It can be intimidating to enter the world of translation if you have never done so before. How can I find a job? How do I find work? What is my competition? But do not fret! You are not alone. Our top 10 tips are below. They will help you get started in your new freelance career.
1.Structure Your Days
It was difficult for me to get into a routine when I first started freelancing. You can choose your own working hours, which is one of the perks of being self employed. You can work 12 hours a day for two weeks to get a few extra days of vacation. Just make sure you are not inefficient. One of the traps that I fell into was waking up late and missing work. Then, having to finish projects until the early hours. This is something I wouldn’t recommend! Be strict with yourself. Get up early, eat a good breakfast, exercise and drink strong coffee before starting a productive workday. If you’re a bit over-achiever then you should not work 24/7. It is important to take breaks and spend time with family and friends. You’ll feel better if you can find a balance.
2. Set Your Rates
It can be difficult to know what you should charge when you are just starting out. Consider how much money you want to make (really) and how many working hours you can commit to each week. You can then decide on a reasonable rate for your employer. Read our articles on translation rates.
3. Don’t Undersell Yourself
Do not undersell yourself. It may be tempting to start charging almost nothing, but most companies are willing to pay more for quality work than for low-quality. You will gain more respect if you charge a reasonable rate for your services.
4. Find your niche
You can get more work as translator if you have experience in a specific niche. Most highly-paid assemblers have degrees in other subjects such as medicine, engineering or law. If you are like me and have studied translation and linguistics as your primary field, then think about where you would like to specialize and pursue that goal. Perhaps our article How to Choose Your Specialization will help.
5. Study
It’s easy to lose sight of what you actually offer when you are constantly trying to find new clients. Keep your language skills up to date so your translations are of high quality. You can also find a lot of blogs that are specifically for assemblers, such as us. We have listed the top blogs for the translation business.
6. Invest in your career
It is beneficial to specialize in a particular subject when you offer your translation services. Why not consider investing in new courses? Employers will see that you take your career seriously, and are committed to improving yourself as a professional assemblers. Many companies also want assemblers using CAT tools to make large projects easier and quicker to complete. Most of these tools are expensive, but if you’re just starting out, why not use Omega T? It is free. Once you’re established, you can invest in more expensive software.
7. Provide High-Quality Work
It can be tempting when you are starting out to take as many jobs as you can to build your portfolio and get paid. It is better to take the time to do your best and to please your employer. In the translation business, you will get what you invest. If you rush to provide a translation without proper research, you could lose your reputation or even be denied payment. If you deliver a professional, high-quality translation, you are more likely to get work, and you will be able to advance in your career.
8. Market Yourself
It’s easy to find work as a newbie: just get your name out in the world! You can’t get hired if companies don’t even know that you exist. It can be a tedious process. Spend some time to identify your target clients, and contact them. Use social media to reach your potential clients.
You need to create a blog to build your online presence. We’ve created a guide that will help you get started. You can’t find clients if you don’t have a presence online!
In the meantime, you can send your CV and letters to translation agencies in order to find direct clients. You are investing in your career and yourself, so you should do the necessary groundwork.
9. Freelance websites are your best friend
You’ve sent hundreds of CVs out, worked hard, and now you are ready to start working. It can take some time for employers to respond to your CV. In the meantime, why not check out the available freelance websites? Read our blog to find out about the best freelance websites.
10. Do Not Expect Successful Results Overnight
Most people will not be able pursue their dream jobs until they have worked part-time for at least one year. Do not let this discourage you. It can take a long time to build up your portfolio, to find clients and to get established. If you are willing to work hard and persevere, you will eventually reap the rewards.
