Off topic: Question about agencies Penyiaran jaluran : Aida González del Álamo
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Hello,
I have just finished working as an In-house translator for a company, and my intention is working more as a freelance translator for agencies. My question is: I have sent several CVs to different agencies and some have answer that now I am on their list, but months go by without any communication from them, is that normal? or the answer was just a mere polite routine, but nothing may come from that? I am a bit confused.
Thanks
| | | | achisholm
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:28
Bahasa Itali hingga Bahasa Inggeris
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| In my experience... | Oct 6, 2003 |
agencies keep and update databases of translators, but hardly ever use them. Thay will contact you (or they will ask for further CVs) when they have a specific job that one of their "regular" translators cannot do. This is your opportunity to start really working with them. As long as you do the job well, they will probably then start sending you work, and as long as you continue to work well with them (meet deadlines, not too many errors etc.) then this will continue.
Job boards su... See more agencies keep and update databases of translators, but hardly ever use them. Thay will contact you (or they will ask for further CVs) when they have a specific job that one of their "regular" translators cannot do. This is your opportunity to start really working with them. As long as you do the job well, they will probably then start sending you work, and as long as you continue to work well with them (meet deadlines, not too many errors etc.) then this will continue.
Job boards such as the one on this site, are a good way to contact agencies, when they really do need someone (i.e. when they have a job that neither they, nor any of their regulars can do).
I now work for a number of agencies, and the introduction to almost all of them was through a process very like this.
Good luck and Cheers.
Sandy ▲ Collapse
| | | | lenkl
Local time: 00:28
Bahasa Perancis hingga Bahasa Inggeris
| Two pieces of advice | Oct 6, 2003 |
I'm quite familiar with agencies and I get most of my work through them. There are two things that I recommend you do:
1) Offer to translate into either of two languages, not both. No one I know of is truly good at going both ways and serious agencies mistrust those who claim they are.
2) Specialize in certain fields. You need to know the jargon in order to do technical translations. If you don't know it, learn it. Very few jobs call for a generalist.
Good luck. Be patient. Hon... See more I'm quite familiar with agencies and I get most of my work through them. There are two things that I recommend you do:
1) Offer to translate into either of two languages, not both. No one I know of is truly good at going both ways and serious agencies mistrust those who claim they are.
2) Specialize in certain fields. You need to know the jargon in order to do technical translations. If you don't know it, learn it. Very few jobs call for a generalist.
Good luck. Be patient. Hone your skills. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Elías Sauza 
Mexico
Local time: 16:28
Ahli (2002)
Bahasa Inggeris hingga Bahasa Sepanyol
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| Expect the unexpected! | Oct 7, 2003 |
I have heard translators saying that they have heard from agencies they wrote to three years earlier. I have started working for some agencies recently, and have learned that I have to expect the unexpected. Check your mail frequently and have a dedicated telephone line and fax.
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Heinrich Pesch
Finland
Local time: 01:28
Ahli (2003)
Bahasa Finland hingga Bahasa Jerman
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| Depends on your language pair | Oct 10, 2003 |
Better than trusting in agencies mail and phone companies who need translations. Put up a website and make sure it is found with Google (register it at dmoz.org)!
And join a site which specialises on you target language.
But some nwebies have sent mail to thousands of agencies and got enough jobs. Somewhere are lists of email-addresses. Good luck, but do not be impatient.
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Listen to "lenkl". If you offer to translate just about any subject into any of your two, three, four "native languages", this makes your offer look dubious and will in effect disqualify you.
Also, us agencies want to know why you think you're the right person to do the job. We get lots of applications, many of which merely state "Please see my attached CV" or "I like translate very much". Thanks - but no, thanks. Make a difference and act professionally. There are millions of other little... See more Listen to "lenkl". If you offer to translate just about any subject into any of your two, three, four "native languages", this makes your offer look dubious and will in effect disqualify you.
Also, us agencies want to know why you think you're the right person to do the job. We get lots of applications, many of which merely state "Please see my attached CV" or "I like translate very much". Thanks - but no, thanks. Make a difference and act professionally. There are millions of other little things to mind, but in effect, the main rule is: Be serious and professional.
lenkl wrote:
I'm quite familiar with agencies and I get most of my work through them. There are two things that I recommend you do:
1) Offer to translate into either of two languages, not both. No one I know of is truly good at going both ways and serious agencies mistrust those who claim they are.
2) Specialize in certain fields. You need to know the jargon in order to do technical translations. If you don't know it, learn it. Very few jobs call for a generalist.
Good luck. Be patient. Hone your skills.
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