Proz, Translators Café, and Other Freelance Translation Sites: Are They Worth It?

Many freelance translators, particularly when they are just starting out, opt to create accounts on sites like Proz, Translators Café, and others. When I first started freelancing, I also opened Proz and Translators Café accounts. While some translators report success using these platforms, I have not once received a legitimate job offer through either of …

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The Benefits of Mentoring

This week, I was informed that I have been selected as one of 30 mentees for the 2017-2018 class of the American Translators Association mentoring program. I am delighted to have been chosen for this opportunity and look forward to the chance to learn from an industry veteran. The ATA Mentoring Program has been around for …

Interview with Judy Jenner, The Entrepreneurial Linguist

My interview with Judy Jenner, translator, interpreter, and author of The Entrepreneurial Linguist.

The Lonely Translator – Getting Out of Your Home Office

Coping with working from home as a freelancer.

The Best Accounts to Follow for Translators New to Twitter

Social media is playing an increasingly important role in how everyone, from translators to truck drivers, access industry information, market their skills, and find potential customers. This is especially true for those of us who are self-employed. One tool that many independent professionals have been leveraging for years is Twitter. I only joined Twitter a …

Make Working with Agencies Work for You

Photo Credit: PexelsTwo great blog posts this past week, one by Corinne McKay over at Thoughts on Translation called Accepting the constraints of the market(s) you’re in and one on the ATA’s Savvy Newcomer blog entitled Tips on Getting and Keeping Agency Clients, inspired me to share my experiences working at and with translation agencies. …

The Great Transcreation Debate

In a previous post, I outlined some of the various types of services that various translation buyers might be looking for, including transcreation. Earlier this week, I shared an article about transcreation written by David García Ruiz of Trust Your Brand that incited some lively debate on Twitter. Most of the debate centered around this …

Translators and Specializations: The Chicken or The Egg?

Whether you have been a translator for decades or are just starting out, having a specialization is critical. Why, you may ask? Simply put, customers want subject-matter experts working on their content. Though it may seem like a good idea to have a laundry list of “specializations” in order to find more work, especially when …

What Are CAT Tools and Why They Should Interest You

Thanks to developments in technology, the translation landscape has changed immensely in the past 20 years. Long gone is the translator working with pen and pad and flipping through paper dictionaries. The modern translator is an IT whiz, deftly analyzing various file types, searching online terminology databases, and even working simultaneously with teams of translators on the …

The Importance of Good Instructions

Even though professional translators are language experts and are often highly specialized, that does not automatically mean that they know exactly what to do 100% of the time. Language can be subjective and sometimes there may be multiple correct answers. As the translation buyer, your instructions will likely be able to provide a wealth of information …