1st Choice Translations
1st Choice Translations
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Becoming a Freelance Translator
Which Skills and Personality Traits are Required for Freelance Translators?
Basic Technical Equipment for your Home Office
Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise
For Students: Finding a Work Placement
Do you have any language qualifications apart from being a native speaker?
Do you have any experience in providing a translation service?
Do you have practical translation experience in a specialist area?
Do you have thorough knowledge and/or practical experience in any specialist area?
Do you have a natural talent for writing?
If the answer is no to any of the above, your chances of earning a living by being a freelance translator are restricted.
Before you make any further inquiries, try to remedy the situation. Obtain a formal translation qualification. Alternatively, there are numerous jobs out there that need language skills without restricting yourself to "translation only".
Once you are qualified, gain employment as a translator with an agency or with a company where you can put your language skills into practice. This will also help you later with your areas of specialisation. Agencies and customers expect a high level of knowledge in your chosen subject. Earning a living as freelance translator is not a soft option!
Once you have obtained some practical experience as a translator (see also the page on finding a work placement), you have to decide which career path you wish to take. Do you want to work as a staff translator, employed by an agency? Would it suit your personality better to work for a company that has dealings with countries in which the language/s you know is/are spoken (import/export, market research, tourism - to name but a few)? Have you got what it takes to work freelance or do you have no other option?