the business side of your activity : making sure you charge enough, make sure you can pay contributions to retirement, health and other compulsory funds and finally, that you know how to make sure your clients pay you on time.
Obviously I would say those three areas are equally important : languages skills, specific knowledge/experience and business skills. To make it work, you need to be good at all three, know when to fight, know when to let something go and also be prepared to learn in all three areas, all the time.
[Edited at 2017-12-25 18:30 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 02:55
English to Spanish
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| A good place to start | Dec 25, 2017 |
Spanishtime wrote:
I am interested in working as a remote translator.
I am fluent in English and Spanish, and ready to translate albeit slowly.
Where is a good place to start? Where should I apply?
Any suggestions on getting the ball rolling would be much appreciated.
Start by looking for your nearest translators' association. Some even advertise on the Yellow Pages. Asking for advice to start working as a remote anything is not like asking for directions to the friendliest pub or the cleanest restroom.
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| Direct clients and/or agencies | Dec 26, 2017 |
If you have the ability and knowledge and/or experience to offer, then among the things you wil need to consider are:
- type of business structure
- whether to work with agencies and/or direct clients
- how much money you need to earn
Supposing you have the ability, knowledge and experience to get started, you need to think about what type of business seetup to have. Implications are wide-reaching and you really need to see what best fits your personal situation. Y... See more If you have the ability and knowledge and/or experience to offer, then among the things you wil need to consider are:
- type of business structure
- whether to work with agencies and/or direct clients
- how much money you need to earn
Supposing you have the ability, knowledge and experience to get started, you need to think about what type of business seetup to have. Implications are wide-reaching and you really need to see what best fits your personal situation. Your local chamber of commerce may run short courses of a couple of days which will give you initial indications. It may the be worth making an apppointment with your local tax office too, to see what the consequcens are of such a choice. The taxman may also give you information about various thresholds and so on. If certain choices start to become clear, it may even be worthwhile going to see an accountant.
You may have thought this through already, but that is not clear from what you have posted. If you are in the very early stages of thinking about it, then you need to give more detail about your qualifications and experience, they type of use you have already made of your language abilities and other qualifications and experience. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 08:55
French to English
| a good way to hone your research skills | Dec 26, 2017 |
A good way to hone much-needed research skills: look at some of the thousands of other threads by newbies wanting advice. You have given literally 0 nuggets of information that show your situation to be different in any way so there's no need to start a new thread.
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