Translation Journal Update | September 15, 2014

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Written by Karen Hodgson

Residents in the U.S. celebrated Labor Day on September 2nd. I was lucky to be in the U.S. as well that day, celebrating with family and friends. I had a great time at a barbeque, despite far too much eating, drinking, and being in the sun. At the same time, while celebrating Labor Day – a holiday which honors the contributions of workers – I reflected upon some of the conversations I had either participated in or overhead during the week prior.

Many people in the U.S. are still struggling each day with unemployment or underemployment. At a hair salon, I listened to a college student share her stories of numerous unsuccessful attempts to secure summer employment to help contribute to her college tuition. I reconnected with an old school friend whose husband, a construction industry sheet metal worker, had remained unemployed for five years. And at the supermarket, I overheard two women whose husbands had worked together as mortgage brokers and were now working together part-time at Home Depot while actively seeking full-time employment.

During the global financial crisis, I resided in Australia (as I still do). The economic impact of the GFC was extremely mild there, and we were far removed from the colossal employment difficulties encountered by most countries during that time. Stories such as the ones I heard in the U.S. are not as common in Australia, and I was deeply moved by them. It was apparent to me that each of these people was actively searching for meaningful, full-time employment, yet were unsuccessful despite their best efforts. I imagined the ups and downs they no doubt were experiencing in their search for employment, and I hoped their situations would change soon.

Whether you are from the U.S., Europe, Australia, or elsewhere and are still struggling for employment or full-time employment, I hope you keep your spirts up and continue to pursue your search. History is full of these boom and bust cycles, which suggests to me that abundance will surely be ahead for all of us. Stay the course!

If you are new to the translation and interpreting industry and wondering where to apply for work, this article is for you – I hope that it may prove useful in your search for employment.

The Best Places to Apply for Translation Positions

Becoming a professional translator can take some time, especially if you aren’t sure where to start your career. Deciding where to apply for translation positions can be a big decision, and it’s easy to second-guess yourself when you start looking for openings. This indecision can be dangerous, as the stress of choosing the right places to apply can result in you talking yourself out of positions that might be perfect for you.

Fortunately, it’s not that hard to narrow down the best places to apply for translation positions. While actually landing a specific job will depend on the languages you speak, your existing work experience, and any other skills that you might bring with you to the position, the following list should help when you’re trying to decide whether a potential translation position is worth your time.

Existing Translation Language Service Providers

The most obvious place to apply for a translation position is with an existing translation language service provider (LSP) that provides translation services to a wide range of clients. Different services often have different specialties, so you may want to look at the available options, particularly if you are interested in specializing in areas such as legal translation or medical interpreting. Applying for a position with a translation LSP will usual require translation tests as well as a CV/résumé for review. The competition also may be stiff – LSPs often have many applicants. However, securing a position at one of these firms and demonstrating high-quality work can result in a steady stream of projects over time.

International Companies

Large companies that have international operations often require translators to ensure that their correspondence, product documentation, and other important documents are properly localized for all of the countries the company does business in. These companies may specifically advertise their translation positions, but they may also be mixed in with other positions on the company’s recruiting website. When looking for corporate positions, it’s important to be sure that the company you’re scoping out does business in regions that use the languages you are fluent in.

Legal Offices

Lawyers and legal departments for multinational companies often require translators for their correspondence, contract translation, and other legal documents when the parties involved speak different languages. Legal documentation often contains a significant amount of jargon, and with so much at stake in legal matters, accuracy is critical. Confidentiality is also a must for legal translators, so you may be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or other confidentiality contract. Interpreting is also often needed in the legal field, particularly in court, with court interpreters usually requiring certification. If this area of specialization is of interest to you, then in-house legal translation and interpreting can be a solid first step.

Media Localization Services

When foreign films, television shows, and other media content is presented to English-speaking audiences, the spoken language needs to be translated so that the new audience can understand it. This often requires translators to create captions or dubbing scripts so that English-friendly versions can be prepared. These positions are often highly sought-after and usually harder to find and apply for than other translation jobs. But if landed, these positions can provide extremely interesting work that you wouldn’t be able to find through most standard translation services.

Plucked from the Web

MapCrunch

Like many of you, I find myself reminiscing (more often than I care to admit) about an idyllic locale I once visited. Mine was an amazing beach in Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica. To be instantly transported (virtually) to your perfect beach or majestic mountain or bustling city, log onto the website MapCrunch. While my beach in Costa Rica has, unfortunately, not yet been mapped out (MapCrunch is not yet omniscient), I was able to find a breathtaking view of my second-favorite beach, in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

MapCrunch uses Google Street View location technology, featuring photographs of various locations around the world taken by a fleet of cars with mounted panoramic cameras, as well as stationary photos taken from strategic locations. The site has even inspired a participatory web game in which players “wake up” in an unknown place and must find their way home again. Because the initial location is chosen at random, the game can be notoriously frustrating, time-consuming, and addictive. If you choose to play, don’t say you weren’t warned!

Recent Contributor Spotlight

Our October 2013 issue of the Translation Journal features an article from regular contributor Paula Gordon.

We are looking forward to the return of Fire Ant & Worker Bee’s column “The Bottom Line” in our October 2014 edition. I have received several emails asking about the column (which has been on a short hiatus), with many readers saying that it is often the first article they turn to!

Technology Tip

Umano

When you want to catch up on the news while traveling between client assignments, working out at the gym, or cooking, try using the app Umano and listen. Umano gives you access to an ever-growing list of news articles from the world’s best publishers and bloggers, narrated by professional voice actors. Real people read long-form articles from sources such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and others. It’s like an audiobook of current events. The app’s design is simple and intuitive – great for commuting. You can download articles for listening offline, make playlists, and personalize your interests. The only downside is that you can’t listen solely to one news source – but as they say, variety is the spice of life.