translation vs interpreting (freelance vs permanent full time job)
Thread poster: joannebenz
joannebenz
joannebenz
English to German
Nov 6, 2014

Hi there,

I am new to this forum and don't really know if this is the right place to post this question, if it belongs somewhere else, please feel free to move it and let me know ...

I would like to find out in which field (Translation OR Conference Interpreting) a graduate is more likely to find regular full time work in a company or organization (govt or other)

The reason I am asking is that I can choose to study either one, I prefer Conference Interpret
... See more
Hi there,

I am new to this forum and don't really know if this is the right place to post this question, if it belongs somewhere else, please feel free to move it and let me know ...

I would like to find out in which field (Translation OR Conference Interpreting) a graduate is more likely to find regular full time work in a company or organization (govt or other)

The reason I am asking is that I can choose to study either one, I prefer Conference Interpreting, but at the same time I loathe (yes, I need to use this very strong word, sorry) free lance work and willing to work in a full time permanent job for some organization for less money, if I can avoid freelancing.

I would appreciate if someone could let me know in which field there are more NON-freelance jobs

thanks a lot
Joanne
Collapse


 
LilianNekipelov
LilianNekipelov  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 04:46
Russian to English
+ ...
Hi, These are two different jobs. Nov 8, 2014

Most conference interpreters work freelance as well, unless you work for the UN, or another organization like that. The work is quite interesting but pretty stressful, and booth interpreting becomes really annoying after some time. They make good money--usually about $800/day.

Translation is less stressful and still interesting. It does not pay that well, but still reasonably, if you are firm with your rates.

[Edited at 2014-11-08 09:57 GMT]


 
Olga Sanfelix
Olga Sanfelix
Spain
Norwegian to Spanish
+ ...
Choose what you like best! Nov 8, 2014

Well, I think the likelihood of ending up working on a freelance basis is equal in both translation and interpreting. So my advice is to choose either translation or interpreting based on your preferences and personal traits.

May I recommend a very interesting post from the blog
... See more
Well, I think the likelihood of ending up working on a freelance basis is equal in both translation and interpreting. So my advice is to choose either translation or interpreting based on your preferences and personal traits.

May I recommend a very interesting post from the blog of a fellow translator:Who do you think you are? Adapting your psychological profile to your approach to work. It is absolutely spot on.

After you graduate, you can target your job applications so that you don't have to be a freelancer. Or you can learn to appreciate the perks of freelance work, since it is quite common in our profession.

Good luck!
Collapse


 
joannebenz
joannebenz
English to German
TOPIC STARTER
I don't appreciate the perks of freelance work though..... Nov 8, 2014

Olga Sanfelix wrote:

Well, I think the likelihood of ending up working on a freelance basis is equal in both translation and interpreting. So my advice is to choose either translation or interpreting based on your preferences and personal traits.

May I recommend a very interesting post from the blog of a fellow translator:Who do you think you are? Adapting your psychological profile to your approach to work. It is absolutely spot on.

After you graduate, you can target your job applications so that you don't have to be a freelancer. Or you can learn to appreciate the perks of freelance work, since it is quite common in our profession.

Good luck!




I appreciate your comments and the link, and I know which one I like better, but I nevertheless and despite my preference prefer to earn less, than work freelance, even if that freelance work would give me more income- that is just me.
so that is why I wondered which profession is less likely to force you into freelancing...............


 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 08:46
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Use your language skills in a different way? Nov 8, 2014

joannebenz wrote:
I loathe (yes, I need to use this very strong word, sorry) free lance work and willing to work in a full time permanent job for some organization for less money, if I can avoid freelancing.

I don't know the statistics, but there are very few salaried translators or interpreters. Who needs a full-time interpreter between just a couple of languages? Even the largest conference centres probably don't: they call on specialist freelancers. Even the largest multinationals outsource their translation work, and translation agencies employ interns, sales staff, PMs and highly experienced proofreaders (i.e. ex-freelancers), but they outsource the translation work to freelancers.

I would like to find out in which field (Translation OR Conference Interpreting) a graduate is more likely to find regular full time work

As Lilian says, the two jobs are completely different. It isn't just a case of different skills, but of different personality: an interpreter has to be a "people person" and a quick thinker; a translator has to enjoy research and attention to detail. It's a bit more complicated than that, of course but be aware that the difference is great.


OTOH, there are very many salaried jobs out there that have a requirement for language skills, and whose job descriptions include a certain amount of contact (spoken and/or written) with people in two or more languages, and/or the translation of documents. You'll find your language skills in great demand.

I'd advise you to choose your studies according to your personality and preference. Then get a job in an international situation (maybe abroad?). Later on, you may look on running your own business in a completely different light. By then, you'll have a very suitable background to become a translator, even if you chose to study interpreting (not so sure about the other way around).


 
Phil Hand
Phil Hand  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 16:46
Chinese to English
Very unlikely in either - study interpreting Nov 8, 2014

There are very few inhouse jobs in either translation or interpreting. In interpreting, your only real hope is the EU, and you need at least two, preferably three pairs to get one of those jobs. So you should only think about it if you have three foreign languages up to a decent standard.

But if you study translation, and don't find a position you like, you're a bit stuffed. If you study interpreting and don't get a position you like, you're still very marketable in other profession
... See more
There are very few inhouse jobs in either translation or interpreting. In interpreting, your only real hope is the EU, and you need at least two, preferably three pairs to get one of those jobs. So you should only think about it if you have three foreign languages up to a decent standard.

But if you study translation, and don't find a position you like, you're a bit stuffed. If you study interpreting and don't get a position you like, you're still very marketable in other professions. Your spoken language skills will be a big plus in any number of communications-related fields. So I'd say interpreting is the safer option for you.
Collapse


 
Rachel Waddington
Rachel Waddington  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:46
Dutch to English
+ ...
I'm curious Nov 8, 2014

What is it about freelance work that you are so dead set against? Maybe these problems can be overcome ... for example if it's the isolation of working alone you don't like you can share office space with others.

As others have said, most translators and interpreters do work freelance so it might be worth exploring whether you can find a way around your dislike of this way of working.

[Edited at 2014-11-08 15:15 GMT]


 
AlternativeW (X)
AlternativeW (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:46
French to English
Don't focus too early on Nov 8, 2014



 
Lourdes Barrientos
Lourdes Barrientos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 01:46
English to Spanish
+ ...
I am curious too... since I am a freelancer now, but I was not before Nov 9, 2014

Hi All,

I was a full time translator for a large hospital. I enjoyed the steady hours, steady schedule and steady paycheck.

I used SDL Trados and my job was to translate medical "papers", all day long.

Circumstances changed 180°, and I now take care of my mom at home. I was doing freelancing telephone interpreting and that can keep you busy 24-7-365. You make as much as you want. Being her one and only caregiver, I cannot lock myself in the office and
... See more
Hi All,

I was a full time translator for a large hospital. I enjoyed the steady hours, steady schedule and steady paycheck.

I used SDL Trados and my job was to translate medical "papers", all day long.

Circumstances changed 180°, and I now take care of my mom at home. I was doing freelancing telephone interpreting and that can keep you busy 24-7-365. You make as much as you want. Being her one and only caregiver, I cannot lock myself in the office and work on the phone and not be 100% aware of where she is. That takes me to my current situation, translation freelancing.

It is not steady "anything". It is uncertain, unknown and not predictable. Many freelancers make a living this way. I cannot say I am making a living like when I used to work at the hospital. These are 2 very different comparisons, like "apples" to "oranges".

Someone else posted "to select what you really want to do", and I believe that is a good response to your query. Why do you loathe freelancing? In one or two words, could you tell us?
Collapse


 
Claire Cox
Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:46
French to English
+ ...
Boils down to what you want out of life... Nov 9, 2014

I think it comes down to why you are so dead set against freelancing, as others have said. If it's because you don't relish the solitary lifestyle of a freelance translator - and you do have to be very disciplined about finding work, working when you need to and not being easily distracted by other things around you - than I think maybe interpreting is your best bet, as the very nature of interpreting is interacting with people. That said, there are fewer and fewer in-house jobs these days and y... See more
I think it comes down to why you are so dead set against freelancing, as others have said. If it's because you don't relish the solitary lifestyle of a freelance translator - and you do have to be very disciplined about finding work, working when you need to and not being easily distracted by other things around you - than I think maybe interpreting is your best bet, as the very nature of interpreting is interacting with people. That said, there are fewer and fewer in-house jobs these days and you probably will end up being self-employed (unless you're good enough to get a job with the EU or another major organisation), but at least when you are working you'll be out and about, mixing with others.

Thanks for the link to my blog post, Olga, too. The workshop I was describing was a fascinating overview of how your personality profile affects your approach to work. I've also written about the solitary nature of a translator's life: http://clairecoxtranslations.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/the-solitary-translator-myth-or-reality/ which might give Joanne even more desire not to become a freelancer!

Friends often say to me that they couldn't do what I do: they'd hate to be on their own in the house, having to be disciplined about getting down to work and you do have to be very focussed. Only you can know what works for you, but the beauty of language skills is that you can try either profession and see if you can make a go of it at home. If you really hate it, you still have a transferable skill.

Good luck!
Collapse


 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:


You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

translation vs interpreting (freelance vs permanent full time job)







Trados Studio 2022 Freelance
The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.

Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

More info »
Anycount & Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000

Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.

More info »