Getting Started as a Freelance Translator
Which Skills and Personality Traits are Required for Working from Home as a Freelance Translator?
These are some of the skills and personality traits I have found useful in my working life as a freelancer. The list is by no means exhaustive:
- Marketing skills - How are you going to promote yourself?
- Management skills - Most freelance translators work from home. Can you run an office, keep records, negotiate with customers, handle queries and cope with the tax man?
- Computer literacy - How well do you type? Which software have you worked with? Are you experienced in searching the Internet?
- Drive - How many rejections can you handle? To what lengths will you go to succeed?
- Self-discipline - Will you make yourself do all that is required to become successful?
- Self-reliance - Do you stand on your own feet or do you need someone to tell you what to do?
- Independence - Do you enjoy working by yourself, for yourself, day after day, month after month, year after year, having very little contact with other people?
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©2005 Ms Mechtild Testroet MCIL Dip Trans IoL BDÜ
English-German translator of most commercial texts; certification of birth, marriage and school leaver's certificates, divorce papers etc.
Tel +44 (0)1769 581823
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