Typically, fluency is the only step to become a professional language translator or an interpreter. There is no instant answer to success. Like most other professions, it takes a lot of training and experience to become a sought after professional language translator.
There are certain steps to becoming a translator
For anyone contemplating translation as a career it’s useful to get some sort of certification or accreditation first. Having these sorts of credentials means that you can prove that you have the skills required to undertake professional translations. There are many universities that provide advanced degree programs as well as professional certificates in translation.
The American Translator’s Association (ATA) offers useful certification programs for new translators. There are other organizations, such as the International Medical Interpreters Association and the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters which offer certificates too. Their certifications offer the chance to be included in their website directories. It might not be necessary to be certified to prove your competency in your chosen languages, but it gives you a head start in what is often a competitive industry.
Sit a proficiency test
When you are compiling your resume a good way to build up the value of it is by proving your competency through sitting proficiency tests like the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT).
Get experience
It’s rare to be able to find a high paying job straightaway after qualifying or being certified. You first have to put up with entry-level positions and build up your portfolio and reputation. Your local college or university may be interested in taking you on or giving you some translation work when it is needed. How much you can get through this method depends on your languages. Once you have completed some translation projects, you can use these as examples to showcase your work to other potential clients.
Marketing Yourself
There are many people and organizations which readily need translators so it’s just the matter of finding them.
Most professional language translator work for clients is based on contracts and not full-time employment. These days virtually every business has a website so you will need one so that you can start actively engaging in the community. It’s imperative you know what rates to charge and these can be posted on your website. There should be an easy facility on your website for potential clients to upload their requirements.
Learning Never Ceases
A professional language translator will never stop learning. You may even decide on your specialization, such as legal translations or translations related to specific industries. You may even get to the point of becoming a certified medical or court translator or interpreter. This will find the right balance of work and pay that you have been searching for.
At Cinch Translations we offer a well-trained professional language translator in every language we offer so you can count on us meeting your translation needs. We have the testimonials to prove how good we are at translations in more than 90 languages.
