When it comes to choosing a career path, there is no such thing as an easy way to get where you want. If you decided to achieve a successful career in the industry of translation, it means you are ready for hard work, learning all the time and constant challenges.
For every localization project, whether it involves a website, app or game needed to be localized, translation plays an essential part, and you’ll need good translators with experience and the right skills to deliver high quality services.
According to an article from Yahoo Finance, the language industry is going to grow significantly this year, as the number for translators and interpreters jobs has doubled in the last 10 years. Translators may have an advantage on the labor market with the recession and layoffs registered in other domains, but it’s still a demanding career with pros and cons.
If you are working as a professional translator in an agency or as a freelancer, here is a list of useful things you need to keep in mind to advance in your career and not losing your enthusiasm.
1. Gain as much experience as you can – Work experience has always been considered an advantage for those who were seeking to get a better job or advance in career, so you should focus on gaining as much experience as you can. Volunteer projects, clients’ requests to deliver extra work or part time project with little money; Experience can be made anywhere and it can let you see the whole picture of this profession, and learn more things about it, because language changes and evolves constantly.
2. Invest in courses, training, certifications – One of the best things about the technological evolution is that you can find lots of great resources for free. If you want to stay abreast of changes in your field, it’s important to invest in various courses, training or certifications which will help you be seen as an expert. Moreover, there are good chances to gain more clients interested in working with you and to be one step ahead your competitors in a tough market.
3. Don’t forget about branding – When it comes to translations, it’s not just about delivering a high volume of words, but providing quality, creativity, efficiency and transparency. All these are part of your branding which can make a difference when clients will want to contact you. Setting a great branding and having an active online presence are essential aspects to do marketing for your work.
4. Join a large translation community – A good example in this direction is Proz.com, one of the largest translation services where you can become visible for clients, make your portfolio known for customers interested in your services and stay in contact with other professional translators. Another variant would be to join a local translation association, attend different events for networking opportunities and learn about other translators’ challenges and experiences.
5. Be optimistic – Like any other profession, it has its downs and a negative side which can demotivate any person, but you need to stay positive, be patient and optimistic about your future. Probably a good thing would be to take a time off and reevaluate the situation with a fresh and clear mind.
Are you working as a translator? Can you provide insights from your work experience? What keeps you motivated to continue working in this field? Feel free to share your thoughts.
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