How to become a successful freelance translator
How to become a successful freelance translatorHow to become a successful freelance translatorBy Fester LeenstraAfter completing their translation training programmes at higher professional education or university level, many students can’t wait to set up as a freelance translator. However, gaining a foothold as a freelancer in a very competitive translation market may turn out to be a pretty complicated business. Translation agencies are not usually keen on contracting inexperienced translators, business clients are difficult to find without commercial tools, and the tax authorities won’t just accept anyone as a self-employed person. So what do you need to do to set up shop as a successful freelance translator?Translation agenciesMost translation agencies are wary of admitting new freelancers into their networks. After all, it takes a while before it really becomes clear whether a freelancer can live up to their expectations: does he/she stick to agreed deadlines, offer a consistent level of quality, consult relevant reference resources, deal effectively with various registers and specialisations (commercial, technical, medical, financial, IT, etc.)? Many translation agencies begin with a ‘trial period’ in which they closely monitor the work submitted by new freelance translators. To reduce the risk of a fiasco – and avoid the associated costs – translation agencies normally only accept applications from freelance translators who have had at least two or three years’ fulltime experience in the translation business.
Business clientsIn their attempts to introduce themselves directly to companies, freelancers usually find it difficult to gain access to the people that matter and, once they are there, to secure orders. Companies tend to prefer outsourcing translation services to partners that are able to offer comprehensive solutions. They look for agencies that can fill their translation needs in a range of different languages, are always available, can take on specialised texts and have the procedures in place to ensure that all deadlines are met. In view of their need for continuity, capacity and diversity it is hardly surprising that many companies select an all-round translation agency rather than individual freelancers. An agency may be more expensive than a freelancer, but the additional service and quality guarantees justify the extra investment.
Tips to achieve success as a freelance translatorWhat steps will you need to take after graduation to develop into a successful freelance translator?
1. After completing your studies, it’s best not to present yourself on the market straightaway as a freelance translator, but first to find employment at an all-round translation firm and spend a couple of years there to gain the necessary practical experience. As a salaried employee your income will be less compared to what you might potentially earn in a freelance capacity, but don’t forget that without experience you’re never going to be successful in the first place. In many cases, you will be assigned to a senior translator who revises your translations, monitors your progress, and makes you aware of your strengths and weaknesses. This will enable you to acquire the skills and baggage you need on your way to becoming a professional translator, and will give you the opportunity to experiment with various types of texts and disciplines.
2. If you can’t find a position in paid employment, try to find a post as an (unpaid) trainee. A translation agency may not have the capacity or resources to take on new staff, but it may still be able to offer you an excellent training post to help you gain practical experience in a commercial environment. A traineeship may serve as an effective springboard for a career in the translation business, perhaps even within the same agency that offered the traineeship.
3. After having whetted your skills at a translation agency for a number of years, you may decide that the time has come for you to find your own clients. Ideally, you should move on to a part-time contract so that you have enough time to recruit clients and work for them, and enough money to live on. It is important to make clear arrangements with your boss at this stage, to avoid a conflict of interests. The best strategy is to send your personal details and CVs to a selected group of professional translation firms and translation departments within companies and governmental institutions, explicitly referring to your work experience. Don’t forget to highlight your willingness to do a free test translation.
4. Make sure to register as a self-employed person with the relevant tax authorities and seek their advice if necessary.
5. Once you have managed to find enough freelance work to keep yourself busy for around 20 hours a week, you might consider terminating your employment contract and devoting the extra time to attracting new business. In 20 hours most experienced freelance translators tend to earn around as much as a full-time translator in salaried employment.
These are obviously very general guidelines, and your personal career may evolve along quite different lines depending on your preferences, skills and personal conditions. Whatever your circumstances, however, you will find that experience and a certain amount of business acumen are the things that matter most in a successful freelance career.
Fester Leenstra is co-owner of Metamorfose Vertalingen, a translation agency in Utrecht (The Netherlands). After having worked for several translation firms in paid employment, he took the plunge in 2004 and incorporated his own company. 如何成为一个成功的兼职翻译菲斯特尔.林斯特拉在完成高等职业教育或大学水平的翻译培训计划后，许多学生急不可待要当一个兼职翻译。然而，作为一个自由职业者要在一个竞争非常激烈的翻译市场获得立足，可能最终会事与愿违。翻译公司通常并不愿意聘用缺乏经验的翻译人员，没有商业工具很难找到商业客户，税务机关也不会随便接受任何人作为自谋职业者。那么你需要做什么才能作为一个成功的兼职翻译推销自己呢？
翻译公司大多数翻译公司对接纳新的自由职业者加入其网络持谨慎态度。毕竟，这需要一段时间才能真正了解一名自由职业者是否能不辜负他们的期望：他/她是否能恪守预设期限，是否能提供同等质量水平的作品，是否能充分利用相关参考资料，是否能有效地处理各种语域和专业（商业，技术，医疗，金融，IT等）？许多翻译公司都从“试用期”开始，期间他们密切关注新自由译员提交的作品。为了减少可耻失败的风险 -和避免相关的成本 -翻译公司通常只接受那些在翻译界至少有两到三年全职经验自由职业者的申请。
业务客户自由职业者企图自己直接与公司打交道，但通常很难接触到能拍板的人，即使找到他们，也未必能争取到订单。公司倾向于将外包翻译服务交给能提供全面解决方案的合作伙伴。他们寻找的公司必须能满足他们对各种不同语言的翻译需要，能随叫随到，可以承接特殊要求的文本，并有适当的程序以确保满足所有期限要求。鉴于其对连续性，能力和多样性的需要，许多公司会选择一个全方位的翻译公司，而不是单个的自由职业者，这不足为奇。一个公司可能比一个自由职业者更昂贵，但其综合性的服务和质量保证让额外投资物有所值。
作为兼职翻译获得成功的技巧毕业后要想发展成为一个成功的兼职翻译，需要采取哪些步骤？
1. 完成你的学业后，最好先不要把自己作为兼职翻译直截了当的进入市场，首先要找到一个全方位的翻译公司就业，先干上几年，获得必要的的实践经验。作为一个受薪雇员，你的收入相比于你以自由职业者的能力所赚的钱要少一些，但不要忘了，没有经验，你根本就不可能获得成功。在许多情况下，你将被分配到一名资深翻译手下工作，他负责修改你的翻译，监督你的进度，并让你知道自己的长处和短处。这将使你获得成为一个专业翻译所需的技能和精神准备，并给你体验各类文本和学科的机会。
2. 如果你不能在有偿就业中找到一个工作岗位，那就找到一个（无薪的）见习岗位。一家翻译公司可能没有能力或资源吸纳新的工作人员，但仍可以为你提供一个极好的训练岗位，帮助你获得商业环境中的实践经验。实习可以作为一你从事翻译业务职业生涯中一个有效的跳板，甚至就在这个提供实习机会的公司内。
3. 在翻译公司磨砺几年，获得技能，这时你就可以决定发展自己客户的时机已经成熟。理想的情况下，你就应该改签一个兼职合同，让你有足够的时间来招揽客户，并为他们工作，赚足够的钱谋生。在这个阶段，重要的是与你的老板作出明确的安排，以避免利益冲突。最好的策略是把你的个人资料和简历发送到某些甄选好的专业翻译公司和公司及政府机构内的翻译部门，明确说明你的工作经验。不要忘记特别强调你愿意接受一个免费的试译。
4. 务必到相关税务机关登记为自谋职业者，如果有必要，征求他们的意见。
5。 一旦你设法找到足够的自由职业者工作，每周能让自己保持约20小时的工作量，你就可以考虑终止雇佣合约，拿出更多时间来开拓新业务。在20小时内大部分有经验的自由译者一般都能和受雇于人作专职翻译一周赚的钱一样多。
以上这些显然都是非常一般的准则，你的个人职业生涯可能根据你自己的喜好，技能和个人条件等向迥然不同的方向发展。然而，不管你是什么情况，你都会发现，经验和某种程度的商业敏感是自由职业生涯获得成功至为重要的因素。
菲斯特尔.林斯特拉是乌得勒支（荷兰）一家翻译公司- Metamorfose Vertalingen的共同拥有者。在为几家翻译公司工作后，他于2004年毅然决定辞职，并成立了自己的公司。
页:
[1]