Profile, pro bono work and apprenticeship - where to begin? Автор темы: Heather Elde (X)
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Heather Elde (X) 
Local time: 03:45
французский => английский
Good morning from wintry New Zealand. I'm an aspiring French-English translator, looking to build up a business initially on a part time basis while my children are young. And like most beginners, I'm wondering where to start.
Although my MA, completed in 1997, is in literary translation, I want to specialise in medical editing. Before my language studies I trained and practised as a medical radiation technologist/radiographer so am well versed in anatomy, pathology, radiation phy... See more Good morning from wintry New Zealand. I'm an aspiring French-English translator, looking to build up a business initially on a part time basis while my children are young. And like most beginners, I'm wondering where to start.
Although my MA, completed in 1997, is in literary translation, I want to specialise in medical editing. Before my language studies I trained and practised as a medical radiation technologist/radiographer so am well versed in anatomy, pathology, radiation physics among other fields.
As an experienced musician, I'm also interested in musical translation - I'm a classically trained violinist and now play with a klezmer band.
In the 10 years since my PhD, I've had two children and worked part time as a freelance editor. I have experience in academic, commercial and educational publishing. I've also done a spot of lecturing in the French programme at Victoria University.
So what now? I've just finished Corinne McKay's book (second edition) and am putting together a plan of action. I've talked to a couple of local translators (one of whom put me onto Proz. I passed the translation test for the Translation Centre for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and am now on their books as a freelance translator and editor.
Next steps are to polish my profile and then get out there and get some experience. As a relatively inexperienced translator, it's the profile that I'm stuck on; specifically the About Me section of the Personalization section. I don't know what sort of information to include. I have a little experience in translating and interpreting - mostly 'odd jobs' in the 1990s while I was doing my MA, but I don't have any firm records of this.
I'm also wondering whether to start with pro bono work in order to build up a portfolio (I've bookmarked a few posts here linking to various sites such as Translators Without Borders). Or should I approach a mentor and get right down to pursuing paid work?
If you've read this far, thank you I'd be very grateful for advice about where to go from here. ▲ Collapse
| | | | ATIL KAYHAN
Турция
Local time: 18:45
Член ProZ.com c 2007
турецкий => английский
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As the saying goes "Know thyself", I would recommend that you start by polishing your ProZ profile. You can take a look at others' profiles to get inspired. Take a look at mine, for example. I have included a personal/professional autobiography in my profile. An autobiography is good because you really do not have to worry about your lack of experience that much (although I do have a lot of experience). An autobiography is useful for other reasons as well. There may be occasions where you ... See more As the saying goes "Know thyself", I would recommend that you start by polishing your ProZ profile. You can take a look at others' profiles to get inspired. Take a look at mine, for example. I have included a personal/professional autobiography in my profile. An autobiography is good because you really do not have to worry about your lack of experience that much (although I do have a lot of experience). An autobiography is useful for other reasons as well. There may be occasions where you might need to include a personal/professional autobiography, if you write a book, for example. Also, it may be fun to try to write an autobiography. It is just like writing a movie script, your own movie in this case. Try it, and you will see what I mean. Best of luck! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Испания
Local time: 16:45
Член ProZ.com c 2007
английский
+ ...
Heather Elder wrote:
get right down to pursuing paid work
I would have thought that's the way to go (after polishing your profile here, of course). You're qualified, you have specialisations - now you need work! Mentoring would be a good idea, certainly, to give you the all-important feedback, though clients will do that, of course. Nothing like repeat jobs for boosting your confidence, and nothing like proofreaders to show you where you're going wrong.
If you are going to be using ProZ.com as your marketing window (i.e. your "website" where potential clients can examine your CV, your work samples, your client testimonials, etc.), and/or as somewhere to look for work, then your profile has to be tip-top. This needs to be addressed first, really.
There are no real rules for the "About me" section, apart from keeping it 100% positive. Think about everything you can possibly say to potential clients: qualifications, skills and personal attributes can be used as well as experience, and anything connected with your specialisation(s) is just as valuable as strictly translation-related. I think you will end up thinking "it's too long - I need to select the best and weed out the rest".
For a lot of detailed help in getting started, both as a professional translator and as a member of ProZ.com, go to the new Site Guidance Centre here: http://www.proz.com/guidance-center/ and make full use of all that's on offer, including the free webinars.
TWB asks for two years' experience and, although some NGOs will accept inexperienced translators, I don't believe you ever get much feedback. I firmly believe that pro bono should wait until you can be sure of being able to help without wanting anything in exchange (apart from knowing you've been able to help).
Expect difficulties at first, building a client base always takes time and an awful lot of marketing. You will also likely find that jobs are always wanted yesterday and that they always appear just when you aren't available. I'm a part-time translator and it can be difficult to juggle the different parts of your life.
Don't hesitate to come back with other questions.
Good luck
Sheila
| | | | | Get started with ProZ.com | Sep 3, 2012 |
Hello Heather,
Welcome to the ProZ.com forum!
As Sheila states, you should get started with completing your profile at ProZ.com and making sure the essentials are there.
I also invite you to check the "Get started as a translator" area here:
http://www.proz.com/pages/getting_started/starter
There you will find info... See more Hello Heather,
Welcome to the ProZ.com forum!
As Sheila states, you should get started with completing your profile at ProZ.com and making sure the essentials are there.
I also invite you to check the "Get started as a translator" area here:
http://www.proz.com/pages/getting_started/starter
There you will find information on what ProZ.com offers to starters like you and useful links to get started.
And, please, don't hesitate to let me know if you need any help with completing your profile or with getting the most out of your ProZ.com experience.
Kind regards,
Lucia ▲ Collapse
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Peter Linton (X)
Local time: 16:45
шведский => английский
+ ...
| Three bits of advice | Sep 3, 2012 |
1. Timezone problem: with French to English presumably most of your business will come from Europe. Mostly while you are asleep. You may have to work a shift pattern, and you will certainly need some kind of smart telephone that enables you to respond and return telephone calls and e-mails quickly.
2. Take the opportunity now to build up a comprehensive glossary of terminology in your field(s). Your medical background is your ace card, and you need to make the most of it. Mention ... See more 1. Timezone problem: with French to English presumably most of your business will come from Europe. Mostly while you are asleep. You may have to work a shift pattern, and you will certainly need some kind of smart telephone that enables you to respond and return telephone calls and e-mails quickly.
2. Take the opportunity now to build up a comprehensive glossary of terminology in your field(s). Your medical background is your ace card, and you need to make the most of it. Mention in your profile that you have such a glossary.
3. Follow the advice about ProZ. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Heather Elde (X)
Local time: 03:45
французский => английский
Автор темы | Thank you, and followup questions | Sep 3, 2012 |
Many thanks for the helpful advice, everyone. I'm still plugging away at my profile, and have just revised and re-uploaded my CV.
I've got another couple of questions:
How long should the 'About Me'? section be? And who is it intended for - fellow translators or prospective clients?
How do I add conference attended and papers presented to my profile?
Thank you again for the friendly welcome.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Испания
Local time: 16:45
Член ProZ.com c 2007
английский
+ ...
| Comments on further questions | Sep 4, 2012 |
Heather Elder wrote:
How long should the 'About Me'? section be? And who is it intended for - fellow translators or prospective clients?
Well, it needs to be long enough to say everything important, and not a word longer. I know, that's not very helpful. I really think the way it reads is more important than the length. Can you keep the reader's interest to the bottom? If you can, then it isn't too long, even if it's 30 lines. If you've lost him/her after the first line, then one line was too long.
It's meant primarily for prospective clients, I suppose. But who is a "prospective client"? Agencies, certainly, but I've also had quite a few direct clients (e.g. company owners) who have come to me through my ProZ.com profile. And an awful lot of my work has come from other translators here: either directly because they also outsource work they can't handle alone, or because they have been asked by a client to recommend someone in a different pair or specialisation area.
How do I add conference attended and papers presented to my profile?
Hmmm... The conferences section is just for ProZ.com conferences, so I think the place to put others would be in the "About me" section.
Remember, you can choose whether visitors are presented with the standardised information, with the "About me" text at the bottom of the page, or whether the standard stuff is hidden at first, making your profile display more personalised.
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As Peter said, I would think the obvious place to start looking for work would be the agencies in France. I would start sending CVs to the promising-looking ones. Don't digress too much on your lack of translation experience but emphasise your many other qualifications. Maybe you can sell living in NZ as an advantage, for those last-minute jobs that come in at the end of the afternoon (Paris time) and need to be done as soon as poss? Be aware that many of the offers for work you'll get via ProZ ... See more As Peter said, I would think the obvious place to start looking for work would be the agencies in France. I would start sending CVs to the promising-looking ones. Don't digress too much on your lack of translation experience but emphasise your many other qualifications. Maybe you can sell living in NZ as an advantage, for those last-minute jobs that come in at the end of the afternoon (Paris time) and need to be done as soon as poss? Be aware that many of the offers for work you'll get via ProZ will be at the lower, if not bottom, end of the scale income-wise. ▲ Collapse
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| Completing your "About me" and listing attended conferences | Sep 4, 2012 |
Heather Elder wrote:
How long should the 'About Me'? section be? And who is it intended for - fellow translators or prospective clients?
Perhaps you would like to check this short article on "Creating a standout "About me"":
http://www.proz.com/translation-articles/articles/3452/
How do I add conference attended and papers presented to my profile?
As Sheila says, the "Conference participation" section in profiles only lists ProZ.com conferences attended. However, you could list other conferences in the "About me" section or else create a "Conferences" custom tab and list them there:
http://www.proz.com/faq/profiles/profile_tabs.html#custom_tabs
Lucia
| | | | Heather Elde (X)
Local time: 03:45
французский => английский
Автор темы | The next steps | Sep 6, 2012 |
I've just spent the morning on my 'About me' spiel. Any feedback or criticism gratefully accepted, if anyone has time to look.
Thank you again, everyone, for the constructive advice. Sheila, reading your 'About me' was very helpful. I can see why it's included as an exemplar on the 'How to' page.
Peter and Olly - thanks for the advice on looking for work in France. My next steps are to get my CV translate... See more I've just spent the morning on my 'About me' spiel. Any feedback or criticism gratefully accepted, if anyone has time to look.
Thank you again, everyone, for the constructive advice. Sheila, reading your 'About me' was very helpful. I can see why it's included as an exemplar on the 'How to' page.
Peter and Olly - thanks for the advice on looking for work in France. My next steps are to get my CV translated into French and to get a smartphone. And, of course, to get out there and get some work! ▲ Collapse
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