Suggestions on How to Become Established as a Freelance Translator
A Word of Warning or: Stumbling Blocks for Translators - free translator
The information on these pages only gives a rough introduction to the challenges you are faced with when setting out as a freelance translator working from home not a free translator. I have scratched the surface. I hope that you find the information provided useful and that it will help you focus your energy where it is needed. Between translation assignments, I am currently working on a more detailed guide which will address the pitfalls I mention below and a few others. If you would be interested in reading that, please let me know and I shall hurry up with it. Meanwhile, I wish you success translators, but, be warned, it requires a lot of hard work and perseverance to succeed in this profession!
Common stumbling blocks for inexperienced translators include:
- Accepting work without having had sight of it
- Accepting work which is not within your area of specialisation
- Agreeing to unrealistic deadlines
- Quoting too low
- Quoting too high
- Delivering translation work of inferior quality
- Not asking questions when there is an ambiguity in the text
- Sounding insecure on the telephone
- Not informing your customers of problems that may mean missing the deadline
- Not responding to customer queries promptly
- Not knowing which target readership the text in question is intended for
- Not daring to turn down a job for fear that the client won't return
- Neglecting your health
- Neglecting your family
The list is not exhaustive and - be assured - even experienced translators sometimes trip up.