If all else fails, become a translator!

These past few months, with the recession crippling the entire continent, I’ve been asked countless times by friends and acquaintances whether I could “help them find a job as a translator”, since their sector has been hit hard by the recession and I “always seem to be buried in work”.

Let me start off by saying that I’m not one of those people who think you need a university degree to make it in life. I also believe that a degree in translation or languages is not necessarily a must to become a translator. I know of many excellent translators whose studies had nothing to do with languages, but their passion and drive got them where they are today. Nevertheless, personally, I’m sure I did benefit from my translation studies. I was taught all about complex grammatical issues, tricky spelling, syntax and phonetics, but I also discovered how to tackle research, how to easily write structured texts, how to summarise, how to deal with stress, tight deadlines and criticism… the list goes on and on. In a nutshell, I was introduced to the basic principles, and that was the best foundation to build upon. During my first few months “in the real world”, I learned more than during my four years at university, but without the basic concepts, it would’ve taken me much longer to get used to the exhausting pace that has now become my reality.

The thing that annoys me immensely, is that translation is considered an easy way to get rich quickly. Where did that idea come from? Many Maltese flocked to Brussels after the rock joined the EU to “make big money”. None of them had a degree in translation. In fact, I’m not even sure whether the University of Malta even had a translation department when the rock became an EU Member State. I know some of these “translators” personally, and I don’t doubt that over the years, they’ve become good at what they do, but the one thing that distinguishes me from them, is that I am passionate about what I do, and I followed my heart, not the euro banknotes. And I’m quite sure that the institutions know where the real translators are, because most of their publications (magazines, brochures, posters, websites etc.) are outsourced. Why would they do that if their own in-house translators were so brilliant? No, it has nothing to do with volume or lack of resources. It’s a matter of quality. I can vouch for that.

Let’s be realistic for a minute. As a translator, you can make a decent living, but it’s not easy money. It’s late nights, stress and fatigue in a highly competitive sector where one bad day can cost you your entire career. If you’re in it for the money, you’ll fail. And more importantly, if you think that anyone can become a translator – “I know how to read and write, don’t I?” – you couldn’t be more wrong. We’re not human versions of Google Translate. A translation requires an effort that goes beyond typing a word in a search engine or dictionary. You need to know your client and your audience. You need to explore the cultural context behind your assignment. You need to be able to carry out focused research in the limited timeframe you have at your disposal. Translation is a combination of skill, dedication, patience, time management and experience.

The last word of the previous paragraph is key. Experience. Of course, you have to start somewhere. Prove that you have what it takes. Tricky, because many agencies refuse to give graduates a chance. The only advice I can give you, is keep trying if you’re convinced this is what you want to do, and if you have a feeling you might be good at it. Eventually your efforts will pay off. Someone, somewhere will notice your talent. But if you’re just looking for an alternative to unemployment, please look elsewhere. Unfortunately this sector is hardly regulated, so anyone can claim to be a translator, but only the good ones survive.  

Leave translation to the pros!