How to Market Your Translation Skills as a Translator
With the freelance translation job market becoming fiercely competitive and crowded it can be hard to stand out and get the job that you want. Having only your translation skills is not enough for you to get by.
How to market your translation skills
A lot of translators, even good ones can’t find clients even if they’re willing to offer lower rates. However, having lower rates doesn’t mean you’ll get more jobs. Here are some ways you can give yourself an edge.
Be everywhere
Join every translator website / forum out there. The wider your presence in such communities the more job opportunities you can catch. Sites which post various freelancer jobs may also have some translation jobs posted. Mixed freelance job websites actually give you better chances because there are less fellow translators to compete with. You can also join interest groups related to your source language. Sometimes it can be a source of jobs, like translating your favorite foreign pop star’s tweets.
Get certified
It may cost a little but having an outside agency validate your translation skills is equivalent to a college diploma in terms of usefulness. Employers monitor the names who pass the certification tests and short-list them for permanent or long term job offers. Here’s an in-depth article on how to become a certified translator.
Prepare a detailed resume
Include every training you underwent and the types of translation you’ve done. People looking to hire translators don’t look at the companies you’ve worked for, but rather the kind of work you’ve been doing. Be prepared to give samples.
Even though it may not seem related at first, any other training you’ve undergone can be useful in addition to your translation skills. If you have a legal background, even if you haven’t passed the bar or even graduated, you will be the first choice for law-related translation jobs, preferred over natives or translators with long years of experience but without any legal training. If you don’t have extra skills you may consider learning some. E-learning sites have made it easier for anyone to learn a new profession, or at the very least, increase the jargon you have in stock.
How can I improve my translation skills?
You can improve your translation skills by reading and writing extensively. The better you get at your target language, the easier it will be for you to carry out hundred percent accurate translations. You should work on your vocabulary and learn as much as you can about the cultural aspect of your target language. You should also practice regularly at home.
What skills should a translator have?
- Excellent Writing Skills. Without them, a translator cannot write understandable content for their audience.
- Listening Skills. A translator can understand the context in a much better way by listening attentively to the client.
- Time Management Skills. It is highly important for a translator to always deliver their tasks on time.
How can I practice translating?
If you have gotten a degree in translating, you should practice before you can join the profession. The best way to do that is by translating newspapers. Newspapers are written in the standard variety of a language, which is why they are best for practicing. You can also practice by translating short stories if you want to become a literary translator.
Get on social media
You may not like Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn much, but being active in social media sites can bring you clients. Maybe not at first, but in time, you can establish a good position. And once you’re there, don’t forget about the groups related to your expertise. Adding to the discussion will do wonders with time and will let people know about your translation skills.
Be online all the time
Stay connected to your audience at all times. Even if you’re on holiday, don’t loose touch with the online environment. You may not be able to translate during your holiday, but your client may be willing to wait until you get back to work. Stay connected with the translation agency you’re working with, watch your emails but also private messages on the communities or social media sites you’re a member of.
Your translated content will be read by native speakers with lots of experience in the profession in which you translate, so if you can’t translate or write at the level at which your readers reads, you will cause a lot of difficulty for both yourself and your clients.
How to improve translation skills?
- If you are not living in a country where your native language is used, it is essential that you spend a lot of time in such a country as frequently as you can to maintain with the development of the language.
- Buy and refer to language and style guides, and update these sources regularly.
- Read publications and newspapers, watch TV and listen to the radio in your target language.
- Take advancing education courses to enhance your writing abilities and writing way.
- Cooperate with proofreaders and ask to see the modifications they make so you can both learn from each other.
Your translation skills may let you do your work well but it is your other skills that can get you jobs in the first place.
