Starting Out As A Translator

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Written by Karen Hodgson

Whether you are considering becoming a freelance translator or have just been employed as a translator for a company, here are a few things to consider when starting out.

Starting Out as a Professional Translator

Translation services are a necessity to a number of different professions. Ours is a global world, and the need for translators is growing at a rapid rate. (Click here to see the growth in translation services.)

Without translation services, businesses would be extremely limited in the number of companies – and countries – with which they could conduct their business. Professional translators are tasked to translate many different types of documents: contracts, websites, marketing materials, software code, manuals, and much more. Translation services expand the global reach of companies, offering amazing access to new customers and collaboration partners.

Becoming a professional translator takes time and practice. Translators need to possess a number of skills in addition to the ability to speak more than one language, and some of these skills can be overlooked by those trying to get into the business too quickly. Here are some things to consider if you’re interested in starting a career as a professional translator.

Expand your language skills

Obviously, fluency in more than one language is essential for a professional translator. While some translators only work with written documents (and can thus get by with only written fluency), being fluent in both the written and the oral language can be a big competitive advantage for translators. Not only will it be easier to communicate with potential employers, it will also open up more opportunities for your skills to be utilized in different capacities.

Demonstrate accuracy in your portfolio

Translation is about more than just fluency; accuracy is also vital if you plan to become a professional translator. Develop polished samples of your work so that you’ll have a portfolio to show potential clients or employers, and do your best to ensure that every piece is translated as accurately as possible. This gives readers confidence that you’ll be able to deliver similar results for them. Some professions, such as in the legal and medical fields, require very high levels of accuracy in their translations. Being obsessed about accuracy from the very beginning will set you apart from your competitors.

Get certified

Various translation certifications are available from different professional organizations. These credentials not only show prospective employers and clients that you are skilled, but they also may be required for certain types of work. For example, in some countries, governmental agencies will only accept certified translation; in such cases certification is required.

Certification can also indicate to others that your work meets or exceeds the standards of others. While it may be cost prohibitive to collect numerous certifications when you are just starting out, try to obtain at least one certification if possible, and in the country in which you reside or intend to do business. Certification indicates that you are serious about being a professional translator. Additional certifications can always be obtained later if you want to further enhance your professional reputation.

Protect your reputation

It can take time to build a reputation as a translator, and unfortunately, one bad experience can have a much larger effect on your credibility than several good ones. In the beginning, seek out small jobs and private clients whenever possible and work to produce high-quality translations with the quickest turnaround times you can manage.

When clients are pleased with your work, ask permission to use them as references for future potential clients or employers, and ask clients who are particularly impressed with your work to write a testimonial for you to use in your marketing materials. As your body of positive recommendations and testimonials grows over time, you will become more and more appealing to new clients – your excellent reputation will reinforce the fact that you produce truly good work.