Translators work with companies and also as freelancers to allow the exchange of ideas and concepts between various cultures and languages. The role of translators is very crucial in communicating between various countries. The people who want to earn money without sacrificing the comforts of home can look for freelance translators.
Most of us are seeking for ways to balance our personal and professional lives efficiently. People do not want to give up their personal space and look for work at home opportunities. If you know various languages perfectly, you can pursue the lucrative career of freelance translator. You will be able to make a living while avoiding problems related to regular office jobs that can take a toll over your personal life with such jobs.
Freelance translators need to maintain accuracy while translating the written material without losing the gist of the message. They work on technical documents, educational material, commercial documents, and scientific and legal papers.
The work of freelance translators usually involves a combination of various activities that include going through the original documents and translating them in the target language while ensuring that the meaning is not lost. They make use of the special thesaurus, reference books and dictionaries to translate the work in an appropriate way.
By making use of the appropriate software for making presentations and delivery, they undertake their work in a systematic way. The freelancers usually do a lot of research work while handling scientific, technical and legal terminology in the documents. They coordinate with clients to discuss matters or projects and indulge in editing and proofreading of the documents. They have huge responsibilities to shoulder. They provide quotations to the clients along with consultation services. A lot of freelance translators also supply subtitles for television programs and international films.
The basic skills required by candidates aspiring to be freelance translators are that of language. The translators should have great hold on the source as well as destination language. They should be thorough with syntax and grammar. Phrases and idioms used in one language cannot be translated into another. Hence, the translators should have a great grasp on the language so that they are able to substitute phrases in a correct way and convey the meaning as it is.
Freelance translators should also have technical knowledge if they are working on domain or some technical literature. In depth domain knowledge will help the translator to explain these terms in a precise manner. Apart from these skills, one important interpersonal skill that is required by a freelance translator is discipline. He should not be laid back and must be able to deliver work within deadlines.
Prospective translators should start their academia with a foreign language at the earliest to get a good command on it. Interested candidates should take up professional language courses and indulge in writing in a foreign language. Mostly the employers look for a college degree. A lot of colleges let the students study in foreign countries for one year. So those who want to be freelance translators can opt for such programs. The candidates should choose their area of work beforehand and then take on degrees in that particular field.
Technical translators require a background in business, politics, engineering and science. If you are aspiring to be literary translator, you can study German, French, Arabic, Japanese, and Italian as these countries produce most literature.
Aspiring candidates for translator jobs can start a language career as a bilingual secretary and then get jobs as translators or interpreters. Lots of people are required in this field, although the career is small but competitive. The job prospects for freelance translators are getting better with companies getting involved in international trade. The employment opportunities are expected to rise till 2014, and hence the candidates should focus on multilingual abilities than bilingual specializations for getting the jobs easily.
Salaries of freelance translators vary due to various factors including subject matter, language, education, experience, employers and certification. Freelance translators usually charge on the basis of hours devoted to the job or words written. Some of them earn around $20 to 30 an hour or $83 per thousand words.
After polishing their language skills, translators are able to earn much more. If you are aspiring to be a freelance translator then start working on your language skills right away.
