| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Getting Started: Will I ever be given a chance? Thread poster: Tania Lafontaine
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Sheila Wilson 
Spain
Local time: 21:53
Member (2007)
English
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| Stay positive! | Sep 16, 2011 |
Hello Tania,
As you can imagine, we see an awful lot of similar posts here on ProZ.com - you are in no way alone in finding it difficult to establish your business! I'm sure you aren't alone in your approach to overcoming those difficulties, either, but you do seem to be doing better than many others.
You have a great photo, your CV and profile texts in English are well written (though they could do with a final proofreading, and a native speaker would change a few tens... See more Hello Tania,
As you can imagine, we see an awful lot of similar posts here on ProZ.com - you are in no way alone in finding it difficult to establish your business! I'm sure you aren't alone in your approach to overcoming those difficulties, either, but you do seem to be doing better than many others.
You have a great photo, your CV and profile texts in English are well written (though they could do with a final proofreading, and a native speaker would change a few tenses), you have a simple but polished website, you translate into your native language and you (almost, I believe) have a Master's degree.
So, what else can you do? Well, being patient is important, and it's perhaps the most difficult requirement. Perhaps if you have time you could study to add another source language? Others have already given advice on some other points, but just to reiterate a couple:
1. EN-FR is a pair with a lot of work, but an awful lot of translators too, many of them qualified lawyers, doctors, scientists, etc. Do you really think you are the best person to translate poetry, astrophysics, legal AND medical texts? I know you justify that, but I advise you to choose just a few specialisations and a few more working areas.
2. Having an enormous portfolio of professional translations is great, but you HAVE done a lot of translations - you just haven't been paid for them. They still have some value, so make the most of them and also publish testimonials if possible.
The advice to attend the ProZ.com Virtual conference is definitely good. You will learn how to market yourself as best you can on this site and will enable you to get in touch with a lot of agencies. However, good as it is, ProZ.com represents only a relatively small part of the translation world. Be pro-active locally, too.
In short, keep filling your non-translating hours with marketing, networking, research and training activities while you wait for the inevitable breakthrough. It may come tomorrow and you'll need to be ready for it, as you may not have any free time for a while!
Good luck and keep positive!
Sheila ▲ Collapse
| | | | Richard Foulkes (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:53
German to English
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| Keep going... | Sep 16, 2011 |
Not much to add to the good advice already given. I'd reiterate the point about narrowing down your specialisms. Many agencies will send you 'general' work anyway once they trust your work but it helps to focus your marketing and differentiate yourself initially and particularly for winning direct clients.
I was really just going to make the point Sheila makes in her last paragraph...
As much as it can take time, I had a client find me via a profile on a similar site to... See more Not much to add to the good advice already given. I'd reiterate the point about narrowing down your specialisms. Many agencies will send you 'general' work anyway once they trust your work but it helps to focus your marketing and differentiate yourself initially and particularly for winning direct clients.
I was really just going to make the point Sheila makes in her last paragraph...
As much as it can take time, I had a client find me via a profile on a similar site to proz within a short space of starting up. They became a client for many years and provided some of my most rewarding work in every sense.
I responded to a proz job posting in 2002. I didn't get the job but it was for an annual catalogue. A year later, the poster came back and asked would I like to do that year's. They're still a valued client today.
I think my points there are you never know when you'll get a lucky break and all the hard work you put in now could bear fruit down the line, even if it may not seem like it .
Good luck. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 22:53
Italian to English
In memoriam | Be available... | Sep 16, 2011 |
... when other translators aren't.
Fridays are good days for picking up odd jobs that outsourcers can't place with their usual translators. Holdiay periods - August, mid December to early January and local bank holidays or long weekends - are also good times to pick up work. So make sure you have placed you CV with as many potential clients as you can.
And when you do get a chance (sooner or later you will, don't worry) grab it with both hands!
| | | | Milena Bosco (X)
Italy
Local time: 22:53
English to Italian
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Hi,
Going against my verbose nature, I made a short list of what I think is fundamental to make it:
1) Believe in yourself, and do not ever lose that belief (never!)
2) Don't stop the learning process ever
3) Do not get demotivated
4) Do not compromise
A short list isn't it? I am sure you will suceed
All the best,
Milena
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Tania Lafontaine
Canada
Local time: 16:53
Member (2011)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
thank you all for for advices and words of motivation. It really did my day and motivated me to go on working hard no matter what.
I can't believe how many replies I've got in a short period of time, and how kind you people are!
Thank you all again, your messages are very much appreciated.
Tania
| | | | Tania Lafontaine
Canada
Local time: 16:53
Member (2011)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER | I had to refuse the job... | Sep 17, 2011 |
I had finally been offered a translation job on a regular basis in the field of retail and general text, but I had to refuse because of the txml format...
I don't have Wordfast Pro yet and cannot find another way to deal with this file format and remain sane!
oh gosh...
| | | | Alexey Oparin
Russian Federation
Local time: 04:53
English to Russian
| Wordfast Anywhere | Sep 17, 2011 |
Tania, don't be impulsive.
To work with TXML, you can opt to Wordfast Anywhere. Go to http://www.freetm.com/ , register for free and thanslate (for free also).
To your initial question: don't be fooled, the path to success isn't so easy. Please perform the search among translators in your language pair. There are thousands of them, most probably. Did you hope to get to the top at once?... See more Tania, don't be impulsive.
To work with TXML, you can opt to Wordfast Anywhere. Go to http://www.freetm.com/ , register for free and thanslate (for free also).
To your initial question: don't be fooled, the path to success isn't so easy. Please perform the search among translators in your language pair. There are thousands of them, most probably. Did you hope to get to the top at once?
Proz is, perhaps, the most famous, but not the only way to get established. Knock on every possible door!
[Редактировалось 2011-09-17 05:48 GMT]
[Редактировалось 2011-09-17 06:01 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Magda P.
Italy
Local time: 22:53
Italian to Greek
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| It takes time | Sep 17, 2011 |
It takes time, years to "get established" but I am positive you will make it. You have an education that is enviable. My honest opinion is that you should not count only on proz. but try and see if your existing connections and networking can help you move forward. Regarding Trados, I am in the same shoes.
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Tania Lafontaine
Canada
Local time: 16:53
Member (2011)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER | Not so much about being at the top... | Sep 17, 2011 |
I didn't expect to get established in a month... What was annoying me was rather the refusal I encontered because I am starting and don't have references, "professional" experience or some specific CAT tools that are way too expensive for me now.
I believe someone's got to give their chances to beginners, how will they ever become experienced professionals then! However, I do understand it is very competitive and clients want to hire the best translator.
I don't feel as... See more I didn't expect to get established in a month... What was annoying me was rather the refusal I encontered because I am starting and don't have references, "professional" experience or some specific CAT tools that are way too expensive for me now.
I believe someone's got to give their chances to beginners, how will they ever become experienced professionals then! However, I do understand it is very competitive and clients want to hire the best translator.
I don't feel as desperate as yesterday, thanks in part to the amazing support I found here.
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Tania Lafontaine wrote:
I didn't expect to get established in a month... What was annoying me was rather the refusal I encontered because I am starting and don't have references, "professional" experience or some specific CAT tools that are way too expensive for me now.
OK, I agree that you don't want to spend money on tools you are not sure you will use. However, in today's world where everybody --and I mean everybody-- expects a modern professional translator to own one or several tools and know how to use them, I think it is sensible advice to get evaluation versions of all possible CAT tools and learn to use them.
Maybe you can also invest in one or several courses in your area (perhaps arranged by the local association) about the main tools: memoQ, SDL Trados Studio 2009, Wordfast... This way you will be prepared to use the tool if an important project comes around. It is better to say that you are a user of the tools (after all, you can buy them in 24 hours) than to say you don't have a clue about them.
Like it or not, CAT tools are a must and you will need to buy one or several if you are serious about the profession. So start looking for some way of purchasing your first tool!
| | | | Tania Lafontaine
Canada
Local time: 16:53
Member (2011)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote: Like it or not, CAT tools are a must and you will need to buy one or several if you are serious about the profession. So start looking for some way of purchasing your first tool!
I did, I began by downloading all open source CAT tool and demo/trial version of CAT tools that exist. Then I learned how to use them while waiting for job. The only one I don't have is Trados, but as of yesterday I can work with txml with my Fluency Student version which, so far, I like very much.
Since starting this discussion I have had two job from the same agency and feel that things will soon get started. At least now I will have some experience an a reference...
Cheers,
Tania
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:53
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| Spare some time for KudoZ etc | Sep 18, 2011 |
Tania Lafontaine wrote:
Since starting this discussion I have had two job from the same agency and feel that things will soon get started. At least now I will have some experience an a reference...
Congratulations, Tania! I have the feeling that there will be no looking back now, though it will take time to establish a solid client base and I daresay you will have some lean periods, as all freelancers do: the "feast or famine" syndrome.
However, please try to spare some time to be active on this site, networking but also helping others through answering KudoZ questions. I shall certainly advise other newbies to read this thread to get an idea of how to get established, as your recent success was definitely well deserved.
May it continue!
Sheila
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Tania Lafontaine
Canada
Local time: 16:53
Member (2011)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER | Thank you Sheila | Sep 18, 2011 |
I will continue to be active on this site, there's no doubt about that!
| | | | | Wordfast Pro Demo | Sep 19, 2011 |
Tania Lafontaine wrote: I had finally been offered a translation job on a regular basis in the field of retail and general text, but I had to refuse because of the txml format... I don't have Wordfast Pro yet and cannot find another way to deal with this file format and remain sane! oh gosh...
You can download Wordfast Pro onto your computer and use the Demo version for a while which is free. You can't do a great many projects on it, but it has capacity for at least 5 large projects and then if you think it is worth it you can buy a licence.
Given that when starting out, most work (in my experience) comes from agencies, it would be a good idea to get the demo versions for a couple of CAT tools so that you don't have to refuse work when it comes in TXML format/other formats. I work with Wordfast and find it very helpful.
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