After 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 agencies Most 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 clients In 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 translator What 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.
About the author:
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. For further
details about Metamorfose Vertalingen, visit
http://www.metamorfosevertalingen.nl
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