There are many benefits to becoming a professional translator. To start with, your career may involve travel, which is the only real way to broaden your mind, develop a new confidence, and experience different cultures. Or you may choose to work in the comfort of your own home; working to your own schedule and at your own pace.

When you work in a bilingual or multilingual industry you’re working in a rather unique profession that’s capable of bridging the gap between languages, peoples, cultures, and ideologies. And that’s probably why translation has become a much-desired career today, and also a much sought-after commodity. Today, more than ever, the importance of translation should not be underestimated.

Starting Out as a Translator

Several different stages are involved in a translator’s career, such as training, various skills, formal certification, flexibility, experience, dedication, speed, and so on. So, if you’ve decided to make translation your career there are certain steps you need to follow: the exact process will be determined by your area of specialization; however, the following general approach applies to any type of translation work.

Earning Your Credentials

In order to enjoy a successful career in translation you need to earn the credentials, but this process will depend on where in the world you work or live. In the United Kingdom, translation is mostly unregulated, meaning that there’s no requirement that a translator must be registered with any particular body. Things are different in other countries, like in Romania for example, where translators must be accredited by the Ministry of Justice if they’ll be working on legal documentation.

Regardless of whether the translation is technical or not, there are still rules and regulations that must be adhered to. Because many people don’t enter the field of translation via an academic route, there are certain advantages to becoming a member of a professional association. Many of these bodies organise Continuous Professional Development (CPD) events and courses to help you stay current in your industry; plus, belonging to these associations shows your potential clients that you’re committed to your profession.

Gaining Experience

For people switching careers later in their professional lives, gaining experience is often the hardest part because it involves starting at the bottom again. However, it’s still the only way to start your career in translation. The more experience you gain the more understanding you’ll gain of cultural nuances: these are a critical aspect of any bilingual or multilingual translation. Some of the best ways to gain this type of experience are via voluntary work, CPD courses and events, and/or working in a team where you can be mentored by a more experienced translator.