Looking to get established as a freelance translator - help needed Thread poster: translatorwo (X)
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translatorwo (X) 
Local time: 08:05
Spanish to English
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Hiya all,
Am looking to start up as a freelance translator as soon as possible. Just to give you all a bit of background, I completed my BA (Hons) in Spanish and Italian back in 2008 and then went on to do a MA in Translation Studies in Barcelona the following year. I also did a bit of interpreting (both consecutive and simultaneous - unfortunately from English to Spanish as the MA was in Spain) as part of the course, and even though I enjoyed it, certainly realised that translati... See more Hiya all,
Am looking to start up as a freelance translator as soon as possible. Just to give you all a bit of background, I completed my BA (Hons) in Spanish and Italian back in 2008 and then went on to do a MA in Translation Studies in Barcelona the following year. I also did a bit of interpreting (both consecutive and simultaneous - unfortunately from English to Spanish as the MA was in Spain) as part of the course, and even though I enjoyed it, certainly realised that translating was what I could see myself doing long term, and not interpreting. Since I got back from Spain in 2009, I have had (am on the second one now) two customer service language jobs, in which I have used Spanish, Italian and French, as well as German to a basic level as recently have completed an A-Level in this language. However, I would really like to get started as a translator!
I have contacted the ITI today and they have given me some very useful information about contacting translation agencies and the like, as well as the possibility of taking the Diploma in Translation exam (in hindsight as I already have my MA have been advised that I wouldn't necessarily need to do this) Have also read on here that it is perfectly possible to get work on here without actually setting up your own website or anything, but is that really true?!
I also have literally no idea about how taxes and rate per word count etc. work so if someone can put me in the right direction - would be most grateful!!
[Edited at 2012-08-28 19:49 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | | | Get started with ProZ.com | Aug 28, 2012 |
Hello chicoingles,
Welcome to ProZ.com!
Perhaps you would like to check the new "Get started with ProZ.com" site area and learn more about the steps you should take to get started as a translator with the help of ProZ.com:
http://www.proz.com/pages/getting_started
Hope it helps!
Kind regards,
Lucia
| | | | Sarah Silva
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:05
Member (2008)
German to English
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| Proz profile a good start | Aug 29, 2012 |
Hi chicoingles!
I've been working freelance since 2008 and have only just set up my website this year - mainly because I've been too busy with translation work to sort it out
I've had a quick look at your profile and it's really a bit bare... My advice would be to try and complete as many of the fields as possible giving your qualifications, experience, specialist/working fields, contact details and infor... See more Hi chicoingles!
I've been working freelance since 2008 and have only just set up my website this year - mainly because I've been too busy with translation work to sort it out
I've had a quick look at your profile and it's really a bit bare... My advice would be to try and complete as many of the fields as possible giving your qualifications, experience, specialist/working fields, contact details and information in the 'about me' section. This will give you a better ranking in searches and increase your chances of people contacting you via Proz.com without you having to go and out and actually look for work. This is my experience anyway. I have many regular customers who have contacted me via Proz.com for specific projects and have since given me a regular supply of work.
I would also recommend membership of the ITI or IOL and would agree that you wouldn't need the Diptrans because you already have an MA.
There is lots of information in the forums mentioned in your other replies and I've also found a couple of books very useful - The entrepreneurial linguist by Judy and Dagmar Jenner and How to succeed as a freelance translator by Corinne McKay.
There is a rate calculator tool (under Tools in Proz) where you can work backwards from what you need to earn a year to establish your rates. Don't be afraid to charge decent rates as it's very hard to increase them later!
Depending on where you are based, different tax rates will apply but in England I've been advised to put aside at least 30% of your earnings for tax, national insurance etc.
Hope this initial info helps you on the right path, good luck! ▲ Collapse
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Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 08:05
Member (2007)
English
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| A few additional thoughts | Aug 29, 2012 |
chicoingles wrote:
Since I got back from Spain in 2009, I have had (am on the second one now) two customer service language jobs, in which I have used Spanish, Italian and French, as well as German to a basic level as recently have completed an A-Level in this language. However, I would really like to get started as a translator!
Is there any chance of keeping a part-time job for some or all of the first year of freelancing? Remember that you won't get a cent (make that a penny!) if you don't have a text, and clients can be difficult to find to start with. Any freelancing job will take off slowly unless you land a major client on day 1. And even doing that can be a drawback as you shouldn't be too dependent on one client, or even on two or three clients, for that matter. You need a wide client base and that will always take time.
Have also read on here that it is perfectly possible to get work on here without actually setting up your own website or anything, but is that really true?!
It is true, but you have to do everything to give yourself a professional feel, to give confidence to potential clients and, above all, to be seen by them. Take a look at the directory here to see how much competition you've got. But, as Lucia says, there's a lot of help available here. Of course, you shouldn't rely on ProZ.com to bring all your clients, you need to spread the net far wider than that, but it's a good place to start - and a good place to stay.
I also have literally no idea about how taxes and rate per word count etc. work so if someone can put me in the right direction - would be most grateful!!
Something that far too few freelancers get a hold of is that they are running a company. OK, it's a very small company, but you will be an entrepreneur, a business-person. You need to adopt a different mindset, even different vocabulary (employee>freelancer, employer>client, salary>rate...) The days of being told what to do (and knowing you will be paid) will all go. YOU will be the head of the board of directors, the head of the accounting department; the legal department; marketing; sales; purchasing; administration...
I believe it's quite easy in the UK to set up as a freelancer, but there are still things to learn: the basics of invoicing, tax, debt recovery... and also marketing. I advise you to find a short course to give you all the facts. Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce or the Job Centre run them.
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:05
Hebrew to English
chicoingles wrote:
I also have literally no idea about how taxes and rate per word count etc. work so if someone can put me in the right direction - would be most grateful!!
[Edited at 2012-08-28 19:49 GMT]
The VAT threshold is astronomical, about £77,000. So it's unlikely you'll have to worry about this any time soon.
As a sole trader/self-employed you'll have to pay Class 2 NI contributions, I think they're about £2.65 a week. There's a threshold for these too, but it's quite low (£5,595 per year)
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/working/intro/class2.htm
Your income tax will depend on your income, obviously. Also dependent on thresholds - "This tax year (2012-13) the basic Personal Allowance - or tax-free amount - is £8,105."
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/basics.htm
You can get more information here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/working/intro/selfemployed.htm
*Important Note: Always keep in mind that you're dealing with HMRC. They lack any sense of urgency and can be rather incompetent at the best of times.
[Edited at 2012-08-29 09:36 GMT]
| | | | | Plus Class 4 | Aug 29, 2012 |
Ty Kendall wrote: As a sole trader/self-employed you'll have to pay Class 2 NI contributions, I think they're about £2.65 a week. There's a threshold for these too, but it's quite low (£5,595 per year) http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/working/intro/class2.htm
Class 4: "You pay 9 per cent on annual profits between £7,605 and £42,475 (2012-13) and 2 per cent on any profit over that amount."
www.hmrc.gov.uk/working/intro/class4.htm
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:05
Hebrew to English
| Thanks Madeleine! | Aug 29, 2012 |
I forgot about those Class 4s.
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| Then there's council tax... | Aug 29, 2012 |
It's not officially an income tax in the UK, but in many other countries the equivalent is a tax based on income. And even in the UK you pay it with the income you earn.
So you still have to add it when calculating how much you need to earn in order to survive or live well/decently.
| | | | Paul Adie (X)
Germany
Spanish to English
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| In-house work? | Aug 29, 2012 |
I would have thought in-house work would be one way to go, but be prepared for long working hours, and very tight deadlines. I've got a freelancer/in-house background, and although I complain about my in-house positions, they did teach me a lot.
One thing though - I think in-house positions would only be available abroad.
Another way to go is directly contacting agencies, possible direct clients, and just chancing your luck. If your CV lands in someone's desk at the r... See more I would have thought in-house work would be one way to go, but be prepared for long working hours, and very tight deadlines. I've got a freelancer/in-house background, and although I complain about my in-house positions, they did teach me a lot.
One thing though - I think in-house positions would only be available abroad.
Another way to go is directly contacting agencies, possible direct clients, and just chancing your luck. If your CV lands in someone's desk at the right time, you just never know.
Unfortunately there are a lot of hacks working with Spanish and Catalan, and you'll have to put up with these guys too. However, there are good clients out there!
If you'd like to ask me something in particular, just contact me through my ProZ.com profile. ▲ Collapse
| | | | translatorwo (X)
Local time: 08:05
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thanks ever so much for all your help! | Sep 6, 2012 |
Hiya again,
Sorry I haven't back to any of you until now but I've been rather busy of late - your advice has really helped me! I have just updated my Proz profile so hopefully it looks more respectable now - if someone could give it the once over would be most grateful! Unfortunately apart from the translation practicals I did as part of my MA in Barcelona I don't have any more experience but am of course eager to get this. Have actually been looking around for in-house translati... See more Hiya again,
Sorry I haven't back to any of you until now but I've been rather busy of late - your advice has really helped me! I have just updated my Proz profile so hopefully it looks more respectable now - if someone could give it the once over would be most grateful! Unfortunately apart from the translation practicals I did as part of my MA in Barcelona I don't have any more experience but am of course eager to get this. Have actually been looking around for in-house translation positions but the ones I've found are nowhere near me! Grr!!! ▲ Collapse
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