Top 5 Frequently Asked Question About Becoming a Translator
Have you ever asked yourself some of these simple questions?
1. A
m I qualified to become a professional translator?2. How to get started in the translation industry?
3. How can I become a certified translator?
4. What are the benefits of becoming a certified translator?
5. How much should I charge for a translation job?
If you have asked yourself some of these questions, here are some helpful answers:
There isn’t a specific academic requirement to become a professional translator, meaning that anyone who is fluent in two languages could become a translator or work as a professional translator. However, it is extremely important to know that all potential translators have some of the desirable requirements to perform the job. There are many challenging things about translating that are not immediately obvious, and this is part of what is covered within the CTP Program our translator training program.
Some of these include:
- Ability to write well and being familiar with the subject matter of what is to be translated.
- Knowing a target language as much as you know the source language and being able to speak and communicate as a native speaker.
- Having a degree is not necessary, but pursuing a specific qualification is important when searching for a job, especially if you would like to work as a freelance translator. The more qualifications, the better.
Here is what we consider crucial for someone who intends to expand their language skills and start out a career as a successful translator:
- Consider the possibility of engaging into an immersion program of living or studying abroad for at least 6-12 months.
- Find a good translation course or apply for an online translation certification program to become certified.
- Pursue a translation certification can help succeed in your career as a translator.
You can find a number of translation training programs that will allow you to expand your language skills and meet the requirements to become a translator. The CTP Designation Program is one option available for translators who would like to improve their translation career prospects by completing a 100% on-line certification program. The CTP Program is the only professional certification for those who work in the translation industry or who would like to work within the industry. Remember that being certified can give you credibility when approaching new clients or applying for new projects.
If you’re looking for a governmental recognized license you should find out what the government requirements are to become a certified translator. Each government has unique and ever-changing requirements that translators must fulfill; some of which may vary based on your specific location.
There are several benefits of becoming a certified translator, and we have listed some of the most important ones:
- Personal enjoyment – you have the freedom to choose which translation field you’d be interested in working with. The field of translation is vast. One may become a legal/medical translator, while others may want to become specialized in other fields such as business, marketing etc. A translator that works with numerous fields is more likely to have clients at all times.
- Self-sufficiency – here you have a great opportunity to start out your own translation business and set up your translation rates. The rate depends on the project, length of the project, your expertise in that field, timeline of the project, and other variables that any translator should consider.
- Work as a freelance translator – creating and establishing your working style, making your schedule to accommodate as many hours as you wish to work.
Knowing how much to charge can help you grow your client list or improve the profitability of your freelance translation business. When starting a career as a translator the rates can vary from $0.01 per word to $0.30 per word. Here are some things you should consider before setting up your rates:
- Language – some languages are particularly in demand by employers at different times. But If you want to work with a language that has a large number of speakers and which is spoken in many countries, the ones to choose in order of 'usefulness' are: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), German, Japanese, Portuguese and Hindi/Urdu.
- Deadline – how soon the job needs to be completed, text length and how flexible your schedule is to make sure you will deliver the job on time.
- Skills – are you handling a specific job for the first time? Are you familiar with the subject to be translated?
- Localization – Prices may vary from place to place, find out about the rates that are being charged within your city/country.
Related Resources:
1. Translator Certification
2. Online Translator Training
3. Translator Designation
4. Translation Certificate
Tags: Translator Training,Top 5 Frequently Asked Question About Becoming a Translator, Benefits of Becoming a Certified Translator, Become a Translator.
