Lola
Job title
Head of Project Management
Company and location
VSI, London
Industry sector
Translation and subtitling
Background
Jobs during university were either abroad or using languages
Joint honours degree in European Languages (French and German), Culture and Society at Goldsmiths College, London
Worked as a bilingual temp after university
How would you describe your job?
We are specialists in sub-titling, voice-over and foreign language versioning. We have the advantage of covering most world languages in-house. We also have all the design and production facilities we need on site.
I manage projects from initial discussion stage to translation and/or subtitling and then technical finishing processes and final delivery. A general understanding of how translation works is a necessity so that projects can be fully prepared for and managed properly. All aspects of my language ability are tested: the job involves reading, for example, checking translations into English, and recognising basic faults in second languages. I need to use my languages over the ‘phone and in direct contact with foreign clients. Written use of languages is mostly by email. I often need to explain the importance of cultural differences to a client, and why for instance a joke cannot often be translated. Some projects can be quite exciting: our clients include well-known TV channels as well as some of the key players you might know from the music industry, such as the big music channels.
What do you enjoy most?
I really like the variety of projects I get to work on – no two days are ever the same! A plus for me is also working with colleagues and clients of different cultures.
Any tips?
Strong organisational skills are just as important as good language skills. If you want to get into subtitling, try to find a course in subtitling or a university that offers more practical modules, (I did subtitling and interpreting as part of my degree, for example). Be realistic about how much you will get to use your languages in the media; unless you are a translator or interpreter, it may well not be on a daily basis. There are lots of production companies, and as soon as there is an international perspective, languages will come into play. You could for instance get work as an interpreter on a film set!