The translator’s job has recently undergone three important changes: globalization, professionalization and specialization. A few years ago language specialists would mainly operate for local companies, delivering their translations in person. With the advent and evolution of the World Wide Web and electronic correspondence, all borders have been destroyed. One hand, this means that translators may provide their services to clients from all over our planet; on the other side, it means a greatly larger pool of agencies may choose from; hence, increased competition.

Together with the actual rapid development of translator education, the grown competition means that it is more difficult to get into the profession of translator if you do not have sufficient education and training. The market has also evolved into precise specialization which is caused by the growing knowledge of languages, in particular of English (also German, French and Chinese), among employees. Easier texts are translated in-house by clients themselves, while more professional or technically complex ones are outsourced to translation companies.

Now most agencies require candidates to have 2-4 years experience. It is a frequent complexity of young translators how to gain experience if professional agencies do not want to work with them because they do not have experience, which seems to be a vicious circle. Frustrating as it may seem, remember that many people do get into the profession yearly. It happens qualified translators are on holidays or the job is rush and nobody else is available. Sooner or later you’ll get your chance but you have to be ready to do the job perfectly.

Here are a few recommentations on how to work with a translation agency.

• Check the agency. There are some websites where you can do it, for example, Translatorscafe.com, Proz.com, Translationdirectory.com etc. Usually, it can be risky to accept an offer of employment from a company which does not have a web site, uses a hotmail e-mail address or does not answer a provided phone number.
• Before you accept the job, check whether you are comfortable with its subject matter. If you do not feel confident enough to translate for example a energy materials, refuse the job. As an independent service provider, you are liable for your translation and, anyway, under certain circumstances it may be appropriate to buy a professional indemnity insurance.
• Estimate the timing you will need to complete it and the delivery time. It’s important to estimate your translation speed.
• Check the file with text to translate. Send a return email confirming its receipt.
• Ask for payment conditions: word count, line or symbol count, with spaces or not. In general the easiest way to do it is to check Statistics in Office Word. Don’t forget to discuss all payment details before you accept the text to translate: for example, what is a standard page: 1800, 1600 or 1500 characters with or without spaces. It is amateurish to raise your rate during or after the work.

Good luck!