Hello everyone. I have been working as a translator since 2020,
I feel every day that I am very well suited for this job. This time, I, who is already working as a translator, will write about the characteristics of people who are suitable for translators.
1 A person who is good at working alone
Translators are often said to be teamwork, but most of the work is done individually. For this reason, people suited to working silently on their own are more suitable as translators. If you don’t mind working alone, you will be able to continue this job for a long time.
2 People who can work responsibly
Your name may not appear in every sentence, but someone who takes responsibility for their work and does their job well is a good translator. If you say, “This job is low-paying, so let’s take it easy,” your project manager won’t be satisfied and will be forced to reorder.
3 People who are not perfectionists
There is a deadline for translation work. So, while it’s fine to work responsibly if you ignore deadlines and get carried away with work, the work will not be delivered and your project manager will have to reorder. Therefore, if 120% of the work is overdue for a week and 90% is done on time, the latter is rated higher.
4 People who can live with unstable income
As long as translation work is freelance (which is the majority), the income varies from month to month. It’s a world of ‘0.05 euros per word’ instead of ‘2000 euros a month’. So if there is less work or the rate is lower, the income will be lower. Even so, people who can live stable life are more appreciated in this world.
5 People who don’t mind working on a computer
Translation work and computers are inextricably linked. I use a web application or application called CAT Tool, but it uses a personal computer. As a result, most of the time is spent in front of the computer during the day. People who don’t mind it are better suited to be translators.
6 Fast Typing
Since you have to type a lot of sentences, people who can type faster and have blind touch can finish the work faster. However, this requires practice and experience, so you can learn it while doing it.
7 Bilingual and multilingual people
Needless to say, translation requires specialized knowledge of multiple languages, such as translating from English to Japanese. Many workplaces require a bilingual or multilingual person who knows the language well and is sensitive to nuances. The industry needs people with high linguistic skills, practical language skills, and the ability to write formal and non-formal texts. The vocabulary for translating manga is different from the vocabulary for translating official documents. You need to be able to use both properly and have a high level of vocabulary. And that vocabulary is not just for foreign languages, but for your native language as well.
8 Those who can write sentences in a plain foreign language that is easy to understand
Many companies use English as their official language, but not everyone speaks English fluently. Therefore, it is often necessary to choose words that are not too difficult for colleagues and project managers. Since translation work is global, many people do not speak English very well. This is because, for example, fluency in English is not always required to be employed by an Italian translation company, which often translates from Japanese to Italian. So, if you’re in a non-English speaking company, you might have a project manager who doesn’t speak much English. Therefore, it is necessary to have the skill to write sentences in a language that is easy for foreigners to understand. Also, easy sentences written in this way have a positive effect on people who read work manuals, etc. that you translate.
9 People who are passionate about languages
This job is not possible just by having language skills. Long-term work is better suited to those who love and are passionate about languages, as they are exposed to foreign languages every day. As the Japanese proverb says, “If you like it, you will be able to improve it.”, it will be difficult to continue this work for many years. And with passion, you can overcome some setbacks and difficulties. You may fail at work, get bad feedback from your project manager, and do all sorts of other things, but if you have passion, you can overcome all of them.
10 people who like languages and foreign languages
I’ve written this long, but the most important thing is whether you like the language. It’s a job that uses the sensitive parts of language, and if reading a foreign language is painful, this job won’t work. Even translators often encounter unfamiliar words, but some people do not find it difficult to look up a dictionary to understand them, people who do not find it difficult to read long sentences in a foreign language, people who have been in contact with a language other than their mother tongue for a long time. People who are happy to be in a foreign language, people who have no problem having foreign project managers or co-workers, people who can communicate in a foreign language, and so on. Therefore, unless you like it, you will find it more difficult.
At the end
This job does not require high communication skills. It’s okay to “report, contact, and consult” appropriately. It’s not monotonous work to do in a noisy place, so it’s okay if you don’t like noise. And even if you are sick, many jobs allow you to work from home. Therefore, even people who are not suitable for general customer service can make a living by translating. Because I have a developmental disability, I am not very good at communicating. I’m sensitive to hearing, so I’m not good in noisy places. I am weak and get tired quickly. However, the reason I can continue doing this job is that being a translator is my vocation.
For job offers: I use a platform called Smartcat.
Contact: https://smartcat.com/marketplace/user/honoka-miki
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