| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: In your opinion, which is the most valuable tip for a beginner in the industry? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| Do you have any proof of that? | Mar 14 |
Maja_K wrote: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: writeaway wrote: Without a high level of networking skills, no inhouse job will ever happen. The EC and most official bodies only hire those who managed to be well-connected before they applied. If you don't know the right people, you'll never get hired no matter how qualified you are.  I worked for 20 years as staff translator at an EU institution and before being hired I didn’t know a single soul there. I had to pass a rigorous selection procedure – some pre-selection psychometric tests, followed by a test on EU knowledge, and several written translation tests (in all my working languages: EN, FR, ES and IT/PT) and then an interview. I was included in the so-called reserve list of successful candidates in 5th place and was recruited when the reserve list was about to expire… Although I have never worked for an EU institution, I kinda believe it's the way how writeaway describes it. @Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida I guess you (and only small number of translators or other professionals) would be an exception to that.
I should also point out that all the tests are anonymous!
| | | | Maja_K 
Germany
Local time: 12:52
Member (2013)
English to Macedonian
+ ...
| Do I have a proof of what? | Mar 14 |
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: Maja_K wrote: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: writeaway wrote: Without a high level of networking skills, no inhouse job will ever happen. The EC and most official bodies only hire those who managed to be well-connected before they applied. If you don't know the right people, you'll never get hired no matter how qualified you are. I worked for 20 years as staff translator at an EU institution and before being hired I didn’t know a single soul there. I had to pass a rigorous selection procedure – some pre-selection psychometric tests, followed by a test on EU knowledge, and several written translation tests (in all my working languages: EN, FR, ES and IT/PT) and then an interview. I was included in the so-called reserve list of successful candidates in 5th place and was recruited when the reserve list was about to expire… Although I have never worked for an EU institution, I kinda believe it's the way how writeaway describes it. @Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida I guess you (and only small number of translators or other professionals) would be an exception to that. I should also point out that all the tests are anonymous!
In both of my sentences I used "I believe, I guess", it's not like I stated facts.
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Baran Keki wrote:
there are certain areas where MT fails miserably and thus human translation is still very much needed' during the whole workshop for the next 10 years?
But 10 years can be ok for me, but what is 10 years in a career of a 30 year old person? A flap of butterfly wings, they fly away in an instant.
I agree with Kay.
[Edited at 2024-03-14 16:25 GMT]
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 12:52
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
writeaway wrote:
Without a high level of networking skills, no inhouse job will ever happen.
Official bodies aren't the only ones who offer inhouse positions. You don't need a network to find a job in a translation agency.
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writeaway wrote: Without a high level of networking skills, no inhouse job will ever happen. The EC and most official bodies only hire those who managed to be well-connected before they applied. If you don't know the right people, you'll never get hired no matter how qualified you are.
Networking is certainly useful but this is an exageration (and I'd like to see some evidence for the EC claim too).
In any case, you can learn to network. You just need to put yourself out there.
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Kay Denney wrote:
I'd tell them to find another job. I really don't see any future in translating. NB I don't consider MTPE to be translation.
I still have 2 years to go till my retirement (besides, no idea what to do else, and who would hire me anyway?), so I am not worrying, but for young(er) people who want to start a career in translation, I also don't see a future. And if there is a future in translation, it would be a very 'low budget' one, unless you like peanuts.
[Edited at 2024-03-14 17:27 GMT]
[Edited at 2024-03-14 17:50 GMT]
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Thomas Johansson wrote:
What does "marketing my services with clients" mean? My clients already know I translate. Can anyone give an example?
Marketing yourself full stop. To everyone who isn't already a client. Prospects. New clients.
| | | | | Dear Maria Teresa, | Mar 14 |
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: writeaway wrote: Without a high level of networking skills, no inhouse job will ever happen. The EC and most official bodies only hire those who managed to be well-connected before they applied. If you don't know the right people, you'll never get hired no matter how qualified you are. I worked for 20 years as staff translator at an EU institution and before being hired I didn’t know a single soul there. I had to pass a rigorous selection procedure – some pre-selection psychometric tests, followed by a test on EU knowledge, and several written translation tests (in all my working languages: EN, FR, ES and IT/PT) and then an interview. I was included in the so-called reserve list of successful candidates in 5th place and was recruited when the reserve list was about to expire…
Sorry to say so (no insult meant), but those were different times, uncomparable with today's reality.
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Baran Keki wrote:
Why not advise them to become 'translation mastermind coaches' to do 'take your translation business to the next level' workshops (charging 199.99 $ per person), harping on the message 'while AI has made great strides, there are certain areas where MT fails miserably and thus human translation is still very much needed' during the whole workshop for the next 10 years?
You also get to say "in my translation practice" when you mean "in my work". What's not to like?
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 13:52
Member
English to Turkish
Christopher Schröder wrote:
You also get to say "in my translation practice" when you mean "in my work". What's not to like?
You also get to 'empower' people by being an 'empowerer'
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Christopher Schröder wrote: Thomas Johansson wrote:
What does "marketing my services with clients" mean? My clients already know I translate. Can anyone give an example? Marketing yourself full stop. To everyone who isn't already a client. Prospects. New clients.
Don't you think 'the clients' haven't discovered chatGPT/MT themselves yet?
I used to work for an end client who sent me quite a lot of work. One day the well dried up. I asked them about it. The answer was that they threw the text through some damn machine, and let 'John' from some department 'correct' the whole stuff. He was from Holland, so he knew the language.
You and I know that quality is far to look for in this case, but unfortunately, it is also today's reality.
[Edited at 2024-03-14 18:06 GMT]
[Edited at 2024-03-14 18:07 GMT]
[Edited at 2024-03-14 18:10 GMT]
[Edited at 2024-03-14 18:11 GMT]
[Edited at 2024-03-15 09:15 GMT]
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Robert Rietvelt wrote: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: writeaway wrote: Without a high level of networking skills, no inhouse job will ever happen. The EC and most official bodies only hire those who managed to be well-connected before they applied. If you don't know the right people, you'll never get hired no matter how qualified you are. I worked for 20 years as staff translator at an EU institution and before being hired I didn’t know a single soul there. I had to pass a rigorous selection procedure – some pre-selection psychometric tests, followed by a test on EU knowledge, and several written translation tests (in all my working languages: EN, FR, ES and IT/PT) and then an interview. I was included in the so-called reserve list of successful candidates in 5th place and was recruited when the reserve list was about to expire… Sorry to say so (no insult meant), but those were different times, uncomparable with today's reality.
As far as I know, requirements to become a translator in an EU institution are even tougher today than they were in 1986 when I took part in my competition. That’s why EPSO was created. Anyway, application files are anonymous and go through so many stages and hands that frankly I can’t see how networking would work. But that’s just my experience and point of view.
P.S. No insult taken whatsoever….
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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: Robert Rietvelt wrote: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: writeaway wrote: Without a high level of networking skills, no inhouse job will ever happen. The EC and most official bodies only hire those who managed to be well-connected before they applied. If you don't know the right people, you'll never get hired no matter how qualified you are. I worked for 20 years as staff translator at an EU institution and before being hired I didn’t know a single soul there. I had to pass a rigorous selection procedure – some pre-selection psychometric tests, followed by a test on EU knowledge, and several written translation tests (in all my working languages: EN, FR, ES and IT/PT) and then an interview. I was included in the so-called reserve list of successful candidates in 5th place and was recruited when the reserve list was about to expire… Sorry to say so (no insult meant), but those were different times, uncomparable with today's reality. As far as I know, requirements to become a translator in an EU institution are even tougher today than they were in 1986 when I took part in my competition. That’s why EPSO was created. Anyway, application files are anonymous and go through so many stages and hands that frankly I can’t see how networking would work. But that’s just my experience and point of view. P.S. No insult taken whatsoever….
We apparently disagree. Doesn't matter, but I think knowing people/having a network surely helps by getting a job. We have a saying: you won't get there without connections.
It is all more difficult nowadays.
Thats all.
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 12:52
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
I used to work for an end client who sent me quite a lot of work. One day the well dried up. I asked them about it. The answer was that they threw the text through some damn machine, and let 'John' from some department 'correct' the whole stuff. He was from Holland, so he knew the language.
We have the hype to thank for that. But one day John might be held responsible for some terrible mistakes he has let pass. MT is far from flawless, John is very likely not a trained linguist and he obviously isn't newly hired for this, so he does this "in-between".
I'm rather optimistic about the fact that end clients like yours might be leaving today, but will eventually come back, at least for documents that are somewhat of importance.
What I don't doubt is that they will demand an MTPE service at a reduced rate.
[Bijgewerkt op 2024-03-14 18:30 GMT]
| | | | Maja_K
Germany
Local time: 12:52
Member (2013)
English to Macedonian
+ ...
| It's not about what you know ... | Mar 14 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: Robert Rietvelt wrote: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: writeaway wrote: Without a high level of networking skills, no inhouse job will ever happen. The EC and most official bodies only hire those who managed to be well-connected before they applied. If you don't know the right people, you'll never get hired no matter how qualified you are. I worked for 20 years as staff translator at an EU institution and before being hired I didn’t know a single soul there. I had to pass a rigorous selection procedure – some pre-selection psychometric tests, followed by a test on EU knowledge, and several written translation tests (in all my working languages: EN, FR, ES and IT/PT) and then an interview. I was included in the so-called reserve list of successful candidates in 5th place and was recruited when the reserve list was about to expire… Sorry to say so (no insult meant), but those were different times, uncomparable with today's reality. As far as I know, requirements to become a translator in an EU institution are even tougher today than they were in 1986 when I took part in my competition. That’s why EPSO was created. Anyway, application files are anonymous and go through so many stages and hands that frankly I can’t see how networking would work. But that’s just my experience and point of view. P.S. No insult taken whatsoever…. We apparently disagree. Doesn't matter, but I think knowing people/having a network surely helps by getting a job. We have a saying: you won't get there without connections. It is all more difficult nowadays. Thats all.
I believe it's the Americans who have a nice saying about this: "It's not about what you know, it's about who you know and who you blow".
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