The Translator Diaries: Marie Jackson

The Translator Diaries is a series that looks at how current freelance translators made it into the career. In this second set of interviews, we will learn what makes them so passionate about translation, how they established themselves, and what obstacles they have overcome to succeed as a translator.

Marie Jackson (@lookingglassxl8) is a French and German - English translator and interpreter, and owner of Looking-Glass Translations. Freelancing since June 2012, her main areas of expertise are business, ICT, law and logistics. She also frequently does copyediting work and offers other services such as CV optimisation and speechwriting.

Marie Jackson

At what point did you know you wanted to become a translator, Marie?

I may be slightly unusual in that I’ve known I wanted to work as a translator/interpreter since I was about eight years old! My mother used to buy me games in foreign languages as a kid because “they looked like fun”, and she eventually put me into French classes once a week when I was four, again, all in the name of fun.

By the time I was eight, I was translating simple sentences in class and interpreting for my family on holiday – and I loved it. As I got older, I found that I had a flair for language and that I enjoyed solving puzzles, and so translation and interpreting emerged as the perfect career choice for me.

How did you build on this passion in your education?

Since I knew from such a young age that this was the career for me, I chose to complete an undergraduate course in translation and interpreting at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh – one of the only courses of its kind in the UK. I think that there are arguments for and against entering the profession so early on in life, but overall I feel that this was a good decision and that the course – very intense and practically-orientated – really set me up for a strong start in the industry.

There are also arguments for and against obtaining relevant qualifications, but I think that having a degree makes my position more credible; the lack of regulation in our industry means that qualifications are by no means required to find work, but they’re a valuable marketing tool nonetheless, and help to legitimise our industry. The only way we can secure fair rates from clients is by earning their respect and teaching them that we are highly qualified professionals, not just people who happen to speak two languages!

How did you make the transition from university to professional translator?

Once I graduated from university, I actually ended up going freelance immediately. I’d spent the last few months of my degree perfecting my online profiles and reading as much as I could about freelance businesses, and so I was really able to hit the ground running. With valuable language pairs, diligent networking and comprehensive online profiles, I had people contacting me with offers of work almost immediately – but I think that this is probably far from typical.

Did you have a flood of test pieces to deal with?

My client base is currently a mixed bag of direct clients and agencies, and I’ve actually only ever completed one or two test translations. Generally, I’d say that I’ve found looking for work a relatively pain-free process. A lot of my work has come by word-of-mouth, and so I can really vouch for the value of networking.

What would you say sets you apart from other translators?

Aside from the things I’ve already mentioned, I think that my strong pro bono portfolio (spanning around five years) and my obsession with CPD have really helped to convince potential clients of my skills and commitment to my chosen profession.

What kind of difficulties did you face when starting out as a freelancer?

The two main challenges I’ve faced since starting my freelance business are time management and isolation. After graduation, business picked up far more quickly than I’d anticipated and I initially let it take over my life. After some trial and error, I’ve found that the trick is to set yourself clear boundaries and to remember to respect yourself both as a professional and a human being.

As to the second challenge, this is something that can really only be fixed by joining professional associations (I’m now an Associate member of the ITI) and relocating! Personal circumstances forced me to move back home following graduation, and I miss the buzz of a city and all the opportunities that come with it. Consequently, I’m actually working on a plan to move either to London or abroad at some point over the next year or two. I think that the move will not only be good for my own wellbeing, but will also help me to better position my business for growth, which is certainly no bad thing! All in all, I’ve enjoyed freelancing so far and look forward to seeing my business, Looking-Glass Translations, grow from strength to strength over the coming years!

Next week, Alison Hughes (@AHcreattrans) tells us how her 15 years of experience in another industry helped her to find her niche and launch her career in translation.

The Translator Diaries: Ana Naletilić

The Translator Diaries is a series that looks at how current freelance translators made it into the career. In this second set of interviews, we will learn what makes them so passionate about translation, how they established themselves, and what obstacles they have overcome to succeed as a translator.

Ana Naletilić (@an1606) is an English-Croatian translator. Hailing from Bosnia and Herzegovina, she has a BA in English and Comparative Literature, and an MA in English (Translation Studies) and Comparative Literature from the Zagreb School of Humanities, Croatia.

Ana Naletilić

Ana, at what point did you know you wanted to become a translator?

I became interested in translation during my third year at university, when I did a Translation Workshop course. I liked it, and it turned out I'm good at it, so when the time came to decide upon an MA specialist course, I chose Translation Studies.

The other choices were Linguistics, Literature and Teaching. I crossed Teaching off the list straight away – I never wanted to be a teacher (and we all know that people who went into that profession without really wanting to make terrible teachers). I didn't want to do Literature since my other major was Comparative Literature, so it didn't make much sense to do two literature courses if I wasn't going to work at the university later on. Linguistics seemed very interesting, but the job prospects are not very bright for linguists in this part of Europe.

So, Translation Studies it was. One of my professors remarked, upon my saying I was going to specialise in translating, "A pragmatic choice". I answered that I chose it because I actually liked it, but pragmatism certainly influenced my decision.

How did you specialise during your education?

At that time, I was interested mostly in literary translation; I had no idea about all the sub-specialisations possible in translating. Curiously enough, the course in literary translation was the one I did worst at. During those two years I found out that I liked terminology work very much – that became my favourite part of translation process. We did Translation Workshops in humanities, economy, medicine, literature (fiction and non-fiction) and translation for audiovisual media.

Would you say that a postgraduate qualification is critical to succeed as a translator?All things considered, a degree a Translation Studies isn't essential, but it does give you solid foundation for your future as a language professional, especially if, like me, you weren't a professional in some other line of work.

True, most translation buyers prefer years of experience to a degree in Translation Studies, but I think the two years I spent specialising provided me with some skills that people who translate "on the side" (i.e. non-professionals who do translations because they happen to speak two or more languages) don't have. The business side of translating wasn't among those skills, so I'll have to learn that one on my own.

What was the most beneficial aspect of your translation studies?

The best thing I got out of it was the importance of preparation. "Double-check your terminology resources, no making things up, that's just laziness", was what our teachers kept saying. I'd say that's one of the differences between a good and a bad translator. Good translators do the homework before they start translating because they care about quality, while bad ones simply don't care (I'm talking to you, Google Translate crowd).

Have all of those years of perseverance been worth it?

If I had to choose a profession all over again, I think it would still be translating. The situation in the job market isn't bright, but I don't regret becoming a translator. I hope our profession will get the respect it deserves, and in time people will no longer think that knowing one foreign language is all it takes to be a translator. If you're passionate about what you do, and if you really make an effort to be good at it, others will recognise it. So, stick to your (translation) guns and love language!

Next week, Marie Jackson (@lookingglassxl8) talks about falling in love with translation at the age of eight, how we can legitimise our industry and how networking can bring better clients.

The Translator Diaries: Louise Péron

The Translator Diaries is a series that looks at how current freelance translators made it into the career. In this second set of interviews, we will learn what makes them so passionate about translation, how they established themselves, and what obstacles they have overcome to succeed as a translator.

Louise Péron (@LSPTranslation) has been an English to French translator since February 2011. She works on marketing, touristic and technical texts. Based in Brest in Brittany, France, Louise strives to make the English-speaking world accessible to French audiences by combining her language skills and her lifelong passion for foreign cultures.

Louise Péron

At what point did you know you wanted to become a translator, Louise?

I started to dream about becoming a translator while I was studying English at university. I did not have a specific plan when I enrolled - I wanted to perfect my English skills in order to work abroad. However, I very much enjoyed working on book excerpts during the translation classes and I knew this was the career I wanted.

What relevant qualifications and experience have you gathered to date?

I think my background is pretty “classic”: I studied languages and literature but as soon as I fell in love with translation, I tried to focus my academic path towards this discipline. During the final year of my BA, while I was studying at the University of Wales in the town of Swansea, I attended several translation workshops and a module on Translation Studies. After that, I took an MA in English (I wrote my dissertation on Audiovisual Translation), followed by a postgraduate degree in Technical Translation & Writing at the University of Western Brittany (Brest). I have been translating professionally for two years now.

Why did you decide to study for a Master's in translation?

I was not mature enough to enter the labour market. Besides, I had no idea of how to get translation work. I had only studied theory thus far and a Master’s degree focused on translation as a profession was exactly what I needed.

I learned so much about the industry and was also able to hone my writing skills while proof-reading fellow students’ work. The intensive course was followed by a 3-month work placement in an agency, which allowed me to develop my business skills and gain confidence.

Do you think a postgraduate qualification is necessary or considerably advantageous?

It really depends – all translators have a unique background. I do not think that degrees are necessary for experienced professionals who are experts in a specific field and who have excellent source and target language skills (an engineer who worked for 10+ years in a field and lived in the source language country for a while, for example).

On the other hand, I do think that a postgraduate qualification is very important for linguists who are not (yet) specialised.

How did you make the transition to freelance translation?

I actually stumbled into freelancing by mistake. I originally wanted to work in-house, and imagined myself in the international marketing department of a multinational company.

While I was studying, I opened a few student accounts on professional websites such as ProZ and Translator’s Café and an agency approached me after consulting my profile. They needed a proof-reader for English to French translations, I was delighted but I had to set up a business in order to invoice my work. A few weeks later, a direct client contacted me to translate small marketing texts. After my student work placement, the agency where I had trained sent me my first large translation project, and my freelance career was launched.

Let’s talk about agency clients. Some translators find them quite demanding in terms of the experiences, qualifications and test pieces they require. Is this something you’ve experienced?

All agencies have different selection criteria. A strong academic background can make up for a lack of solid experience; great feedback from satisfied clients can counterbalance the lack of postgraduate studies; a translation sample can show off a translator’s skills. I understand that agencies need to assess translators, but I think test pieces should be kept to about an hour’s worth of work. And of course, the best agencies pay for test translations.

How did you become specialised in your fields?

My background is academic and focused on languages, so I strived to specialise in subjects that were of personal interest to me. Tourism - because I am an avid traveller and I have always been interested in foreign countries and their culture. Technical - because my father used to be an electro-mechanic and is now a forklift truck driving instructor. I would read the technical literature he would keep in his office to understand how machines worked. Lastly, I chose to specialise in Marketing because I was familiar with this domain after having studied Sales & Marketing back in college.

What major problems did you face and overcome in your endeavours?

The first few months after completing university were quite hard going because I was mainly prospecting and working on unpaid tests. I took advantage of this slow start to create a Twitter account, through which I discovered a lot of very helpful translation blogs.

I am now happy with the clients I work with on a regular basis, although this has triggered a new problem: overworking! My resolution for this year is to hone my organisational skills and try to make more free time for my other passions.

Has it all been worth it?

Yes! Being my own boss is so enjoyable, I am very proud of myself – even after only two years in business. Every small achievement is a milestone, and the best is yet to come!

Next week, Ana Naletilić (@an1606) goes into detail about postgraduate education in translation and honing one's specialisms.

The Translator Diaries: Eva Hussain

The Translator Diaries is a series that looks at how current freelance translators made it into the career. In this second set of interviews, we will learn what makes them so passionate about translation, how they established themselves, and what obstacles they have overcome to succeed as a translator.

Eva Hussain (@Eva_Polaron) is a translator and interpreter, and director of Polaron Language Services based in Melbourne, Australia. A native of Poland, she came to Australia in the mid-1980s and set up as a translator some years later. She has served as a state branch chair and deputy national president of the Australian Institute of Interpreting and Translating.

Eva Hussain

At what point did you know you wanted to become a translator, Eva?

As is often the case with many translators, I’ve always had interest in and aptitude for learning languages. I studied Russian and French in Poland, and picked up some Turkish and Hindi along the way. I also always loved reading and writing, hoping one day to write bestselling books. That dream is becoming less and less achievable, as being a translator seemed to have erased some of my creative flare. As a translator, you express yourself through other people’s words, linguistic preferences and favourite expressions, and I feel that this, to some extent at least, curbs your natural creativity.

Back to your question! I arrived in Melbourne in August 1986 without a word of English. No. Wait. I knew how to say hello and goodbye! It only took me about six months before I became a fairly confident English speaker. To master the languages took years, however. I am still learning and I hope to continue doing so for the rest of my life. Whilst I took steps to become a professional translator as early as in 1993, I don’t think I ever consciously planned to become one. It happened organically, with translation finding me, rather than the other way around. In 2000, I quit my full time job and set up a small, freelance practice.

What relevant qualifications and experience do you have?

I never studied translation formally but acquired various translation and interpreting accreditations over a period of 7 years. From 2000, I also became heavily engaged with the workings of the Australian Institute of Interpreting and Translating (AUSIT), which provided me with an opportunity to gain practical knowledge, reach out to other colleagues and find role models in the industry.

For about 3 years, I held a position of a state branch chair, as well as the professional development coordinator and deputy national president. In my translation business, all the work I did initially was in the Polish language but as early as 2002, I began getting work in other languages. The principles of running a business are pretty much the same regardless of the industry you are in, and I saw some real gaps in customer service and other areas that I comfortably filled in.

Why did you choose not to study for a Master's or a similar qualification in translation?

Because that wouldn’t make me a better translator or interpreter. It’s an arrogant statement, I do realise that. But I do believe that you either have it or you don’t as a linguist. I have worked with people with various credentials who are poor translators, and those who are excellent professionals with minimal training. Personally, I learn a lot every day, just not in a formal setting. In fact, I regularly present at universities and Polaron offers internship and practicum programmes for Master’s students, so that prospective translators and interpreters can see first-hand what their future holds. Not that I haven’t thought about returning to study from time to time, but I believe that structured learning is for those that have the luxury of time.

How did you make the transition to freelance translation?

I jumped in the deep end, there was no real transition. I was very lucky that there was so much work out there. Then again, maybe luck had nothing to do with it. Everyone I asked before I set up as a freelancer said not to bother, that there was no work, it was poorly paid, and translators and interpreters weren’t well respected. I had a strong feeling that I would be able to sustain myself and I continued interpreting by day, translating by night, seven days a week for two or three years. The admin, organisational and interpersonal skills I gained through previous jobs have definitely helped but I flew by the seat of my pants on many occasions.

What major problems did you face and overcome when going freelance? 

My family was rather unsupportive and somewhat suspicious of my new business idea. It took me some years to prove to them I could do it. I also found the financial management rather challenging, including how much to charge. I put a lot of effort – and still do – into how I present the business. I surrounded myself with kind, genuine people who helped me through some of the more difficult times. Now, I run a company with 9 staff and 300 vendors.

Some say that there are too many new translators entering and saturating the industry. How do you view this?

I strongly believe that the old guard must let the new blood in. I have been preaching this for years. It’s not enough to move aside, though. Those that are experienced and skilled have a professional duty in my opinion to pass their knowledge on and mentor the young generation. Without that, we are just a bunch of multilingual misfits. The graduates entering the market have fresh ideas and can contribute a lot to this industry of ours, they just have to be given a chance. The oldies must keep up, though, or they will be left behind by the technology and the world developments. We should work hand in hand at achieving a more cohesive and united professional front. There is room for everyone. But can I also add that copying people’s website and business ideas isn’t the way to do it?

Has it all been worth it?

Of course. Whilst there are weeks where everything is a drag, most days I have a bounce in my step on the way to work. You just never, never know what the day will bring. That’s what keeps it exciting and interesting.

Next week, Louise Péron (@LSPTranslation) talks about how prospective translators can benefit from a translation Master's degree, choose their specialisms and deal with agencies.

The Translator Diaries: Marta Stelmaszak

The Translator Diaries is a series that looks at how current freelance translators made it into the career. In this second set of interviews, we will learn what makes them so passionate about translation, how they established themselves, and what obstacles they have overcome to succeed as a translator.

Marta Stelmaszak (@mstelmaszak) is a Polish - English translator and interpreter working in law, IT, marketing, and business. She is a member of the Management Committee of the Interpreting Division at the Chartered Institute of Linguists and a Co-head of the UK Chapter of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters. She has been voted a Top 17 Twitterer and Top 20 Facebook Fan Page in Language Lovers 2012 contest and she runs the Business School for Translators. Marta is also a qualified business mentor and an affiliate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Marta Stelmaszak

Having become one of the most established translators on Twitter, take us back to the point you knew you wanted to become a translator, Marta.

Translation has been my career of choice since I was old enough to have serious thoughts about my future. In the beginning, I wanted to translate books and poetry in my spare time, but then I grew to realise commercial translation can indeed bring enough money to become my sole occupation. There’s something about communication that has always attracted me. And translation is the most intricate form of communication: it allows different cultures to communicate with each other.

What relevant qualifications and experience do you have?

At the moment, I have some 6 years of experience in translation and interpreting, plus some projects in transcreation and copywriting. I also worked at a translation agency for a few months, but it really wasn’t my thing. I have a BA degree in translation, Diploma in Public Service Interpreting, and countless hours of CPD; my CPD booklet is extremely thick! I’m also currently doing my PgDip in Forensic Linguistics, which is somehow related to translation, since I specialise in legal texts.

How did you make the transition to becoming a freelance translator?

I started translating before I went to university, because there was a high demand of translation services at that time and place. I was mostly translating and interpreting for individuals. When I started my degree, I applied to a handful of agencies and one of them has been providing me with work ever since. So when I graduated, it wasn’t that difficult – I just became available full-time.

With your BA in translation, I don’t suppose you saw the need to go for a postgraduate degree in the same discipline. But do you think a postgraduate qualification is necessary to be a translator?

I don’t think a specific translation-related qualification is necessary to be a good translator or to work as a translator. Some people are just born with it. However, such a qualification is definitely an advantage. Especially in this more and more competitive environment, having something to back up one’s talent can be a difference between being a translator and being a successful translator.

How much experience did you have when you went freelance, and how hard did you find it getting work?

We all started somewhere, from this moment of zero experience. The important thing is to be open to possibilities and see every event as a chance to gain some experience. I started with almost nothing, but I seized every opportunity to use my skills. My portfolio was growing rapidly, and I also received a number of recommendations. In the first stage of my career, I worked hard on marketing and sales. Doing marketing courses and meeting with translation buyers definitely helps. But I can’t say I found it hard getting work. I found it challenging and motivating! If you’re good, reliable, and committed, people will hire you. 

What major problems did you face and overcome? 

The major problem I was faced with, and I know aspiring translators feel the same, is confidence. It’s very hard to validate one’s translation skills, and also everyone else seems to be more experienced. The way I dealt with the lack of confidence was to stop comparing myself to other translators and to start seeing them as colleagues, not competitors. I’m still surprised how much help and support I’ve received when I was starting out. Finding a mentor is a great idea as well.

How demanding do you find translation agencies in terms of translator requirements?

I think agencies tend to be more flexible when they want to work with a particular translator. I understand that for certain admin or quality standards reasons agencies need to fulfil a number of steps before working with a translator, and I don’t mind signing an NDA and filling in a form. I don’t mind doing a test piece either, but I always use my common sense.

Has it all been worth it?

I don’t think there’s anything more powerful and motivating than being responsible for your own business. The amount of business knowledge and skills you get as you go is a benefit in itself, plus you really feel you take responsibility for your life. It’s been “worth” it not only in the monetary sense, but also in terms of personal development. 

Next week, Eva Hussain (@Eva_Polaron), former deputy chair of the Australian Institute of Interpreting and Translating, tells us how she started from scratch and built up her company that now has 9 staff and 300 suppliers.