ITIBULLETINitiorguk.nextmp.net/attachments/article/894/Career...Kirsty Heimerl-Moggan explains why interpreting is her perfect job 17 A professional network How ITI’s Networks and

How to become a translatorCareer options for interpreters Going freelance: are you ready?What agencies want

CAREERS SPECIAL

ITI BULLETINThe Journal of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting

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n Members’ rate at ITI webinars, workshops and training events around the countryn Discounted attendance at industry events and conferencesn Discounts on software and other servicesn Access to help and advice in the Members’ Area of the ITI website, including the forumsn Use of ITI’s online CPD logging systemn Access to the latest industry news and jobs via ITI’s social media feeds and websiten Free use of an online credit-checking facilityn A legal helpline offering free advice on a range of legal mattersn Representation on an international level.

How to applyPlease register at www.iti.org.uk/become-a-member/apply and we will send you an application pack.

The Institute of Translation & Interpreting is the only independent professional

association of practising translators and interpreters in the United Kingdom. The Institute serves as a meeting place for all those who understand the importance of translation and interpreting to the economy and society, and has a large and growing international membership. Various levels of membership are on offer to suit translators and interpreters at all stages of their careers, from newcomers to the industry to experienced professionals.

Benefits of membership are many and are tailored to each individual category; however, all members of ITI benefit from: n A subscription to ITI’s award-winning journal, ITI Bulletin – articles from which can be found within these pagesn The opportunity to join your local Regional Group, and as many specialist subject and language Networks as you wishn Numerous networking opportunities with your fellow professionals

Whatever the stage of your career, there is an ITI membership category tailored to you, with a clear path for progression as your career develops

Joining ITI

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ITI OFFICE Suite 141, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6GD, UK ITI CONTACT DETAILS Telephone: 01908 325 250 Fax: 01908 325 259 Membership direct line: 01908 325 251 Email: [email protected] Website: www.iti.org.uk

2 Joining ITIFind the right membership grade for you

4 Going freelance: are you ready?Maria Antonietta Ricagno tells you what you need to know before you ditch the day job

8 How to become a translatorAn overview of required skills, knowledge and qualifications, as well as career paths

10 Career options for interpretersThe three main types of interpreting explained – Conference, Business and Public Service

12 What agencies wantDirector of Atlas Translations Clare Suttie has some straight-talking advice for freelancers

14 The pricing puzzleBy the word, or by the hour? How should you charge for your work? Megan Onions explains

16 Interpreting – a snapshotKirsty Heimerl-Moggan explains why interpreting is her perfect job

17 A professional networkHow ITI’s Networks and Regional Groups can support you as your career progresses

18 Finding your nicheArantza Elousa shows you how to move on from ‘generalist’ translation

21 SUFT class of 2015: one year onFive of our past students give their verdict on what passing the course has done for them

25 Life after SUFT: The first yearCharis Ainslie recollects starting out

26 Student membershipInformation on Student membership

Neither ITI nor the editor guarantees the accuracy of contributions or advertisements, nor do they accept any liability for statements expressed in the Bulletin. Articles are considered for publication on the basis that they are the author’s original work. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of ITI.

So you want to be a translator or interpreter? Welcome to the best profession in the

world!As language communities

become ever more interconnected, the translation and interpreting sector is set to expand exponentially and ITI is on hand to help you ride out the wave of challenges you may face in entering this developing field.

This special edition of ITI Bulletin – the award-winning magazine of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting – will help to guide you through the first steps from student to practitioner or from one career path to the next.

ITI is the only dedicated association for practising translation and interpreting professionals and you’ll find guidance here on finding the best-fit class of ITI membership for you. So jump on in – you are not alone!

Bright outlook

Sarah Griffin-

Mason

Chair

In this issue

Special thanks to ITI office for their help © ITI 2016Art Editor and Printed by i-print mk limited, Unit 17‚ Drakes Mews‚ Crownhill‚ Milton Keynes MK8 0ER

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ITI BULLETIN CAREERS SPECIAL

The first question to ask if you plan to pursue a career as a freelance translator is

apparently simple, yet crucial. How do I know if I’m ready for this job? Of course, if you already work in-house for a translation company, the problem does not arise. But for anyone else thinking about going freelance, the following questions might be helpful:n Do I like to get up every morning at the same time, leave my house and go to work at the same place, see the same people and establish routines that will continue for years?n Would I like to be able to choose to work on Saturday and go shopping on Monday, organising my own time?n Do I feel safer working with other people and being an employee? Or am I happy to make autonomous decisions?n Am I willing to dedicate plenty of time to promotional activities, marketing and training, especially

when getting the business off the ground?n Would I be scared by taking responsibility for everything from translation work to relationship-building with clients?

If your answers are positive, then you are ready to adopt a new way of working that will reap great rewards.

Taking the plungeIf you are already in full-time employment, doubt and uncertainty may be even stronger. How can you be reasonably sure that you will be able to succeed as a freelancer if you leave your job? Unfortunately, that question can’t be easily answered. You must assess your work and family situation, and consider the pros and cons of staying on or going it alone.

Initially, you might want to start freelance work alongside an existing job. However, this is not easy. Starting out as a freelance can be challenging and it requires considerable

Whether you’re about to start your translation and interpreting career, or are in a full-time job and thinking of going it alone, Maria Antonietta Ricagno has some advice for first-time freelancers

Going freelance: are you ready?

Maria Antonietta Ricagno is a freelance technical translator who also runs the online cultural magazine conTESTI.eu. She has a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature and writes about the translation world and linguistics. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.antotranslation.com.


starting out

commitment. From my own point of view, given the perspective of my personal career path, I would say it is better not to try to do two jobs at once.

I do know some people – only a few, actually – who teach or work as engineers, and who sometimes translate. However, they do so only sporadically, and they do not intend to start a freelance business.

It goes without saying that if a person works eight hours a day in an office or elsewhere, they cannot expect to return home in the evening, turn on their PC and tackle the translation of a medical equipment manual with an absolutely crystal-clear mind. It is equally obvious that under such conditions you have neither the energy nor perhaps the motivation necessary to perform all the professional activities related to being a translator (marketing, training, seminars, etc). Not to mention leaving time for your private life!

However, some people do manage a portfolio career of teaching, translating, editing or other pursuits quite successfully.

In my opinion, though, if you really want to be a ‘serious’ freelance translator you must dedicate yourself to the profession with passion, have good organisational skills, be decisive, continually strive to improve, and have good intuition. After all, being your own boss is tough.

Why am I here?In practical terms, you need to objectively assess your skills in languages and other areas. You need in-depth understanding of at least one foreign language and an excellent command of writing in your first

language. Past work experience as a translator will help a great deal, as will a translation qualification or a master’s degree in a related field. Extended periods of living and working abroad are also beneficial, of course.

Perhaps surprisingly, a degree in languages is not mandatory. Some people operate bilingually as they have spent time in an environment where they have learned two or more languages to the same level, have studied in different countries, or have academic training that enables them to translate easily into/from another language. The acceptability of two-way translation will depend on the translation market you are targeting.

Others have excellent language skills and a technical education (engineer, veterinarian, etc) placing them in the best position to deal with specialist technical translations in that field. However, not everyone who speaks two languages has what it takes to be a translator!

Undergraduate studies will give you a taste of what the professional world demands, but will not prepare you for the rigour and level of professionalism demanded by the translation market. A diploma in translation is a good start as it offers both the study of language and the technical basis for translation, ie Translation Studies. Better even though, is a degree in

‘Starting out in freelancing poses undoubted challenges and requires considerable commitment’

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starting out


foreign languages followed by a master’s in translation.

On top of that, you need to be interminably curious about everything and to absorb knowledge like a sponge!

Help and adviceBefore launching yourself on the

world, you must polish your translation skills. How? Perhaps you could contact a professional translator who has already acquired experience and is willing to do some tutoring. I have worked with many novice colleagues in recent years, doing a little bit of practice and then working together on the occasional job. Collaboration is always a good thing because it allows both sides to learn.

‘You need to objectively assess your skills in languages and other areas’

Try to work in a team wherever possible when you are starting out.With regard to the administrative and fiscal aspect of the profession, you should certainly consult an accountant in the country where you have tax residency. Tax laws vary from country to country, so although it is useful to use online forums to exchange views with colleagues, professional advice is essential.

Looking for workSo how do you start looking for work? What are the procedures? And how do you put an effective curriculum vitae together?

Let’s start with the CV itself, which must be detailed, but not wordy

(nobody wants to read pages and pages!).

It must include:n Personal dataLanguage(s) in order of importancen Areas of specialisation (literary or technical and related fields)n Computer programs/CAT tools used (specify which versions)n Work experience (omitting irrelevant jobs; the translation agency does not care if you worked as a babysitter or a barman, unless those activities were carried out abroad and for a considerable period of time)n Any references (subject to the referees’ consent that their names and contact details be disclosed).

Once you have done this, you will need to obtain a database of translation agencies or other potential clients working in your areas of specialisation in your country and abroad (or compile your own by surfing the internet). Visit each company’s website and delete all those which deal with languages or fields that are not relevant to you. Databases of agencies are available on www.ProZ.com and www.gotranslators.com.

Next, prepare an email with a brief presentation. It must be generic, but not too impersonal, in other words not a mass email. Customise it each time with the name of the person to whom it is addressed, citing the website of the agency or client in question, and adapt it to the recipient.

Having a professional website will also boost your image and, if properly structured, provides a way to ‘hook’ potential new clients. This does not need to be complicated or expensive


starting out

– a mini-site is enough to supply all the essential information about your professional profile, ie your training, completed specialised studies, and membership of any professional associations such as ITI.

You may also want to consider taking out specialist professional indemnity insurance to insure you against any potential mistakes (everyone will make one at some

time, and writing ‘clockwise’ instead of ‘anti-clockwise’ in a technical translation for medical devices when you are tired could have an impact too terrible to contemplate if you are uninsured). Membership of ITI provides discounts on insurance to members and a translator with insurance is more attractive to potential customers.

Freelance translators use a wide range of computer hardware and software, some of which is essential and some less so, but as we are running out of space I would recommend you consult the ITI forums as these offer a wealth of advice and support on such issues.

Happy hunting and the best of luck with your careers!

‘A professional website will boost your image and, if properly structured, provides a way to “hook” potential new clients’

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP OF ITIDid you know that ITI also welcomes corporate members? There are three types of corporate membership, each tailored to the type of organisation joining the Institute:n Language Services Business is for businesses and

organisations that provide translation and/or interpreting services.

n Education is for universities who provide translation and/or interpreting qualifications.

n Corporate Affiliate is for any business or organisation with an interest in translation or interpreting. This type of membership is not available to businesses or organisations which provide translation/interpreting services.

n The right to market yourself as a Corporate member of ITI n The Corporate logo (above) to use on your literature, website,

etc.n A subscription to ITI Bulletin n The opportunity to join ITI’s Regional Groups and Networksn Members’ rate for ITI webinars, workshops and training eventsn Numerous networking opportunitiesn Discounted attendance at industry events and conferencesn Discounts on software and other servicesn Access the latest industry news and jobs via ITI’s social media

feeds and websiten Access to the Members’ Area of the ITI website, including the

forumsn A legal helpline offering free advice on a range of legal matters n Representation on an international leveln And much more, including additional benefits tailored to each

membership category, and a complimentary individual membership for each corporate member. Please contact ITI for further details.

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starting out


Translating words and ideas from one language to another is a fascinating, rewarding

and creative process. The range of areas in which translation is needed is virtually limitless – especially with the massive explosion in translated content as the world goes digital. So if you love language, languages and words, then working as a professional translator could be your ideal job!But there’s a lot more to being a professional translator than being able to speak another language well. On this page we outline the kind of skills you’ll need and where to get them.

To be a professional translator you will need:n a fluent (near-native) understanding of at least one foreign language (source language)n a solid understanding of the culture of the source language country, usually gained by living and working there for a prolonged period of timen excellent writing skills in your own mother tonguen preferably an academic degree

in the source language or in another subject which could lead to a specialist subject area (an academic degree is a requirement for MITI status)n an eye for absolute accuracy and endless curiosity!

Do I need a qualification in translation to become a translator?

Not necessarily, although an MA in translation or another similar qualification such as the Dip Trans gives you credibility and an edge in this highly competitive market.

What training courses are available for translators?

In the UK, the main training courses for professional translators are the Masters degree courses offered by various universities and the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) run by the Institute of Linguists Educational Trust (IoLET).

‘As a professional translator, it’s vital to be able to write and communicate well in your mother tongue (the language you translate into)’

How to become a translatorAn overview of required skills, knowledge and qualifications, as well as career paths


starting out

A full list of the universities offering Masters in translation studies can be found on the ITI website (www.iti.org.uk).The DipTrans is a postgraduate-level qualification consisting of three exams in different subject areas. Preparatory courses are run by various providers.

Once I have my translation qualification, what job opportunities are there?

There are in-house jobs for translators at translation agencies (Language Service Providers, or LSPs) or major institutions such as the EU, but most professional translators tend to work freelance. There is lots of help and advice available on setting up as a freelance translator, such as the ITI online SUFT course (see page 21) and information on the ITI website.You can find out more about what LSPs look for in freelance translators on page 12 of this Bulletin.

How do translators charge for their work?

See page 14 for information on how to charge for translation work.

Why do I need good mother tongue skills?

As a professional translator, it’s vital to be able to write and communicate well in your mother tongue (the language you translate into). The texts you will be translating all have a purpose – whether it’s to sell products, to advertise, to instruct users of machinery, to contribute to research – so they have to be accurate, error free and fluent. A translation needs to sound as if it was written in that

language to begin with, and a badly written translation containing stylistic or grammar errors can make or break the client’s business.Fortunately, it’s easy to improve your mother tongue skills. Think the three R’s: read, read, read! Subscribe to high-quality publications, journals and newspapers or in your mother tongue, for example.Also look for writing skills courses, either general or specific to a particular genre, such as technical writing, copywriting, legal drafting etc. Courses in these area are often posted on the CPD Ladder under ‘Language Skills’.Become a grammar and punctuation pedant! A professional translator working into English must be absolutely sure how to use commas, semi-colons and colons and what does and doesn’t take an apostrophe, for example.Follow a style guide for guidance and consistency in your work. Many translators apply the style guides of the major newspapers and magazines such as the Economist, or the EC Style Guide.These are just a few examples - honing both source language and mother tongue skills is something professional translators do in many different ways on an ongoing basis throughout their careers.

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There are three main career areas for interpreters: Conference, Business and

Public Service.

Conference interpreterscan be hired as in-house staff

interpreters by large international organisations such as the UN and EU, or they can be freelancers working at large international events and conferences, at political events, European works council meetings or trade fairs. Many join the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC).The main type of interpreting used for Conference Interpreting is simultaneous interpreting. The interpreter works with a colleague in an interpreting booth. The speaker at the meeting talks into a microphone and the interpreter instantaneously transfers the message via a microphone to the delegates in their target language. At many conferences with

simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter will be interpreted onward by other booths (relay interpreting), e.g. Turkish speaker -> English booth -> Korean booth -> Korean delegates’ headsets. Similarly, at many simultaneous conferences, bilingual booths are used, with the interpreter working in more than one language.

Business interpretersinterpret for business people,

often at company meetings, training courses, business negotiations or any kind of company event. They are something of a hybrid form, as this work is sometimes undertaken by conference interpreters or public service interpreters.The main type of interpreting used for Business Interpreting is consecutive interpreting. This is where the interpreter sits with the delegates and listens to the whole speech (which may last up to 20 or even 30 minutes) and then renders

Career options for interpreters and types of interpretingThe three main types of interpreting explained – Conference, Business and Public Service


starting out

it into the participants’ own language. Notes may have been provided beforehand by the speaker(s) to give the interpreter background to the meeting. Note-taking skills (such as the Rozan method) are taught on interpreting courses including the MA in Interpreting over several months; the interpreter’s notes need to be standard and therefore decipherable by colleagues. Whispered interpreting (or chuchotage) is also used for Business Interpreting. This is where the interpreter stands or sits beside the delegate and interprets directly into their ear.

Public Service interpreterswork in a whole array of settings, which largely fall into two categories:

Police and court interpreters work in a legal environment in a variety of situations such as interpreting for police interviews, attending court cases and working with the prison service. This type of work often entails extensive training and rigorous screening.

‘Note-taking skills (such as the Rozan method) are taught on interpreting courses including the MA in interpreting over several months’

Community interpreters work in the health and/or local government (e.g. job centres, education and housing) sectors, covering various situations including interpreting for hospital patients, helping people access essential educational services or assisting with housing issues. Most public service interpreters choose to be listed on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), as well as being members of ITI. Sight translation and telephone interpreting are also useful skills to have.

In Public Service interpreting, liaison (or ad hoc) interpreting is commonly used, whereby the interpreter renders the speaker’s speech or live presentation into the target language a few phrases at a time. In one-to-one situations, whispered interpreting (chuchotage) can be used. Remote interpreting is also sometimes used in Public Service interpreting. This is where one or more speakers are not in the same room as the interpreter and they communicate with him or her via telephone or Skype, for example.


Starting from the very beginning… Don’t send a mass email to hundreds of agencies.

You know you hate it when you get those mass messages from agencies? Many of us feel the same way! Especially if your covering letter tells us how you’ve always wanted to work with Another Company, and is copied to 50 others. Try a slower, more considered approach. Research one company at a time – do they cover your language, your subjects? What are their rates of pay? Look on reputable websites for feedback from people who have worked for them.

Phone them for a quick chat and cover your questions, briefly and politely. You’ll soon gauge their interest, and you may get a friendly contact. Some freelancers I meet are reluctant to pick up the phone – so many of the agency staff I have met are lovely, and they won’t mind a quick chat. Avoid 5pm on a Friday though!

You would think it would go without saying that your CV and any standard text you are sending should be perfect. I’m afraid it does need saying. Perfect.

Make the effortMost agencies ask you to fill in an

application form. It may be a long form. You may think the form is pointless, and inwardly groan. Let’s face it, no one likes filling in forms unless it’s to receive your winning cheque from the National Lottery. But the information you put in will make your name pop up during a search. So fill in the form fully. Drop someone a line and ask them if they can have a quick look to make sure everything is OK at their end, with nothing missing. We all know that anyone can set themselves up as a translator or interpreter. So please, don’t be cross if you are asked for referees, or to do a test piece. Translation agencies can get a bad press – so surely it’s a good thing that they are carrying out

‘Communicate. Send an update of what you’ve been doing. Phone up occasionally to say hello – not just when you are desperate for work’

How can you make yourself stand out to an agency? Short of turning up at their office with chocolate cake, there are other options you can try, says Clare Suttie

What agencies want

Clare Suttie has been running Atlas Translations since 1991 and loves her work as much today as she did right back then in the last century, before email, websites and Ant & Dec were invented. She takes pleasure in offering a personal and high quality service to each and every client, and tracking suitable people down to work on the most unusual language requests. Follow Atlas on Twitter @atlastranslate.


some quality control? A counter argument is that you may have a raft of suitable qualifications, but in these modern times, it’s not hard to forge certificates.

If you hear nothing, follow it up politely. Hopefully you’ll receive a message that you’ve been approved for work – hurrah! Find out how they’re likely to contact you. Save their number in your phone so you know it’s them calling. Follow them on Twitter and comment on anything interesting. Look at their blogs. If you’re starting out and keen to gain clients, give up your weekends and holidays! If you are French, don’t take holiday in August!

Months go by. Not a sniff? Communicate. Send them an update of what you’ve been doing. Let them know about impressive projects, or that you’re back at your desk after some time off. Do not email every day. Phone up occasionally to say hello – not just when you are desperate for work. Let them know about CPD you’ve done, networks you’ve joined. The idea is that they will remember your name and eventually they will put you forward for work! You may also strike up a rapport with staff – in our office we’re mums and dads, graduates and linguists, from all different places. We like it when the phone rings.

Keep in touchDon’t forget to update the agency if you change any contact details. We regularly try to call people on our own database only to discover they’ve moved, changed email address… Looking after our own database is a huge job and we also find records

‘Let’s face it, no one likes filling in forms. But the information you put in will make your name pop up during a search’that are incomplete, where a translator hasn’t ticked what subject areas they handle, or an interpreter hasn’t ticked what types of interpreting they offer. This means if we do a search for a translator in your subject – you won’t come up. And so on. Stay visible. Stay friendly. And don’t give up!

Do consider a tour of the companies you want to work with! In autumn 2012 we had a visit from a Spanish translator who lives in Bilbao. She made an appointment to see us, came along with her latest CV and we sat and talked about working together. Since then we have worked with this lady and I hope a lasting relationship will follow. She was visiting various other agencies she either already worked with, or wanted to. And she was carrying chocolate.

At Atlas we hold regular supplier open days, which are open to all. By now you won’t be surprised to hear that there was a Bake Off with cake aplenty. We also make an effort to get out and meet people at ITI groups, Language Show Live, and university talks. If you see us, please say hello! Who knows where it may lead?

The loveliest and most memorable approach I’ve seen? At Christmas we received a card filled with homemade flags from ‘the marketing department’ – the translator’s children!

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pricing


Money: it’s a big issue. In a profession where we can often feel at the mercy of

market forces and client budgets, it is imperative to put ourselves in the best possible position in order to receive fair payment for our services, but what is the best way to go about it?

Much has been written about the translator’s position in relation to other service-based industries. Tales of insufficient recognition and low rates have plagued our profession for some time (if not forever), but it is up to the individual to decide how to price his or her services. So far, there has been little change in the established norm but, over the past year or so, a growing trend has emerged among some colleagues to move away from the conventional per-word pricing method in favour of charging by the hour.

Both options have advantages and drawbacks, depending on the circumstances (and the client). Let’s examine the options available to freelance translators, working mainly with direct clients. I have read cases of colleagues forming partnerships with agencies on a per-hour basis, but

this is fairly unusual for the moment, so I won’t focus on this.

Per (source) wordThe most widespread method of

pricing translation services is the per-word method. The majority of agencies will request your rates per source word (or 1,000 words) on registration, and many translators also quote per word when dealing with direct clients. It’s a straightforward method, but is it the best one for the supplier?

Pros for translators:n Simple to explain – no need to use (and explain) jargon when sending the client a quote. If the French document has 2,000 words, the base rate is multiplied by 2,000.n For more specialised (read: faster) translators, and those more familiar with CAT tools, per word pricing presents an opportunity to produce more work, and invoice for more projects, in a week.

Pros for clients:n The client knows exactly how much the translation will cost (to the last penny) before embarking on the

Per word or by the hour? How to price for a translation job is a tricky issue, writes Megan Onions, as she assesses the pros and cons of each method

The pricing puzzle

Megan Onions BA, MCIL, associate of ITI, runs Speech Marks Translation from rural Herefordshire. She has been freelancing since 2007, offering translation and language services from French and German to British English, and her specialist areas are marketing, sports and tourism. Find her online at www.speechmarks translation.com or on Twitter as @speechmarksxl8.


pricing

project. There are no nasty surprises when they open the invoice.

Cons:n Reducing translation work to a matter of churning out a set amount of words does little to shake the commodity tag that is perpetuated by certain online marketplaces. Arguably, this pricing method invites clients to quibble over seemingly unnecessary words – have you heard the one about the client who asked whether all the conjunctions needed to be translated?n The focus on words as simple units can result in translators shunning thorough research, as they are restricted to charging only for the words that are being translated. As we all know, some projects can require extensive or time-consuming research, which it is only fair to invoice as part of the project.

Per hourCharging by the hour is growing in

popularity, but not yet very common. The common motivation is that hourly rates would bring translation in line with other service professionals, such as lawyers and accountants, in terms of recognition for our skills and qualifications, and the simple fact is

‘Hourly rates would bring translation in line with other service professionals, such as lawyers and accountants, in terms of recogntion for our skills and qualifications’

that direct clients are used to paying in this way for such services.

Pros for translators:n More thorough researchers will find their considered approach rewarded with hourly pricing. n Pricing in the same way as consulting-type services could foster better recognition of translation as more than just a commodity.

Pros for clients:n The fact that direct clients are familiar with this kind of pricing avoids any explanation of how translation works, etc. Most of the time, a direct client wants an expert, who delivers great results without much explanation, not someone who reports every nuance of the translation process.

Cons:n The client may not be prepared to go ahead with a project without confirmation of exactly how much cash they will have to part with.n Hourly pricing brings up the issue of what you can actually charge for. You may well want to add your research time to the invoice, but what about revisions, correspondence, even phone calls? Where do you draw the line?

The tide may be turning in terms of current pricing conventions, but hourly rates are not without their problems. Perhaps a workable solution would be to itemise invoices, stating a translation price (calculated on a per word basis) and charges for any additional services, such as research time, formatting, etc.

This combines elements of both approaches to produce a per-project price. Maybe more of us should consider it in future.


Interpreting has been all I ever wanted to do and, in over 20 years in this profession, I have never regretted my

pursuit of my dream. It is one of the most exciting professions I can think of. No two days are ever the same and interpreters travel, meet people from all walks of life and are privy to some of the most interesting events and happenings.

There are three main categories of interpreting work: conference interpreting, business interpreting and public service interpreting (sometimes referred to outside the UK as community interpreting).

Conference interpreters can be hired as in-house staff interpreters by large international organisations such as the UN and EU, or they can be freelances working at large international events and conferences, as well as at political events, European Works Councils or trade fairs.

Business interpreters interpret for business people, often at smaller meetings or business negotiations. They are something of a hybrid form, as this work is sometimes undertaken by conference interpreters or public service interpreters.

Public service interpreters work in a whole array of settings – legal (eg for

the police, courts and the Crown Prosecution Service), health (eg in hospitals and for GPs) and local government (eg job centres, education and housing).

If your appetite has been whetted, your next question might be: How do I become an interpreter?

Conference interpreters are expected to have an MA in Interpreting (sometimes called an MA in Interpreting & Translation, European Masters in Interpreting or similar). These are offered by many universities in the UK and abroad.

There is no specific university training for business interpreters, who tend to have trained as conference and/or public service interpreters.

Public service interpreters generally obtain the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI), an MA in Public Service Interpreting (offered by some universities) or a similar qualification from abroad.

I recommend that you do what I did and train to undertake as many types of interpreting as possible. As my father once told me: ‘Interpreting is the perfect job for you: you are nosy, you like listening in to other people’s conversations and you love talking – and now you are paid for doing it!’

International conference, business and legal interpreter Kirsty Heimerl-Moggan explains why interpreting is her perfect job

Interpreting – a snapshot

Kirsty Heimerl-Moggan has worked as an international conference, business and legal interpreter since 1994. Her interpreting experience includes G8 and EU meetings. She is a senior lecturer and course leader for the MA in Conference Interpreting at the University of Central Lancashire and a director and headtrainer at Interp-Right Training Consultancy.

interpreting


ITI’s Regional Groups, and subject and language Networks, can connect you with freelance colleagues across the profession

A professional network

ITI members at social and professional Network and Regional Group events around the country

Being a freelance translator can be a solitary experience, especially for those new to the industry used to the companionship of colleagues or fellow students. This

is where ITI comes in. Not only does the Institute have active forums on its website and a lively presence on social media, it also offers members the chance to join as many Regional Groups and Networks as they wish.

Join your local Regional Group and you will be able to attend social and professional events local to you, getting to know fellow freelancers in a relaxed and friendly setting. ITI’s Networks, meanwhile, are organised according to language and subject. Join the Networks most relevant to you, and you will be able to discuss terminology queries (and much more) with other members online, attend specialist events, and build a supportive, tailored network of professional colleagues as your career progresses.

18 www.iti.org.uk

specialisation


On occasion, I speak to postgraduate students in Translation Studies about their

career prospects once they complete their master’s degrees. They are all bilingual or multilingual, and come from a variety of countries and walks of life. They are all future professional translators or interpreters who will find their gap to fill. And yet, they can’t help but wonder what will happen once they enter the working world. When we cover ‘specialisation’, there is usually a collective sigh and a ‘rabbit in headlights’ fearful look in their eyes. I think we can all relate to the fear of the unknown when making important professional decisions which seem irreversible, even if they hardly ever are.

In fact, it was not so many years ago that I had the same concerns. However specialised I was, it had never occurred to me before that I had to let potential and existing clients know what I could do best and what made me different from another translator with apparently the same qualities. At the time I was working for several translation companies as well as for a handful of direct clients and was more of a ‘generalist’. One day I

would be translating medical books and leaflets for the NHS and the next I would be working on luxury hotel brochures. I did not see it as a problem, as the work was coming in and that was all that mattered. However, I had a clear idea of which texts I enjoyed the most – the ones I feel privileged to translate – and this remains the same today. So one day, I decided to work only with direct clients and to specialise only in the subjects that were a perfect fit for me.

Specialising has helped me develop my career while finding my ‘niche’. By attracting new customers and their referrals, I can maintain my rates at a certain level and develop a good, loyal working relationship with clients.

Specialisation starts to work once you become a client’s first port of call when they need your specialised professional services and they know their message will be delivered perfectly in translation, regardless of any technicalities. It is a win-win situation for everyone: the translator, the client and, ultimately, the audience.

There is no shame in being a ‘generalist’, and it is fine not to wish, for any reason, to narrow one’s fields

Specialisation can help individuals stand out in a crowded marketplace. But how do you identify and develop specific subject areas? Arantza Elosua has some advice

Finding your niche

Arantza Elosua BA (Hons) MSc MITI is a freelance English/Catalan/Spanish translator, interpreter, teacher and features writer living in Edinburgh with her family. She manages www.thespanishlinguist.com. You can find her on LinkedIn and on Twitter: @ArantzaElosua.

19ITI BULLETIN CAREERS SPECIAL

specialisation

of expertise or job opportunities. However, if you haven’t yet specialised because you don’t know where to start and it seems a daunting prospect, what follows is a step-by-step guide to help you identify your potential.

Your backgroundThis is perhaps the single most

relevant factor when determining your obvious areas of expertise. Most translators who struggle to find their best skills come from a linguistic background that might seem too broad. If you are not very experienced and come from a more general background, you have a solid language base, but need to work harder on identifying your market, which will one day provide your source of income.

On the other hand, if your studies, training or professional experience are related to a more specific sector, such as medicine, law, engineering, finance, chemistry, or any other technical subject, you are one of the lucky few with a built-in glossary! Focus on these abilities and keep refreshing your language skills.

Your experienceSpecialising does not mean that you

will never translate a more general text again. With this in mind, try to focus on your past professional experience and

‘Try to focus on solid long-term specialisations that will not fade once they are out of fashion or be affected by the ups and downs in the economy’

all the projects that you have worked on or the places your life has taken you. You will be surprised to discover how many specific things you have learnt through work, hobbies, or even by living abroad in a different culture for some time. Everything counts and perhaps a couple of things will stick out more than others. How to know if it is specialisation or too general? Well, if your friends or ordinary people outside the industry are not following your conversation, this probably means it is specific enough.

Many translators join the profession after a spell doing something different but complementary, such as teaching, working in-house, being on parental leave or relocating abroad. Translators are curious by nature and are always learning through translation research. Make the most of this, and work towards consolidating your strengths in a more formal and recognised manner.

Your passionsIf you have a hobby, this could well become an asset. Generally, liking something is not enough per se. However, if you attend trade shows, webinars, courses or conferences, or read magazines, books, blogs and newsletters, and are moving with the industry and always learning, the hobby suddenly becomes part of your Continuing Professional Development. Perhaps your passion will one day become additional income but not your main source of work, due to it being too ‘niche’. On the plus side, there might be less competition and you could become a point of reference in your field, if you work towards it and keep clients happy while joining relevant groups or professional organisations.

www.iti.org.uk


Your business planA business plan is not only for your business. If you are keen to do what it takes to become a specialist, you need to demonstrate (to yourself and others) your commitment. Make an honest projection including essential factors such as how much time and money you can dedicate to this, your short- and long-term goals, what you want to get out of specialising, etc. You can also join ITI’s subject networks and any other relevant professional networks (on LinkedIn, for example).

You can probably afford to develop your more specific hobbies when you are more established with a steadier income. Any quiet spells, like maternity leave, gradual early retirement, a mild illness, a gap year or a life change could be used as valuable time to follow your vocation and add another string to your bow. When doing your research, bear in mind factors such as your location and your languages’ most obvious industries (Japanese and German, for example, are linked to the electronic and motor industries).

Try to focus on solid long-term specialisations that will not fade once they are out of fashion or be affected by the ups and downs in the economy. Purely from a business perspective, if you have a vision and you can see or believe that a sector is going to grow rapidly in the future, perhaps you could enjoy first-mover advantage.

Standing out from the crowdSpecialisation has become more important than ever before, as we live in a fast-paced world where almost anything can be found at the click of a mouse. Potential clients need to be able to find us and understand exactly

specialisation

what we do and what we can offer them. We are all unique and we all do things differently. We need to stand out from the crowd and have a clear unique selling point, which may well be the specialisations we choose. Therefore, it is paramount that we make time to consider our options. Some translators will find their specialisations easily, due to their professional background, academic qualifications or personal interests, while others will struggle, either with finding one or with narrowing them down to avoid being misjudged as a ‘Jack of all trades’. There is no right or wrong way to go and translators should pick what suits their careers and personal circumstances.

It is important to identify what we enjoy and/or are good at, but it is even more important to identify what we are uncomfortable with or dislike doing. Of course we always ask to see the document before we start a translation, but we need to ask ourselves two further questions. The first question is whether we feel competent enough to execute a seamless translation without having to look up every other word in the dictionary. This will let us inform the customer whether we accept the job or not. The second question we need to ask ourselves is perhaps more profound and it is whether we truly want to do it and see ourselves working in that particular area in the long term. As freelancers, we make all our own business decisions, so only we are able to answer that question and act accordingly. This has to be the ultimate pleasure of being freelance: choosing the direction we want our business and our lives to go in, starting today.


ITI

Since its beginnings in 2014, ITI’s Setting Up as a Freelance Translator (SUFT) course has

set over 100 students on the road to success. Some have already worked as translators and are looking for advice on how to go freelance or boost their business; others – and these are the majority – are industry professionals looking to harness their language skills for a career change. SUFT, with its easy-to-access format of live webinars, practical activities and on-line Q&A sessions, provides an invaluable toolkit specially designed to help new translators launch themselves in today’s industry.

‘Self-promotion is key. SUFT is designed to give you the self-belief you need to launch your freelance career’

Delivered over eight weeks, the course covers the practical aspects of running a business, from identifying your customers and pricing your services to writing a business plan. But it goes much further than that, with individual support for every student to help

SUFT class of 2015: one year onFive of our past students give a verdict on what passing the course has done for them

them identify the unique strengths and experience that will help them stand out in the market – and ultimately get work. With the help of the eight tutors, students prepare a freelance-focused CV, learn how to build their online presence, and receive advice on how to start building their experience.

‘As a freelancer you need a lot of skills, particularly soft skills,’ says Ann Brooks, Professional Development Officer at ITI, who designed the course. ‘Self-promotion is key. SUFT attracts a lot of very highly qualified people, but in many cases they are lacking in self-belief. The tutors have a wealth of experience, and most have made the move to freelancing themselves in the last ten years, so they have a really sharp understanding of what it takes to succeed. They’re very different in their approaches; the idea is that amongst them there will be someone you really relate to, so you know that you can achieve your plan from wherever you are now.’

So how effective is SUFT in helping new translators to launch their careers? We caught up with five of the students from the SUFT class of September 2015, one year on…

ITI


Maria Roussou, Freelance Translator, English and Spanish to Greek.What made you do the SUFT course? I had already been a part-time freelance translator for almost ten years and I loved it. When my second child was ready to start nursery I was more than ready to pursue my dream of being a full-time translator. I didn’t know anything on how to start my own business, and the SUFT course was the answer.

How has your first year been? After the SUFT course I immediately started developing my business: I found a business name, I had a logo designed, I had my own website developed, I ordered business cards. My biggest achievement was passing my ITI exam and becoming a Qualified Member of ITI. Then I started sending out CVs and replying to applications. Now that Translate MoRe is up and running, I have a permanent collaboration with big translation and subtitling agencies. I also volunteer for Translators without Borders as a member of the Greek Rapid Response Team, translating material concerning the refugee crisis.

How has the SUFT course helped so far? The SUFT course has given me everything I needed to know on how to start and how to keep going. I also made valuable friends and colleagues: I even had a lovely collaboration with a fellow student on a translation project.

Would you recommend the SUFT course?SUFT has everything you need to learn on how to start working as a freelance translator. The tutors are very experienced and very keen to help. You come out of the course a lot wiser, with all the confidence you need to start.

Contact Maria at www.translatemore.com, or email [email protected].

Judith McInally, Freelance Translator and Interpreter, Spanish to English.What made you do the SUFT course?While on a career break after working as a research chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for many years, I spent some time working with an NGO in a shanty town area of Lima and so my translation career began. After returning to the UK I continued doing translation work for various international development organisations. Eventually I decided to make the switch to working as a full-time translator and studied for an MA in Translation Studies. After completing the course I realised I needed a more industry-focused approach, and the SUFT course was exactly what I was looking for.

How has your first year been? Since completing the course I have been able to apply the tutors’ general and personal advice and have concentrated on building up contacts with agencies, drawing on my experience to specialise in both pharmaceuticals and international development. This is an ongoing project and I’m still working towards the targets I set myself in the business plan I developed as part of the course.

ITI


How has the SUFT course helped so far?The SUFT course highlighted the need for a structured approach to a translation business and was particularly helpful on the design of an industry-specific CV and LinkedIn profile and tips for making contact with clients. The advice on chasing late payments was also helpful to have, although fortunately I haven’t had to put this into practice yet!

Would you recommend the SUFT course? I would recommend the SUFT course to anyone looking to make a career change into freelance translation. It’s full of practical advice on how to take your existing skills and experience and use them as the assets they are.

You can contact Judith via LinkedIn, or email [email protected].

Lucy Findlay, Freelance Interpreter and Translator, Italian to EnglishWhat made you do the SUFT course?The world of freelancing seemed very daunting. I’d already been working as a Public Service interpreter for a few years and I’d started doing some translating for an Italian company, but it paid really badly and I was fairly pessimistic about my career choice. Doing SUFT helped me work out how to identify and approach new clients and how to make my business more profitable.

How has your first year been?I now have a steady flow of work and in the last financial year I earned more than I had foreseen in my business plan.

How has the SUFT course helped so far?The SUFT course was crucial to helping me get started. I had a lot of fears, above all CV writing and creating an on-line presence, and was avoiding applying for jobs. The tutors guided us through each process and gave us personal feedback on our CVs and online profiles. It increased my confidence no end. I’ve also done a lot of voluntary work, something we were advised to do to overcome the “no-experience” barrier. This has been incredibly enriching and has given me hours of valuable interpreting experience. A colleague and I are now targeting the Italian/English market, offering interpreting and translation services through our partnership, Mother Tongue Translators. I am working on moving away from agencies and am investing in going out to “meet the client” – something SUFT gave me the confidence to do.

Would you recommend the SUFT course?If anyone is considering doing this course, consider no longer! It’s a no brainer – the small investment you make in the course fees will have a huge return.

Contact Lucy at www.mothertongue-translators.com

Fiona Snook, Freelance Translator, Japanese to English

What made you do the SUFT course?I had already worked for ten years as an in-house translator for an engineering company. I decided to go freelance, attracted by the flexibility of working from home to fit in with family life. I knew nothing about running a business, so I enrolled on the SUFT course hoping to find out more about the business and marketing side.

How has your first year been?After a slow start, I’ve had a successful first year. I was in the fortunate position of having a fairly unusual language pair and a specialism thanks to my in-house job, and I passed the ITI exam at the same time as doing the SUFT course. Most of the agencies I work for now contacted me after finding my details on the ITI website. The plan of working part-time to fit around my family is working out well. Recently I have had to turn down a few jobs when I’ve been too busy.

How has the SUFT course helped so far? For me, the most useful parts of SUFT were the sessions dealing with the practical aspects of running a translation business, like Andrew Leigh’s seminar about due diligence and contracts, and Lucas Vogt’s advice about pricing and invoicing. It was great to get CV feedback from Gillian Hargreaves, and the exercise of writing a business plan was extremely helpful.

What’s next? I am happy working with agencies for now. Once my children start school, I want to expand and possibly move towards direct clients. I am looking out for CPD opportunities to enhance my skills.

Would you recommend the SUFT course?Yes, absolutely. The advice from the experienced tutors is immensely valuable, and the course provides a friendly environment to ask questions and share ideas with other newcomers.

Contact Fiona at www.fionasnooktranslation.com or email [email protected].

For anyone thinking of making the move to freelancing, or bringing new focus to their business, SUFT can be a great investment in your career. Courses start in January and September each year. For further information, and to view the introductory video, visit the Professional Development section at www.iti.org.uk

By Charis Ainslie, Freelance Translator and Editor (Italian and French to English) and SUFT graduate.


ITI


ITI

Translation jobs are like buses: they come in threes. This was my first experience, at least. Within weeks

of setting up my freelance business, my first three jobs landed in my inbox. I may just have been lucky, but something had definitely worked.

Having completed ITI’s Setting Up as a Freelance Translator course, I had a whole range of tools and approaches to help me start my freelance business, market myself and find work. I had a freelance-focused CV, an understanding of how to check out companies to make sure they would be good partners, and a business plan to guide me through the first few years. All that in addition to a Masters in translating and years of experience in marketing and editing. But getting started was still daunting.

What I needed was a confidence boost. I arranged to meet up with the translator who had originally told me about SUFT and put me on the path to freelancing. We had a good chat about the areas I was still uncertain about – mainly rates and how to approach agencies – and then she gave me the push I needed. “You’re ready,” she said. “Now just pick up the phone and talk to people.”

And so I did. I rang a local agency and met up with the owner – and a few

weeks later she sent me through my first job. Hot on its heels came confirmation from an Italian agency that I had been selected for a job advertised on ProZ.com. And within days a fellow student from the SUFT course asked me to be her reviewer on a literary translation – a collaboration that was to last three months and which has been my most enjoyable project to date.

Now, a year since I set up my business, the two agencies are regular clients and I have a contract with a third. I am also delighted to be doing pro bono editing work for a human rights organisation I visited with the ITI London Regional Group.

Every translator is different, with a unique combination of languages, specialisms and experience. But we are also unique in the way we work, the way we feel comfortable marketing ourselves and the targets we set ourselves.

The SUFT course is invaluable in helping you to find a path that works for you, and the tutors and organiser are ready to offer support even after the course has finished (a lifesaver in my case!).

Charis is a Freelance Translator (Italian and French to English) and Editor. Contact her via LinkedIn or email [email protected].

Life after SUFT: The first year

Student membership

Student membership of ITI is for anyone who is currently registered on a course leading to a graduate or post-graduate

qualification in translation or interpreting.Please note that Student membership is

for a limited period to match the length of your course. For example: if your course ends in September 2017, your student membership will expire at the end of the membership year on 30 April 2018.

Why should I join ITI when I am still a student?Joining ITI at this stage in your career brings a number of key benefits. Not only will you have the opportunity to network with and learn from experienced professionals, you will also be able to move through the ITI membership categories without ever paying the £60 application fee.

Once you have received your results, you will be able to move straight from Student to Graduate Affiliate membership. This will help you market your new qualification and status to agencies and potential clients. ITI also provides Affiliate members with lots of advice for getting started in the industry, and the relationships you have built up with more experienced professionals may bring you work too.

Please note that if you already have the experience required to apply for AITI or MITI membership, you may move from Student straight to either of these categories without paying the application fee.

Benefitsn A subscription to ITI’s award-winning journal,

ITI Bulletinn The opportunity to join your local Regional

Group, and as many specialist subject and language Networks as you wish

n Numerous networking opportunities with your peers, and established professionals in the industry

n Members’ rate at ITI webinars, workshops and training events around the country

n Discounted attendance at industry events and conferences

n Discounts on software and other servicesn Access to help and advice in the Members’

Area of the ITI website, including the forumsn Use of ITI’s online CPD logging systemn Access to the latest industry news and jobs

via ITI’s social media feeds and websiten Free use of a credit checking facility for UK

businessesn A legal helpline offering free advice on a

range of legal mattersn Representation on an international leveln Access to competitively priced specialist

Professional Indemnity insurance

CostStudent membership costs just £49 per year. When applying, you will be asked pay the membership for the relevant quarter. Full details are included in the application pack.

How to applyPlease register at www.iti.org.uk/become-a-member/apply and we will send you an application pack.

ITI


Setting Up as a Freelance Translator

PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

‘A practical, very informative and useful course! All tutors were experienced and successful translators, exceptionally knowledgeable, supportive and highly approachable. They shared their experiences and inspiring positive attitudes towards success.’

Designed specifically for graduates and new entrants to the profession with little or no business experience, Setting Up as a Freelance Translator (SUFT) offers direct access to eight practising translators who have successfully launched their own freelance careers. During more than 20 hours of webinars and online discussions, you will learn how to develop a freelance translation business and gain an understanding of how the translation market operates.

OVER EIGHT WEEKS YOU WILL:

• discover your strengths and get useful hints on how and where to find work

• identify the practicalities of working from home

• explore the benefits of using social media and networking to promote yourself positively

• evaluate the benefits of developing a specialism

• produce a translator-specific CV

• produce a professional quote and invoice

• learn how to ensure you get paid on time

• develop a realistic business plan

COURSE STRUCTURE

Eight live webinars followed by online discussion sessions, practical activities. Every live session is recorded, so if you are unable to attend a session you can listen to the recording at your convenience. YYou will be able to record over 30 hours of formal and informal CPD.

COST

Setting Up as a Freelance Translator costs £349 for ITI members and £449 for non members. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first- served basis.

For further information watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNMVBPP2ulc

Visit www.iti.org.uk/professional-development-events/iti-onlinecourses.

To request an application form please email [email protected]

Starting Work as a Translator or Interpreter (SWATI)

ITI runs an annual event for language undergraduates and postgraduates, Starting Work as a Translator and Interpreter(SWATI).

This free one-day event is arranged jointly by the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and a university, with support from the National Networks for Translation and for Interpreting.

This event will answer questions for new translators/interpreters on:

• generalist or specialist translating and different types of interpreting

• working with translation companies• pricing• breaking through the ‘no experience – no work’ barrier• marketing yourself as a freelance translator/interpreter

Are you interested in working as a translator or interpreter, but unsure how to start?

Look out for the next SWATI event on the ITI Calendar. Visit www.iti.org.uk

CULTURETECHNOLOGYLEARNING CAREERSTEACH ING

• Meet Recruiters• Careers Advice• 160 Exhibitors

EUROPE,S LEADING EVENT

FOR PEOPLE PASSIONATE ABOUT LANGUAGES

• Inspirational Free Seminars• Latest Language Products• Networking Opportunities

FREE TO ATTEND! FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.LANGUAGESHOWLIVE.CO.UKLANGUAGESHOW

ITIBULLETINitiorguk.nextmp.net/attachments/article/894/Career...Kirsty Heimerl-Moggan explains why interpreting is her perfect job 17 A professional network How ITI’s Networks and

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