Question by a beginner.
Thread poster: Alihan Batyshev
Alihan Batyshev
Alihan Batyshev
Norway
Local time: 09:43
Norwegian to English
+ ...
Oct 24, 2019

Hello everyone!

I've recently started a career as an online translator. I make a few dollars here and there by translating social media projects. But I've noticed that you're relatively limited in this field if you don't have a resume or professional qualifications.

So here's a question for the more experienced translators. What type of documents can help your resume? Language degrees? Translator's certificate? Are there any international online based educational progr
... See more
Hello everyone!

I've recently started a career as an online translator. I make a few dollars here and there by translating social media projects. But I've noticed that you're relatively limited in this field if you don't have a resume or professional qualifications.

So here's a question for the more experienced translators. What type of documents can help your resume? Language degrees? Translator's certificate? Are there any international online based educational programs or platforms that yield good documents for your CV?

Thanks in advance, I hope I posted this in the right sub forum.
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Laurent Mercky
 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 08:43
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Have you researched this career? Oct 24, 2019

Alihan Alievich wrote:
I've recently started a career as an online translator. I make a few dollars here and there by translating social media projects. But I've noticed that you're relatively limited in this field if you don't have a resume or professional qualifications.

I appreciate that you're asking us for advice so you know you don't have all the answers, and maybe you aren't trying to find clients here on ProZ.com anyway, but I have to say that I'm quite dismayed about the lack of information and the incoherences in your profile.

I really don't think getting a particular qualification should be your top priority at the moment. I think first you need to research the profession -- aside from the ability to make a few quick bucks on the side -- and decide where you fit in, if indeed you fit in at all. I must stress here that I know zilch about you so I'm not judging your abilities. It just doesn't seem as though you're really ready to launch a translation business.

Right here in this Getting Established forum there's a vast amount of information to help you. Also, the Site Guidance Centre will guide you towards what you need to do to become a successful professional translator, both here on ProZ.com and in general.


DZiW (X)
Jorge Payan
 
Alexandra Hirsch (X)
Alexandra Hirsch (X)  Identity Verified
Austria
Local time: 09:43
English to German
+ ...
Starting out and keeping up Oct 24, 2019

Starting out maybe isn't all that difficult -- good translators are born as much as they are made, after all -- but what you will realise after a while is that it's vitally important to refresh your skills and learn new ones from time to time. Training is important, as is the will to keep up with what is happening in the (linguistic) world. If you can build on your existing qualifications, there's a greater chance that potential clients will see the 'story' you are trying to tell, the career tha... See more
Starting out maybe isn't all that difficult -- good translators are born as much as they are made, after all -- but what you will realise after a while is that it's vitally important to refresh your skills and learn new ones from time to time. Training is important, as is the will to keep up with what is happening in the (linguistic) world. If you can build on your existing qualifications, there's a greater chance that potential clients will see the 'story' you are trying to tell, the career that you are imagining for yourself, and will give you a chance to prove yourself. Your next step should then be to go looking for peer review.Collapse


 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 09:43
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
@Alihan Oct 25, 2019

Alihan Alievich wrote:
I've noticed that you're relatively limited in this field if you don't have a resume or professional qualifications.


How do you know that those are the reasons why "you're relatively limited" in the field? I think it's more likely that you don't have a large client base yet (which develops slowly over a year or two) and you haven't done much marketing yet.


 
Mihai Badea (X)
Mihai Badea (X)
Luxembourg
Local time: 09:43
English to Romanian
+ ...
Diploma in translation not required Oct 25, 2019

Alihan Alievich wrote:

So here's a question for the more experienced translators. What type of documents can help your resume? Language degrees? Translator's certificate? Are there any international online based educational programs or platforms that yield good documents for your CV?



A diploma in translation can help, but it is not really a requirement to be successful as a translator.

Translators working for EU institutions are among the best paid translators in the world (competitions are very tough, work is challenging, that's true), but not all of them have a diploma in translation. Any university diploma will do. As a matter of fact, specialisation in a different domain like medical or engineering might help a bit to get selected from the reserve list that is established following the competition.


Alihan Alievich wrote:

I've recently started a career as an online translator. I make a few dollars here and there by translating social media projects. But I've noticed that you're relatively limited in this field if you don't have a resume or professional qualifications.



Experience is very appreciated. Once you have acquired valuable demonstrable experience, you might be able to do without diplomas or degrees. After all, being good at what you do is what matters most.


 
Laurent Mercky
Laurent Mercky
France
Local time: 09:43
Chinese to French
+ ...
How to +++ Oct 25, 2019

Alihan Alievich wrote:

Hello everyone!

I've recently started a career as an online translator. I make a few dollars here and there by translating social media projects. But I've noticed that you're relatively limited in this field if you don't have a resume or professional qualifications.

So here's a question for the more experienced translators. What type of documents can help your resume? Language degrees? Translator's certificate? Are there any international online based educational programs or platforms that yield good documents for your CV?

Thanks in advance, I hope I posted this in the right sub forum.


About myself, documents very specialized from important clients.
But if you are able to prove that clients from everywhere in the World are looking for you, that would be really a +++

[Edited at 2019-10-25 14:54 GMT]


 
Foedark626
Foedark626
Andorra
Get some certificates. Oct 25, 2019

Well you're right, if you have a better curriculum you can earn more money and I think you should take it easy and learn progressively about translations and yes, I think some certificates can help you a little.

 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
?Q Oct 26, 2019

Unlike middlemen and headhunters, real end clients just want to have their job done (1) timely, (2) properly, and (3) as agreed; the rest is either a specific deal or but a sly ruse.

And how could you prove that (A) you are a decent trouble-free specialist in a related field [specialization]; (B) you've got business/communication skills; and (C) you are proficient in foreign languages?

For instance, a diploma may assume that once you met [mostly theoretic] requ
... See more
Unlike middlemen and headhunters, real end clients just want to have their job done (1) timely, (2) properly, and (3) as agreed; the rest is either a specific deal or but a sly ruse.

And how could you prove that (A) you are a decent trouble-free specialist in a related field [specialization]; (B) you've got business/communication skills; and (C) you are proficient in foreign languages?

For instance, a diploma may assume that once you met [mostly theoretic] requirements. A certificate may imply you got some interests, relevant skills--or refreshed the interdisciplinary knowledge. A work experience may mean you could cope with certain practical tasks. A portfolio may demonstrate how well you did there. A reference may confirm your success as a specialist/teamplayer or even a businessperson; and so on.

So, what you've really got to show--and why exactly you?

You've failed, if you blindly accept jobs and sign papers.
You've failed, if you have no business awareness and negotiation skills.
You've failed, if you're just a disposable 'pure' translator, not a worthy specialist in a field.
You've failed, if "translation" is the only thing you think you can do; no Plan B or C, or diversification.
You've failed, if you agree to freebies and ever-novice rates after 45+ days minus 'discounts', let alone when you must prove your competence to every new prospect.
You've failed, if you position yourself as a mere CAT/PEMT-operator, not a troubleshooter/lifesaver.
You've failed, if "your biz" makes less than the average net for it's but a hobby (or a self-deceive); and on and on...

In all, if you don't know WHY it's allegedly ok for agencies to charge their client some $0.30+/word in advance while offering their translators no more than $0.03/word minus "discounts" after a couple of months, then it must be too early for you, alas.
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