| Skills required by a successful Translator | | | | translation course. |
| - Language: Command over the 'source' language as | | | | - Sign a Part-Time Contract: Once you have gained a |
| well as the 'destination' language is essential to a | | | | little practical translation experience, you may want to |
| translator. Knowledge of grammar and syntax is also | | | | sign a part-time contract. A number of translation |
| essential. Idioms and phrases in one language often do | | | | agencies prefer this route, as they do not have a |
| not have a direct parallel in another language. The | | | | guaranteed regular volume of translation work that |
| translator therefore requires sufficient knowledge to be | | | | comes in. Working on a part-time basis also gives you |
| able to use substitute phrases that will still convey the | | | | a minimum income and at the same time also leaves |
| meaning and intent of the original work. | | | | you free to search for your own translation contracts |
| - Technical Knowledge: This is essential for domain or | | | | that you do on your own terms. |
| technical literature. Often technical terms in one | | | | - Identify Translation Agencies: These agencies will |
| language do not have an equivalent in another | | | | give you 'quality' translations to do and will also be |
| language. Most notable in this area are computer | | | | regular about paying you and honoring your other |
| terms that are in English or legal terms that appear in | | | | employment terms. Most translation agencies receive |
| Latin. Domain knowledge will help the translator to | | | | translation assignments for different languages. |
| explain a concept or term in a precise manner without | | | | Therefore, they prefer to pay a retainer to different |
| compromising on its meaning. | | | | translators with different language and technical skills |
| To Become a Successful Freelance Translator | | | | so that the are able to meet the requirements of their |
| - Practical/Work experience in a translation firm will | | | | customers. |
| give you valuable experience in the kind of work that | | | | - Surf the Net: The Internet has shrunk the size of the |
| may come your way. In a translation firm, your work is | | | | world leveled the playing field. Identify multinational firms |
| likely to be supervised by an experienced translator | | | | that are likely to have translation requirements for |
| who will be responsible for any minor mistakes you | | | | which you have the requisite skills and experience. |
| may make. This will also give you confidence in your | | | | Try and approach them directly on the Internet, as the |
| ability. | | | | translation fee you earn as a direct translator will be |
| - Working for a professional translation firm will also | | | | much higher than what you would earn on retainer or |
| help you gauge your level of expertise against what is | | | | through a translation firm. However, be sure to deal |
| in demand. The experience will give you insight into the | | | | only with companies with a sound reputation, or you |
| kind of jobs that are available (the remuneration | | | | could easily end up not receiving payment at all. Before |
| offered for a professional job, the time frames | | | | you take on the assignment, try and sign a legally |
| demanded, the level of acceptable quality). | | | | enforceable agreement with them so that your |
| It will also help you establish a reputation in the | | | | interests are safeguarded. |
| translation business and help you establish contacts | | | | A career as a translator is not easy to establish, but |
| among those who require translations. Working for a | | | | once established it is an ideal career to use for |
| short while as a volunteer trainee or an intern may also | | | | freelance work. Time spent on an internship and time |
| be a viable option in case you are not able to get a | | | | spent building up your reputation and your clientele will |
| paid 'traineeship'. Just look at it as an extension of your | | | | pay off in the long run. |