| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How long did it take until you managed to get a steady income as a language professional? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How long did it take until you managed to get a steady income as a language professional?".
This poll was originally submitted by Zsofia Koszegi-Nagy. View the poll results »
| | | | Iulia Parvu 
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:03
Member (2022)
English to Romanian
+ ...
After deciding to make this more than just a side gig, it took me 2.5 years to secure a steady income. I dedicated daily effort (without exception) to improve my skills, enhance my professional profiles, approach potential clients, and apply for jobs. I strongly believe that unwavering dedication and a genuine passion are essential for making a sustainable living in this field.
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 20:03
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
It took me no time at all. I've been working for 5 years as an inhouse translator and my first major client was my former employer, to the extent I was provided with a full income during my first year from that client alone. Then a few months later a second client came along. And so on.
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I don't think that the words 'STEADY income' and 'language professional' have any relation to each other. It's the amount of income that generates the interest in mastering foreign languages, not the other way round, and the poll might need to be re-phrased to reflect the real life: 'How long did it take for your income to channel you to the language services field?'. If the money loses the interest in language communication, either MT or 'biological' one, one will never get a penny from their h... See more I don't think that the words 'STEADY income' and 'language professional' have any relation to each other. It's the amount of income that generates the interest in mastering foreign languages, not the other way round, and the poll might need to be re-phrased to reflect the real life: 'How long did it take for your income to channel you to the language services field?'. If the money loses the interest in language communication, either MT or 'biological' one, one will never get a penny from their highly sophisticated language skills.
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The two eldest sons resolved to live together; but they would not let their brother live with them, because he had only a CAT. So the poor lad was very sorrowful, and wondered what he should do to get his bread. While he was sitting thinking about it, Puss jumped up on the table, and touched him with her paw.
(The Puss In Boots by Charles Perrault)
[Edited at 2023-11-12 08:15 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| Other (no time at all) | Nov 11, 2023 |
When I started out translating professionally some 40 years ago, I had just an excellent client: a Belgian translation agency who gave me regular work (circa 150 pages every month) very well paid and on time, but there has been nothing steady about my income, except for the 20 years I worked as a staff translator.
[Edited at 2023-11-11 09:43 GMT]
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 21:03
Member
English to Turkish
| Hats off to you | Nov 11, 2023 |
Iulia P. wrote:
for making a sustainable living in this field.
I've always wondered how the translators of 'exotic languages' whose country of origin is fraught with bottom-feeders (owing to lower living standards and favourable FX exchange rates) fared in the first world countries like UK. I mean I'm making a very good living here, but probably couldn't keep my head above water in Germany or England in my language pair.
It took me about 3 years to make a decent living (that is after a 10 year stint of in-house translation job). Unlike others here, I've never worked with clients from my country, and had to find clients from Europe and US, and it ain't exactly a walk in the park.
| | | | Iulia Parvu
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:03
Member (2022)
English to Romanian
+ ...
Baran Keki wrote: Iulia P. wrote:
for making a sustainable living in this field. I've always wondered how the translators of 'exotic languages' whose country of origin is fraught with bottom-feeders (owing to lower living standards and favourable FX exchange rates) fared in the first world countries like UK. I mean I'm making a very good living here, but probably couldn't keep my head above water in Germany or England in my language pair. It took me about 3 years to make a decent living (that is after a 10 year stint of in-house translation job). Unlike others here, I've never worked with clients from my country, and had to find clients from Europe and US, and it ain't exactly a walk in the park.
Romanian is not considered an "exotic language" in the UK, especially when there is a significant Romanian immigrant population. This can make it relatively easy to find work in the UK as a translator/interpreter for Romanian, due to the presence of a sizable Romanian community.
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 21:03
Member
English to Turkish
| I don't doubt that | Nov 11, 2023 |
Iulia P. wrote:
Romanian is not considered an "exotic language" in the UK, especially when there is a significant Romanian immigrant population. This can make it relatively easy to find work in the UK as a translator/interpreter for Romanian, due to the presence of a sizable Romanian community.
I'm well aware of that. I was referring to your colleagues back in Romania. I'm sure their idea of decent rate (in Romania) is markedly different than yours in the UK. But, if you're doing well for yourself (which evidently you do), more power to your elbow!
Btw there must be more Turkish people living in the UK than Romanians, but the Turkish translation jobs aren't coming thick and fast (maybe they are, and the market is too saturated, I don't know).
[Edited at 2023-11-11 11:39 GMT]
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Baran Keki wrote:
Btw there must be more Turkish people living in the UK than Romanians, but the Turkish translation jobs aren't coming thick and fast (maybe they are, and the market is too saturated, I don't know).
Maybe some ethnicities need more or less help due to length of time here, language skills, health, culture, independence, family, employment, conduct and so on.
Back on topic: I was busy from the get go with work from my erstwhile employer. Starting off in-house was always the best route and may still be.
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After deciding to do it full-time.
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 12:03
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
I had a lot of work from local clients (Mexico) back in year 2000, the income was quite good and products used to cost less than now. Then, in 2005 I started getting international projects with a still better income that let me expand my operations with more projects of several fields in Europe and North America.
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When I first set up as a freelance translator I got no work so I got a job as a secretary in an engineering company. Work started to trickle in while I was there, which I did in evenings and at weekends. I left when I got offered a large book job (about wind turbines) that I couldn't have done alongside my day job. After that I was pretty much fully booked up all the time. So, I suppose it took about 2 years in total. That was a long time ago though.
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Stepan Konev
Russian Federation
Local time: 21:03
English to Russian
| 20+ years, still in progress | Nov 11, 2023 |
It was steady last Tuesday from noon to 7pm and Thursday 8 to noon. Sometimes it is steady on Fridays. Is it possible at all to have a steady income when you toggle between in-house and freelance jobs?
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I was struggling the first 2 years, but after about 2 years I felt my income was reasonably stable and at a suitable level. It was hard.
| | | | | No time at all | Nov 12, 2023 |
When I retired from my full-time translation job, I had projects waiting for me.
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