Connecting with people from various cultures is a great way to expand your worldview. Because different cultures speak various languages, however, the language barrier can prevent you from interacting with other people. Translators are invaluable tools when it comes to connecting with people who speak different languages. If you are bilingual or multilingual and you’re looking to add a side hustle to your IT career, you have an opportunity to build a lucrative and rewarding part-time career as a translator. These four steps can help you get started.
Know Which Translating Jobs Are Available
There are many types of translating jobs, and you need to determine your niche before you can start looking for jobs. Certain translating jobs require you to have specific knowledge. For example, if you want to work in the IT field, you must know industry terms and trends, as well as be able to communicate this info to others.
You can also work as:
⦁ Community interpreters
⦁ Legal translators
⦁ Conference interpreters
⦁ Literary translators
Find Work
Experience is important if you want to work as a translator. It isn't enough to have basic knowledge of a second language; you must be fluent in at least two languages if you want to work as an interpreter. Enrolling in classes is a good way to hone your language skills. Start building a portfolio showcasing your translating credentials.
Once you have a portfolio to show to prospective clients, you can start looking for jobs in your specific field. It's often easier to get started in the industry by working for a translation company. Once you have a few years of experience, you can start working as a freelance interpreter.
Market Your Services
Working as a freelance translator is no different than running any other type of business. People cannot pay for your services if they do not know what you have to offer. Having a good marketing plan in place is essential for building a successful company, but you don't have to have a huge budget to advertise your services successfully. Word-of-mouth marketing is a great tool for many translators because people who have used your services in the past and been pleased will share their experiences with their friends and family members. There is no cost for this advertising tool.
You can also harness the power of social media and create a cost-efficient marketing campaign that lists important information about your business. According to one survey, 93% of businesses use social media marketing to engage with customers. This strategy can reach a broad audience with minimal effort, so it is a preferred marketing tactic when it comes to interpreters.
As a rule of thumb, you want to be able to provide value on social media to be seen as an authority in your niche, as well as to show your customers that you’re there for them. Your Facebook business page, for instance, can be a hub of valuable resources that your clients can go to and know that they’re supported. Upload assets like vocabulary infographics, practice articles, and even PDF files that they can access. Exploring ways to upload a PDF might be a little tricky, though, so find out how you can do it.
Build Your Business
Running a translating business is similar to operating any other type of company. You must keep track of your clients and their specific needs. Practising exceptional customer service is the best way to grow your base of loyal customers. You also need to spend time advertising your services and tailoring your campaigns to meet the needs of your target audience. Administrative tasks are essential for keeping your business operating smoothly.
If you don't have a lot of free time to keep up with administrative tasks, consider hiring an assistant to do the work for you or invest in a software program that will streamline the process. There are online tools readily available and often free that can help you with a plethora of tasks, such as accounting, marketing, file management, and more.
If you are fluent in multiple languages, you have an opportunity to turn your skill set into a lucrative part-time career. Using these steps allows you to build a successful career as a translator.
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We thank Vivek Mukherjee for this article and partnership.