| After completing their translation training programmes | | | | translator, but first to find employment at an all-round |
| at higher professional education or university level, | | | | translation firm and spend a couple of years there to |
| many students can't wait to set up as a freelance | | | | gain the necessary practical experience. As a salaried |
| translator. However, gaining a foothold as a freelancer | | | | employee your income will be less compared to what |
| in a very competitive translation market may turn out | | | | you might potentially earn in a freelance capacity, but |
| to be a pretty complicated business. Translation | | | | don't forget that without experience you're never going |
| agencies are not usually keen on contracting | | | | to be successful in the first place. In many cases, you |
| inexperienced translators, business clients are difficult | | | | will be assigned to a senior translator who revises your |
| to find without commercial tools, and the tax authorities | | | | translations, monitors your progress, and makes you |
| won't just accept anyone as a self-employed person. | | | | aware of your strengths and weaknesses. This will |
| So what do you need to do to set up shop as a | | | | enable you to acquire the skills and baggage you need |
| successful freelance translator? | | | | on your way to becoming a professional translator, |
| Translation agencies Most translation agencies are | | | | and will give you the opportunity to experiment with |
| wary of admitting new freelancers into their networks. | | | | various types of texts and disciplines. 2. If you can't |
| After all, it takes a while before it really becomes clear | | | | find a position in paid employment, try to find a post as |
| whether a freelancer can live up to their expectations: | | | | an (unpaid) trainee. A translation agency may not have |
| does he/she stick to agreed deadlines, offer a | | | | the capacity or resources to take on new staff, but it |
| consistent level of quality, consult relevant reference | | | | may still be able to offer you an excellent training post |
| resources, deal effectively with various registers and | | | | to help you gain practical experience in a commercial |
| specialisations (commercial, technical, medical, financial, | | | | environment. A traineeship may serve as an effective |
| IT, etc.)? Many translation agencies begin with a | | | | springboard for a career in the translation business, |
| ‘trial period' in which they closely monitor the work | | | | perhaps even within the same agency that offered |
| submitted by new freelance translators. To reduce the | | | | the traineeship. 3. After having whetted your skills at a |
| risk of a fiasco - and avoid the associated costs - | | | | translation agency for a number of years, you may |
| translation agencies normally only accept applications | | | | decide that the time has come for you to find your |
| from freelance translators who have had at least two | | | | own clients. Ideally, you should move on to a part-time |
| or three years' fulltime experience in the translation | | | | contract so that you have enough time to recruit |
| business. | | | | clients and work for them, and enough money to live |
| Business clients In their attempts to introduce | | | | on. It is important to make clear arrangements with |
| themselves directly to companies, freelancers usually | | | | your boss at this stage, to avoid a conflict of interests. |
| find it difficult to gain access to the people that matter | | | | The best strategy is to send your personal details and |
| and, once they are there, to secure orders. Companies | | | | CVs to a selected group of professional translation |
| tend to prefer outsourcing translation services to | | | | firms and translation departments within companies |
| partners that are able to offer comprehensive | | | | and governmental institutions, explicitly referring to your |
| solutions. They look for agencies that can fill their | | | | work experience. Don't forget to highlight your |
| translation needs in a range of different languages, are | | | | willingness to do a free test translation. 4. Make sure to |
| always available, can take on specialised texts and | | | | register as a self-employed person with the relevant |
| have the procedures in place to ensure that all | | | | tax authorities and seek their advice if necessary. 5. |
| deadlines are met. In view of their need for continuity, | | | | Once you have managed to find enough freelance |
| capacity and diversity it is hardly surprising that many | | | | work to keep yourself busy for around 20 hours a |
| companies select an all-round translation agency rather | | | | week, you might consider terminating your employment |
| than individual freelancers. An agency may be more | | | | contract and devoting the extra time to attracting new |
| expensive than a freelancer, but the additional service | | | | business. In 20 hours most experienced freelance |
| and quality guarantees justify the extra investment. | | | | translators tend to earn around as much as a full-time |
| Tips to achieve success as a freelance translator | | | | translator in salaried employment. |
| What steps will you need to take after graduation to | | | | These are obviously very general guidelines, and your |
| develop into a successful freelance translator? 1. After | | | | personal career may evolve along quite different lines |
| completing your studies, it's best not to present | | | | depending on your preferences, skills and personal |
| yourself on the market straightaway as a freelance | | | | conditions. |