Off topic: Question about agencies
Thread poster: Aida González del Álamo
Aida González del Álamo
Aida González del Álamo
Spain
Local time: 07:06
Italian to Spanish
+ ...
Oct 6, 2003

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
achisholm
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:06
Italian to English
+ ...
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
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lenkl
lenkl
Local time: 07:06
French to English
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.
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Elías Sauza
Elías Sauza  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 00:06
Member (2002)
English to Spanish
+ ...
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.

 
Heinrich Pesch
Heinrich Pesch  Identity Verified
Finland
Local time: 08:06
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
+ ...
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.


 
tectranslate ITS GmbH
tectranslate ITS GmbH
Local time: 07:06
German
+ ...
Amen Dec 1, 2003

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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