From V.R.: I am quite active in the swing scene (lindy hop, a jazz dance from de 1920-40s) and I love reading blogs about the culture, the music, and so on. I would like to start translating and subtitling Swing-based blogs and podcasts and offer my services to those websites/blogs/youtube channels. But I didn’t study anything related to language professionally speaking, I am in fact an engineer. I would like to know which courses or what type of education do you find important to have in order to be able to translate and actually charge people for doing so. I’ve already translated some interviews and subtitled a couple videos for a friend, but I can’t see how to charge people for doing so. What’s your advice?
freelancing
What’s next…?
From A.S.: I’m struggling with finding new companies to send my CV to. I’ve sent out several hundred e-mails to different companies, and the result was… well, uncertain. A major number of recipients just hadn’t responded at all, some responded with rejection, some – with “we’ll call you back” and only very few are sending me 2-3 tiny assignments a month. As I plan to make translation my main job and source of income, such ratio is undoubtedly unacceptable. I’m literally running out of companies to write to in my area of specialisation. A Google search can only yield a certain amount of contacts. Once I work through them… what’s next?
Next step forward
From J.V.: Recently, I was added as an EN>ES contributor in two agencies, however, I rarely receive invitations from them. The thing is that agencies actually seem to be interested in my profile but I’m afraid that my language pair is overwhelmed nowadays. Not to mention that I am a psychologist and such a field is not highly demanded. Fortunately, I have worked in marketing agencies so I’ve got an additional “field experience” that is more known and demanded. What do you think it is the best step? To be patient and wait? Do some free top-notch translation work?
Facing fears
From S.R.: How can I handle the fear I feel when looking for the direct clients, for example, fear that I cannot satisfy their needs?
The Translator’s Aunt: Dear S.R., beginning a new career, a new activity, working with new people, those are almost always nerve-racking experiences. So first of all, tell yourself it’s normal, and that it’s good to feel a bit of adrenaline.
My work is impacting my health
From S.J.-M.: I have a regular customer. These last few months, he’s given me more to do, but he’s making me work for much less, and expecting me to send back my work much sooner. I’m starting to have health issues. Should I discuss it with him?
The Translator's Aunt 