| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4] > | Off topic: How long have you been in the business? Thread poster: Fan Gao
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| I'm in for the long haul | Sep 1, 2006 |
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time.
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
N/A
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
5 years
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Employed by a translation company for 3 1/2 years after completing my degree in translation (MIIS), then went freelance in 2001.
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
I'm in in for the long haul. Can't imagine being happy doing anything else. When I first tried to decide on a career, I told myself to choose something I could see myself doing for 5 yrs. (less pressure than thinking about the rest of your working life!) I've been translating for 9 yrs. now after my degree course and still love it.
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
Not bored with the work, but bored with the 4 walls of my office. When I need to replace my desktop, I have decided to go with a laptop so I can be more mobile and work outside the house more.
Otherwise, to keep my career moving forward, I would like to go back to school for some type of legal training when my kids get bigger and husband is out of school. Like Robin said, self-study is great, but it takes *so long*! Also, I want to study Spanish, because my daughter is currently in a Spanish-immersion program, and we are considering a move in a few years to a Spanish-speaking country.
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
Career. The way things are going in the States, freelancing is about as secure as being an employee anyway! Maybe more, since I'm in control.
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
NO! Very content with my pairs. I have no desire to be responsible for employees or for other people's translations (beyond the occasional collaboration, of course). Right on, whoever said they avoid proofreading like the plague! It's not exactly my favorite activity, either, and a must if you want to have a decent agency.
Do you ever think back and think "wow, I have this great career" or do you have any regrets?
Wow, I have this great career...
Thanks, Mark!
Daina
[Edited at 2006-09-01 18:02]
| | | | Parrot 
Spain
Local time: 09:04
Spanish to English
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| Another long hauler | Sep 1, 2006 |
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
- Full time.
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
- Since 1992.
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
- I worked 4 years in a convention bureau, had a 3-year apprenticeship under some mentors, took post-grad another 2 years and landed in-house at a government office. Whe... See more 1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
- Full time.
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
- Since 1992.
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
- I worked 4 years in a convention bureau, had a 3-year apprenticeship under some mentors, took post-grad another 2 years and landed in-house at a government office. When they scrapped the budget line item, I went freelance because my employers became clients.
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
- Cripes, you change with every document. Probably the only thing I miss is physical exercise.
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
- Beyond - sky's the limit here!
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
- I don't see myself having time to act as an agency.
I'd be really interested to hear about your experiences and thoughts and your aspirations for either maintaining and building and improving on what you have now or whether you foresee a total change in the future.
I've always been told (and always knew) that there was no end to maintenance here. Since maintenance is fun, anyway, I don't see myself stopping.
Have a great day ▲ Collapse
| | | | mediamatrix (X)
Local time: 03:04
Spanish to English
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| Out of necessity ... | Sep 1, 2006 |
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Part-time.
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
I don't 'also have a part-time job' - translation is (very) part-time vis à vis my main activities as a media consultant (and also an integral part of that activity, since I am my own biggest client... See more 1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Part-time.
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
I don't 'also have a part-time job' - translation is (very) part-time vis à vis my main activities as a media consultant (and also an integral part of that activity, since I am my own biggest client).
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
N/A for the question as asked. I've been freelancing part-time as a translator for 6 years.
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
I was employed by an international organization for around 22 years, starting with 9 years as a technical translator before moving on to other things: editing/publishing (9 years) and finally strategic information management for the European broadcast media industry. Having said that, translation was a part of my job throughout those 22 years.
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
If 'just started out freelancing' applies to me (after 6 years) I'd say 'not if I can avoid it!'. The same goes for all other forms of paid employment .
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
Yes - daily (and sometimes hourly).
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
Neither: it is currently an essential component of my professional activities; and I'm already (early-)retired, at least in theory!
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
Expand into an agency? - Not flippin' likely!
MediaMatrix ▲ Collapse
| | | | EmmanuelleAn (X)
Local time: 09:04
English to French
+ ...
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Part time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
No, I need diversity
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Straight to freelance
5) If you've just started out freelancing... See more 1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Part time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
No, I need diversity
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Straight to freelance
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
Why not
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
I don't know. I like the job but I could get tired of it.
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
No. I'm happy with what I have
I'm 38 now and I know there are alot of younger translators out there and there are alot of older translators out there. This afternoon I found myself in one of those philosophical moods where you try to figure out where you're going and I asked myself "how long can I see myself doing this for?"
No regrets. I like the job although sometimes you really start feeling lonely. If I solely did translation, I'd probably go nuts (sorry guys!). I remember spending 2 entire weeks on a big translation project. Waow! I almost turned into a sort of psycho at the end. After an entire day sitting in front of the computer, I start feeling isolated, nerdy and sometimes find myself talking to my computer. On those particular moments, my boyfriend thinks I'm crazy. I love meeting people, socialising and translation is not really about that...Thank God, I have the interpreting and teaching business! I think I have managed to find a great balance between those three businesses. However, the one thing I do miss a lot in both interpreting and translation is the lack of creativity. That's why I am seriously planning to go into advertising in the next coming years but I will definitely not give up translation/interpreting! I have heard many translators say that translation is creative...hello! I don't think so. You only use...may be 30%..of your creative potential in translation. Frustrating...
Sorry for being so long. Je raconte ma vie as they say in French. I'll stop here! Have a great week end! ▲ Collapse
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Sophia Hundt (X)
Local time: 02:04
Russian to English
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Chinese Concept wrote:
Hi,
I've posted this under "off-topic" because it's not really specific to any one area. Hope that's ok.
I guess it could have been a poll but then the options would be vague and I have other questions that go with it:)
Here are my questions:
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Part time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
No - I am also a full-time mom and a farm-wife, not to mention the housewife. I can't be limited to only one type of activity.
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Directly to freelancing.
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
Yes, many years to come. I love it.
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
Probably not through retirement. But we are involved in many other things as well, both for living and for fun, so given that we're only 26, who knows what exactly will see us through retirement.
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
I have no desire to expand beyond myself alone, that's the joy of it, that I work alone. I do imagine doing slightly more work, though.
I'm 38 now and I know there are alot of younger translators out there and there are alot of older translators out there. This afternoon I found myself in one of those philosophical moods where you try to figure out where you're going and I asked myself "how long can I see myself doing this for?"
Don't misunderstand me I love everything about the profession and the only negative aspect I can think of is the too much time I spend in front of my computer!
I'd be really interested to hear about your experiences and thoughts and your aspirations for either maintaining and building and improving on what you have now or whether you foresee a total change in the future.
Maybe you started out when you were younger and thought of it then as a temporary thing but now you still find yourself doing it. Do you ever think back and think "wow, I have this great career" or do you have any regrets?
Many thanks for reading and best wishes,
Mark
| | | | Özden Arıkan
Germany
Local time: 09:04
Member
English to Turkish
+ ...
Thanks, Mark!
I'll skip the questions that don't apply... and here we go:
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time. Have always worked as a full-time translator.
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
Since '96 - when it had already become really too difficult to go on with mothering and working in the staff of a company, especially in a city _Istanbul_ where half of the population has to change continents everyday to go to work and back, average commuting time being 2x1.5 hours. And of course, by that time, after about 12 years, that is, I had finally secured a client base that would keep me going. Ah, but there had been several periods of freelancing in between inhouse jobs. Still, that was the point I decided to work exclusively on a freelancing basis and never to look back again.
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
I had worked for a translation agency, then was employed in the translation department of a construction company, then worked for three publishing houses at different periods, freelancing on the side time and again.
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
Not really, just as I begin to get bored, the topic changes anyway
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
No, it's my profession and career that I'll pursue as long as it gets... I don't consider getting retired, either, in the sense of quitting. I'll translate till my retirement from this planet in the best possible scenario, and till an age-related retirement of my mental capacities, in the worst
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
Sometimes, I do. But then, I'm not a business person and wouldn't venture into it on my own. Perhaps with a partner whose business skills I can trust, as opposed to my own, besides their integrity and translation skills. But who knows what future will bring? Long way to go yet, till 'retirement,' that is
[Edited at 2006-09-01 20:05]
| | | | | "I shoulda learned to play them drums" | Sep 1, 2006 |
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
Since Feb 2003, so 3 and a half years
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Straight to freelance, after 15 years in IT, with some in-house involvment in translation in the latter stages
5) If you've just starte... See more 1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
Since Feb 2003, so 3 and a half years
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Straight to freelance, after 15 years in IT, with some in-house involvment in translation in the latter stages
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
Yup. I never liked office politics and being told what to do by people whose only skill was a religious devotion to the mouth/arse interface. My increasing ability to sleep through alarm clocks is rapidly making me unemployable
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
Yup, on a superficial level, i.e. rapidly getting bored with the text I'm working on. But in terms of a career, not really.
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
The way things are going in the UK, I think the whole idea of retirement will have changed radically by the time I'm 65-70. So it see it as the long-haul option for now, but who knows what will happen.
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
Not for all languages, but possibly an agency for my specialist areas, if the opportunity arises. But I think that 3 years is too little experience to have serious aspirations in that direction just yet.
Do you ever think back and think "wow, I have this great career" or do you have any regrets?
Yeah, 30 years ago, my music teacher at school wanted to put me forward for drumming lessons. I declined. Give me 5 pints, and I'm bound to mention how much I regret that decision at some point
[Edited at 2006-09-01 20:20] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Monika Coulson
Local time: 01:04
Member (2001)
English to Albanian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
N/A
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
About 15 years
<... See more 1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
N/A
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
About 15 years
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
I worked for a Translation Dept. before I started as a freelance. However, before that, I was working as a teacher. I taught Albanian in public schools in my country. I also taught Albanian to English speakers who were living in Albania temporary. When I came to the U.S.A., I taught in two elementary schools. After that, I changed my profession to translation.
(This is how it all happened: when we got married, my husband was still a student (studying Linguistics) and a few of his classes had to do with translation. I got interested on some of his classes, especially the translation ones, and I even took a couple of them. After talking to one of the professors, I decided to change my career and have not regreted it since. First, TBH, I felt very lonely, since I changed from being in a class surrounded with students or colleagues to being in a room with a computer only to talk to and look at. However, things have changed since that lonely time.)
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
Yes, even though I have already been doing this for several years now.
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
No. The only thing that I would want to change is the numbers of hours I work.
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
It is my career now.
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
I do not want to expand to an agency that offers all languages. By doing this, I feel that I would lose contact with my language pair reality and with my translation/interpretation skills.
Monika
[Edited at 2006-09-01 20:53] ▲ Collapse
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| Middle-ageing | Sep 1, 2006 |
Hi Mark,
I’m a full time translator since late March and before that I was employed in a company as a journalist and I’m starting to feel I can do this for as long as people want me to do it and no thoughts whatsoever about expanding into an agency.
Having said this – I think I answered all the questions applying to my case –, I think this is a very interesting topic to raise, perhaps because I’m undergoing a period of change, myself. I’m 38, working since I... See more Hi Mark,
I’m a full time translator since late March and before that I was employed in a company as a journalist and I’m starting to feel I can do this for as long as people want me to do it and no thoughts whatsoever about expanding into an agency.
Having said this – I think I answered all the questions applying to my case –, I think this is a very interesting topic to raise, perhaps because I’m undergoing a period of change, myself. I’m 38, working since I was 19 in journalism/translations as a full-time employee and all of a sudden I got into full-time freelancing.
It’s funny because as the 40’s are coming near, and all that talk about the middle age (which is now 40,according to the current life expectancy), I’ve been asking myself questions such as: who am I? Where am I going to? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? Etc. Right now, I’m trying to discover if there’s such a thing as “the meaning of life”.
I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to become a full time translator. I can’t afford to have a personal life at the moment, but hope I will, some time. Yes, I get bored occasionally. I miss the gossip near the coffee machine (favourite targets: the boss and the bootlickers), private jokes and lunch with colleagues. But in the end, I love what I’m doing right now, I feel I can make a difference (a tiny one), and I like to be my own boss, all things considered.
My priority after I can organize myself is to devote time to my family for the sake of my own sanity.
Good luck to all of you!
Cristina ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I wish I had started earlier | Sep 2, 2006 |
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Part time. I wish someday soon it can be full time.
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
I do have a part time job. I used to have a full time job and work all night and weekends on translations. Then I decided if I like translation and interpretation so much why not switch. I got myself a part time job and now I dedicate as many hours as I can to translation... See more 1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Part time. I wish someday soon it can be full time.
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
I do have a part time job. I used to have a full time job and work all night and weekends on translations. Then I decided if I like translation and interpretation so much why not switch. I got myself a part time job and now I dedicate as many hours as I can to translation and interpretation and to study to improve my skills and continue getting certifications.
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
Even though I do it part time I have been doing it for many years but I have put more effort and intention into it since about 7 years ago.
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
I was not employed as a translator but I was always the person in charge of translations in my jobs either in the information technology field or in the Human Resources field. That went on for about 20 years and then I decided to take advantage of my studies and my skills and do what I liked most.
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
N/A
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
I do not get bored. This is an ever challenging job. If I get tired of sitting in front of the computer, I get up and walk around, stretch myself, Google for a while, call some friend, and get back to work.
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
No stops here, not even after "retirement".
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
I am quite content as I feel very proficient in my pair. I would like to recruit the help of my son who knows Japanese, and my daughter who knows Italian to translate from those languages into Spanish or English. That is as far as I would get in terms of growth. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I started when I was only 19... | Sep 2, 2006 |
And here are my answers:
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
NA
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
12 years
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Straight to freelance, except for the thr... See more And here are my answers:
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
NA
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
12 years
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Straight to freelance, except for the three-month apprenticeship (in-house translator for a local agency) that is mandatory in my country in order to earn a professional license.
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
NA
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
Every 3 years in the average. In deed I went through a significant crisis when I turned 23, and decided to go back to school two years after (journalism). But now I understand it is all cyclical, and after getting bored, I normally fall in love again with translation and interpreting.
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
NA
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
I would like to learn other languages, but I am not interested in becoming an agency. In deed I have turned down more a dozen business proposals in that area.
ALEJANDRA
[Editado a las 2006-09-02 00:35] ▲ Collapse
| | | | sandhya
Local time: 12:34
German to English
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| Great survey - my answers! | Sep 2, 2006 |
Hi,
Here are my answers
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
- Full time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
- N/A
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
- about 15 years
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
- jumped straight... See more Hi,
Here are my answers
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
- Full time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
- N/A
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
- about 15 years
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
- jumped straight into freelancing, as I never could tolerate the 9-5 routine or being told what to do
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
- N/A
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
- I get bored only when I am translating boring stuff. But, the minute I start on an interesting text, I am rejuvenated. I LOVE translation, and can't seem myself getting bored with the profession or giving it up ever!
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
- Is my career-cum-hobby - that's why I love my profession, gives me both (temporary) pain and (permanent) pleasure
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
- Never. I am too used to working alone now and without stress. If I expand, I will be inviting stress and more importantly, I will lose my independence... to accept only jobs I want to, to stop work when I don't want to, to take off on short holidays if I feel like it... ahhh, the joys of being a free bird are too many to exchange for more money!!
Do you ever think back and think "wow, I have this great career" or do you have any regrets?
- I am very happy and content with my choice of career. In future tho I might also take up writing, but I have no regrets. I chose translation as a career, and I must say it has given me more than I expected!
cheers
sandhya ▲ Collapse
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1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time
2) If you also have a part time job do you envisage one day switching to full time translation?
I'm already full time
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
I started as a free-lancer over 20 years ago, then I worked for a software company, and now I'm back working for myself
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
vice versa: first as a freelancer, then a partner in a translation company, senior translator in a larger TC, senior translator and translation manager in a software company, and now back in the free world
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
Probably until I retire (hopefully in my 80s
6) If you've been freelancing for a few years (+5 years) do you ever get bored and feel in need of a change?
Sometimes, with large projects
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
I find the wording of this question fairly offensive...can you imagine yourself asking to a lawyer, doctor or engineer the same question ("Is Is medicine/the law/engineering a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?")?
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
I already work as a translation company with a few choice colleagues. We do not intend offering "all languages", but only work with the few languages we know we can offer a high-quality service.
| | | | Fan Gao
Australia
Local time: 17:04
English to Chinese
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TOPIC STARTER | Many thanks to everyone for your contributions | Sep 2, 2006 |
Hi,
First off I should apologise for not acknowledging and thanking everyone who answered my little survey earlier. The last 24 hours have been a bit manic!
I really appreciate the time you took in sharing your experiences and I have found it very interesting and inspirational to hear all of your different points of view. I think it makes it even more interesting the fact that you all come from different countries, speak different languages, have different backgrounds a... See more Hi,
First off I should apologise for not acknowledging and thanking everyone who answered my little survey earlier. The last 24 hours have been a bit manic!
I really appreciate the time you took in sharing your experiences and I have found it very interesting and inspirational to hear all of your different points of view. I think it makes it even more interesting the fact that you all come from different countries, speak different languages, have different backgrounds and age ranges etc.
Anyway to be fair I realised I've asked all of these questions and I never answered them myself so here goes:
1) Do you work as a translator full time or part time?
Full time
3) If you work as a full time translator how long have you been freelancing?
Professionally for 6 months
4) Did you go straight to freelance or were you employed as a translator for an agency/company beforehand?
Straight into freelancing
5) If you've just started out freelancing do you see yourself doing this for many years to come?
Yes, because now I've experienced the perks of being my own boss and working under my own conditions I just can't ever imagine going back into the 9-5 rat race.
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
Along with my Chinese colleague we both intend to make a success of our business, work hard and see where it takes us in the future. Who knows, things change but for now I definitely see it as the career where I have found my calling.
8) Do you have dreams of expanding into an agency to cater for all languages or are you content with your specialised language pair/s?
I really believe in just concentrating on what you do best so I would never consider breaking into areas where I have no experience let alone knowledge. I also think the demand for ChineseEnglish will just keep growing and growing just as China's economy is so I think we'll be kept busy enough in just this area.
So yesterday I was feeling philosophical and today I'm feeling inspired, so thank you:)
Best wishes,
Mark
Edited for spelling.
[Edited at 2006-09-02 07:15] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Fan Gao
Australia
Local time: 17:04
English to Chinese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Riccardo Schiaffino wrote:
7) Is freelance translation a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?
I find the wording of this question fairly offensive...can you imagine yourself asking to a lawyer, doctor or engineer the same question ("Is Is medicine/the law/engineering a temporary stop-gap for you or do you consider it to be a career that will see you through to retirement?")?
Hi Riccardo,
My sincere apologies for causing offence to you with this question. I certainly didn't intend it that way. Maybe I should have just phrased it as "Do you ever see yourself changing careers?"
Best wishes,
Mark
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