| موضوع میں صفحات: [1 2] > | Looking to Get Started as a Translator دھاگا پوسٹ کرنے والے: Alan Korn
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Alan Korn 
امریکہ
Local time: 12:41
انگریزیسےفرانسیسی
I am trying to get experience as a translator. However, I don't know how I ought to go about getting this experience. I don't really care about what field of translation the work is in. I'm really more interested in simply getting experience in any capacity.
[Edited at 2019-04-08 19:39 GMT]
| | | | | Tell us more? | Apr 8, 2019 |
Hi Alan,
Well, you're not giving us much to go on, are you? Your profile is almost blank and your CV seems to be a couple of lines, with no explanation of where your expertise in French comes from or why you think you would make a good translator.
You say you don't care what field you translate in - well, you need to care. Translators need strong expertise in a specialist field to produce good work. You can't translate what you don't understand. But I see you have a BA ... See more Hi Alan,
Well, you're not giving us much to go on, are you? Your profile is almost blank and your CV seems to be a couple of lines, with no explanation of where your expertise in French comes from or why you think you would make a good translator.
You say you don't care what field you translate in - well, you need to care. Translators need strong expertise in a specialist field to produce good work. You can't translate what you don't understand. But I see you have a BA in Psychology so you do have a potential specialism right there, which is more than many translators do at the start of their career.
But if you want advice, perhaps you should start by telling us a bit more about yourself. There are some very helpful people on this forum, but it's hard to know what to say without a bit more information.
Rachel ▲ Collapse
| | | | Alan Korn
امریکہ
Local time: 12:41
انگریزیسےفرانسیسی
TOPIC STARTER | More about me | Apr 8, 2019 |
I thank you for your response. I do have a B.A. in Psychology so I do have some experience with psychology (but translation jobs in mental health etc. don't seem to be very common), and I also am in the process of doing an M.A. in Liberal Studies; however my true passion is in linguistics, languages, and cultures (although I don't think that any of these traits distinguish one as a translator).
I do have some experience with translating medical bills (only a few months of experience... See more I thank you for your response. I do have a B.A. in Psychology so I do have some experience with psychology (but translation jobs in mental health etc. don't seem to be very common), and I also am in the process of doing an M.A. in Liberal Studies; however my true passion is in linguistics, languages, and cultures (although I don't think that any of these traits distinguish one as a translator).
I do have some experience with translating medical bills (only a few months of experience though), and would be willing to do more in this sub-area, although, it isn't for me ideal. I suppose that I said that I didn't care what area the work would be in because I felt hopeless and felt that I'll never be able to find any work--not because I don't actually care or because I think that specializing in a particular field (or fields) isn't important.
As for how I learned French; well, I don't think this will help sell me or my services: I'm self-taught. However, I'm confident in my language skills, and only wish that there was a way to demonstrate it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | And tell us much more | Apr 8, 2019 |
Alan Korn wrote:
As for how I learned French; well, I don't think this will help sell me or my services: I'm self-taught. However, I'm confident in my language skills, and only wish that there was a way to demonstrate it.
There's nothing wrong with self-taught language skills; in fact, IMO, you can't learn a language just by taking classes. But potential clients certainly need more information. Your CV doesn't even say you speak a second language, nor does it say you're a translator, and you have zero words of "About me" text. Clients won't have any interest in you until you give them some information.
So, French: You didn't take any courses at all? If not, where and how did you learn? What's your level? Have you taken the DELF, DALF or whatever the tests are called nowadays?
How about translation: Have you ever studied even the basic techniques? What makes you think you can do it well? Even being 100% bilingual doesn't mean you can translate for tuppence. Do you have experience and good feedback when writing in English?
And then there's the job of running a business. Do you know how to write an effective quote? Have you determined your T&C (Terms and Conditions aka rate(s), payment method(s), payment period(s))? Will you know how to prepare your first invoice that will be legal where you live? Do you know what's legally required locally in terms of business structure, accounting, taxes, etc?
You've invested money in the site; now you need to invest time and effort. Read everything in the Site Guidance Centre, attend the free webinar, check out the CV and Risk Management Wikis, answer KudoZ questions...
You probably have positive answers to much of the above. But keeping them to yourself won't do -- you need to convince others too.
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| French skills | Apr 9, 2019 |
Hi again,
To be honest, I think most people looking for a translator will take a lot of convincing that your French skills are good enough, based on what you have told us. Most translators have been studying their source language for decades, they probably have a degree in the language including a year studying or working abroad. And that's just the starting point. Some of your competitors will have grown up speaking French alongside English and be near-bilingual, others may have li... See more Hi again,
To be honest, I think most people looking for a translator will take a lot of convincing that your French skills are good enough, based on what you have told us. Most translators have been studying their source language for decades, they probably have a degree in the language including a year studying or working abroad. And that's just the starting point. Some of your competitors will have grown up speaking French alongside English and be near-bilingual, others may have lived and worked in a French-speaking country for years.
So if your French is at an equivalent level you will need to work very hard to convince buyers of your services of this. Is getting a job in a French-speaking area for a while once you finish your MA an option for you?
Rachel ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Watch for scams | Apr 9, 2019 |
With the CV you present here, you're unlikely to get any serious job offers.
| | | | Tom in London
برطانیہ
Local time: 17:41
رکن (2008)
انگریزیسےاطالوی
Kevin Fulton wrote:
With the CV you present here, you're unlikely to get any serious job offers.
I agree. It's an almost blank page that includes
"TRANSLATION EXPERIENCE
Lotus Translation January 2019-Current
Washed dishes and performed other tasks that involve cleaning"
Come on Alan - you can do better than that!
| | | | Lincoln Hui
ہانگ کانگ
Local time: 00:41
رکن
انگریزیسےچینی
+ ...
| Career services | Apr 9, 2019 |
You're a student. Use your school's resources.
https://www.albertus.edu/student-resources/career-services/
Set up an appointment and show them your CV. They will help you come up with something more presentable - after they have facepalmed.
[Edited at 2019-04-09 13:11 GMT]
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Alan Korn
امریکہ
Local time: 12:41
انگریزیسےفرانسیسی
TOPIC STARTER | Willing to work for free | Apr 9, 2019 |
I'm willing to work for free. I just need the experience. How can I find volunteer work in translating? Or will I need to have an extensive set of qualifications for that too?
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I can relate to your dilemma, as I found it difficult when I started out a few years ago with a degree in French and an MA in translation.
Joining ProZ.com was a good starting point. I signed up for the mentoring scheme and was accepted by a mentor, who provided me with loads of work in a wide range of subject areas. That was a very valuable experience.
Then I spent quite a bit of time suggesting terms on Kudoz, which I think may have led to more people contacting me wi... See more I can relate to your dilemma, as I found it difficult when I started out a few years ago with a degree in French and an MA in translation.
Joining ProZ.com was a good starting point. I signed up for the mentoring scheme and was accepted by a mentor, who provided me with loads of work in a wide range of subject areas. That was a very valuable experience.
Then I spent quite a bit of time suggesting terms on Kudoz, which I think may have led to more people contacting me with job offers.
I also joined a Facebook site for translators, which led to finding work as a volunteer translator for Global Voices - another good experience.
Good luck! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Just do it, then | Apr 9, 2019 |
You don’t necessarily need qualifications, but you don’t need hand-holding either.
Self-learning is a life skill. So what’s holding you?
And why translation experience must only come in the form of commissioned work (be it voluntary)?
Just pick up whatever you feel like translating and do it.
The word is your oyster.
[Edited at 2019-04-09 20:52 GMT]
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From what I read, I would advise to take an official test in French, something that can prove on paper that you know French well enough to translate it. If I'm not mistaken, it would be the TFI for French. If you just say that you're self-taught, no matter how good you are, clients will never take your word for granted.
Once this is done, you can get some experience through volunteer work for NGOs. On the UNO website (if I remember well), you can find a volunteer portal and apply for trans... See more From what I read, I would advise to take an official test in French, something that can prove on paper that you know French well enough to translate it. If I'm not mistaken, it would be the TFI for French. If you just say that you're self-taught, no matter how good you are, clients will never take your word for granted.
Once this is done, you can get some experience through volunteer work for NGOs. On the UNO website (if I remember well), you can find a volunteer portal and apply for translation work. It is a good way to get experience and do some good on top of it. It doesn't pay the bills, but if you can afford it, it's a good way to start. ▲ Collapse
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Personally I do not have any experience with them, but you could take a look at this website :
https://www.fairlingo.com/en/
It might be a start to some translation work.
I also read about OneHourTranslation, look it up and it might be another interesting link to yet more online translation services. You will probably have to pass some test before you can start.
| | | | | Volunteering opportunities | Apr 25, 2019 |
You could try volunteering with Translators Without Borders.
https://translatorswithoutborders.org/volunteer/
I'm sure there are other organisations too, but this is the one I have experience volunteering for.
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Amy Moreno wrote:
You could try volunteering with Translators Without Borders
Volunteering for cloud-based "pro bono" translating is a great way to get some experience and learn. The TED content, for a start, would be good experience for a new translator. Others will (should) correct any mistakes.
However, TWB needs experienced translators who can work totally autonomously on texts that probably won't be proofread. It's therefore not a place to "practise". I help vet applications and I can tell you that TWB has to turn down an awful lot of applicants.
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