Karen
Job Title
Freelance translator
Company and location
Herts, UK
Industry sector
Language Services
Background:
BA in Modern Languages (French and German), Balliol College, University of Oxford. Worked as a buyer and new product development manager in the UK food industry. Then a lecturer in French in further education and a freelance business language trainer. Requalified as a translator 2001, taking the Institute of Linguists' postgraduate Diploma in Translation. Set up in business as a freelance translator in 2002.
What does your job involve?
Translating documents from French to English, largely in the business sector, but also in other areas such as tourism and food and drink. Revising translations produced by other translators for agency clients.
What skills and qualities are required for your job?
Excellent foreign and native language skills, communication skills (written and oral), research skills, IT skills, business skills (administration, marketing, finance, negotiation, customer relations, business planning) rigour, attention to detail, self-discipline, an ability to work independently, time management, an ability to prioritise effectively to manage multiple tasks with different levels of importance or deadlines.
What do you like most about your job?
It's intellectually stimulating, you learn something new all the time from doing research, and you can work flexibly and from home. I really enjoy working independently, but it's also a very closely networked profession, so there's a lot of support available from colleagues, especially within CIoL (Chartered Institute of Linguists) and ITI. I also like keeping up-to-date with new technologies.
Do you have any advice for people entering a similar career to yours?
Build up some experience in an area of business or industry if you can; it will help you if you can specialise in a particular area once you start translating, especially if your skills are in a common language combination such as French/English: it's a competitive market and you need to be able to differentiate yourself.
Get yourself a qualification specifically in translation, such as an MA or the Institute of Linguists' Diploma in Translation.
Join the professional bodies, CIoL (Chartered Institute of Linguists) and ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting) – both are an excellent way of learning about the profession, accessing training and meeting colleagues.
Make the most of all the free business advice available from organisations such as BusinessLink, and take a business-like approach from the outset, so that you have clear business processes in place as your workload increases.
Take advantage of every opportunity you can to network with colleagues, who are an invaluable source of support and advice.