| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Poll: How often do you think about changing your profession? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How often do you think about changing your profession?".
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
| | | | John Cutler 
Spain
Local time: 12:07
Spanish to English
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| Other possibilities | Apr 15, 2008 |
I would have liked an answer somewhere between sometimes and often. Don’t get me wrong, I like translating, I’ve got very nice clients and I make a good living, but I have other talents and abilities that I don’t get to use much as a translator. I keep trying to talk my wife into starting some type of event-organising business (we’ve both organised lots of small to mid-sized events over the years and have always had success), but alas, she’s happy with her job too and doesn’t want to... See more I would have liked an answer somewhere between sometimes and often. Don’t get me wrong, I like translating, I’ve got very nice clients and I make a good living, but I have other talents and abilities that I don’t get to use much as a translator. I keep trying to talk my wife into starting some type of event-organising business (we’ve both organised lots of small to mid-sized events over the years and have always had success), but alas, she’s happy with her job too and doesn’t want to change horses in midstream. I’ve also thought I’d like to be a tour guide around the province where I live and have even sent out a few CVs to see what kind of response I might get. For now, I’ll stick with translating, but since I believe opportunity knocks many times in life, I’ll keep my eyes and ears open to see what comes my way! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sanmar
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:07
Dutch to English
Like John, I believe that there are many opportunities in life and I think it is fun and interesting to try your hand at different things. Although I really enjoy being a freelance translator and love the flexibility and freedom that comes with it, the one downside, for me personally, is the isolation. Lately, I have been thinking more and more about pursuing my other dream, i.e. running some kind of coffeeshop/bar. I love being my own boss and don't think I would want to work for anyone else e... See more Like John, I believe that there are many opportunities in life and I think it is fun and interesting to try your hand at different things. Although I really enjoy being a freelance translator and love the flexibility and freedom that comes with it, the one downside, for me personally, is the isolation. Lately, I have been thinking more and more about pursuing my other dream, i.e. running some kind of coffeeshop/bar. I love being my own boss and don't think I would want to work for anyone else ever again. Owning a coffeeshop/bar/eaterie would enable me to be my own boss and meet many different kinds of people as well.
[Edited at 2008-04-15 15:48] ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:07
Spanish to English
+ ...
| It took me long enough to get here :) | Apr 15, 2008 |
I don't envisage finding anything else that I can do so well, on my own terms, from home, for the same income. It's just never crossed my mind.
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Roomy Naqvy
India
Local time: 15:37
English to Hindi
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| I don't have one profession! | Apr 15, 2008 |
Well, well... what are the things that I do-->
I have a full time job as a University Assistant Professor
and the amount of freelance translating I do is no less than a full time job!
And I have been invited somewhere to train faculty members of a school... and this is a consultancy project in an individual capacity...
I might as well become a certified trainer soon.
So, I realize I have so much to do that there is no time to think that o... See more Well, well... what are the things that I do-->
I have a full time job as a University Assistant Professor
and the amount of freelance translating I do is no less than a full time job!
And I have been invited somewhere to train faculty members of a school... and this is a consultancy project in an individual capacity...
I might as well become a certified trainer soon.
So, I realize I have so much to do that there is no time to think that one is getting tired of anything.
roomy ▲ Collapse
| | | | Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 06:07
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Sometimes... | Apr 15, 2008 |
... though not seriously.
Every time I find myself translating an interesting text, or read an interesting book, I feel compelled to make an effort and go back to university for another undergrad degree in a field completely different from languages and/or translation (usually, that of the text and/or book).
The feeling is quite similar to what I experienced at age 7, in the midst of the whole Halley's Comet hype: "I want to be an astronaut!!!" (yes, an astronaut; I did... See more ... though not seriously.
Every time I find myself translating an interesting text, or read an interesting book, I feel compelled to make an effort and go back to university for another undergrad degree in a field completely different from languages and/or translation (usually, that of the text and/or book).
The feeling is quite similar to what I experienced at age 7, in the midst of the whole Halley's Comet hype: "I want to be an astronaut!!!" (yes, an astronaut; I didn't know the difference between "astronaut" and "astronomer" back then") :D:D
Sooo, since I just finished reading an awesome book on the science of memory (In Search of Memory, by Eric Kandel), the past days I have been looking into the BA in Science and the BA in Biochemistry academic programs at different universities.
Last month, I was looking into the Economics academic programs.
In the end, I think I'll stick to Translation. I doubt that any other profession/occupation will give me such opportunities to learn about so many different things. And get paid for it to boot!
Andrea
[Edited at 2008-04-15 17:33] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Daniela Koleva
Netherlands
Local time: 12:07
English to Bulgarian
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| You never know... | Apr 15, 2008 |
I'm working as a translator already for 8 years but established myself as a freelancer just last year. In the meanwhile I had various professions - from a teacher to editor and a cultural manager, changing jobs every two years...
Let's see now, whether I can make a living as a freelancer... But I give myself two years, no more and I'll be looking again for something else... As I have many interests and talents and moreover I love challenges... But I guess I will be always translatin... See more I'm working as a translator already for 8 years but established myself as a freelancer just last year. In the meanwhile I had various professions - from a teacher to editor and a cultural manager, changing jobs every two years...
Let's see now, whether I can make a living as a freelancer... But I give myself two years, no more and I'll be looking again for something else... As I have many interests and talents and moreover I love challenges... But I guess I will be always translating as I really love it....
You never know... ▲ Collapse
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I'm generally happy with my current position, but I need medium-term goals to keep me focused.
My aim - within the next three to five years - is to divide my time equally among translating, lecturing and legal consulting/research.
I enjoy legal/financial translation but law and particularly legal reasoning remains my true passion.
All three activities are spin-offs to varying degrees from mainstream practice and so as long as I'm working for myself, and no... See more I'm generally happy with my current position, but I need medium-term goals to keep me focused.
My aim - within the next three to five years - is to divide my time equally among translating, lecturing and legal consulting/research.
I enjoy legal/financial translation but law and particularly legal reasoning remains my true passion.
All three activities are spin-offs to varying degrees from mainstream practice and so as long as I'm working for myself, and not carrying partners as often happens in mainstream practice, I'm satisfied. ▲ Collapse
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| Don't ask me today please... | Apr 15, 2008 |
...after working on big projects for 15 days in a row, 7 AM to 10 PM, barely resting over the weekend... In some Spanish bars you can see this sign: "We don't offer credit today, but please ask us tomorrow". Please ask me tomorrow!
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 06:07
Spanish to English
+ ...
| I think about it everyday | Apr 15, 2008 |
I do not see much of a future in translation. I have not been able to raise my rates in 12 years. Even more depressing was a recent e-mail I received from Proz offering a $250 course in translation from an outsourcer that pays .05.
You used to be able to make a career out of translating - have a house and a family. Sadly, this is no longer true. I feel sorry for new people who think they will be able to earn a living from this job as it has become fodder and feeding ground for ama... See more I do not see much of a future in translation. I have not been able to raise my rates in 12 years. Even more depressing was a recent e-mail I received from Proz offering a $250 course in translation from an outsourcer that pays .05.
You used to be able to make a career out of translating - have a house and a family. Sadly, this is no longer true. I feel sorry for new people who think they will be able to earn a living from this job as it has become fodder and feeding ground for amateurs and scam artists. The current recession/depression we are experiecing in the US is not helping matters either. Things are getting really bad here.
[Edited at 2008-04-15 21:13] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | The other way around? | Apr 15, 2008 |
I have only a year ago taken up transating again.
As I am getting tired of nights on call, I do less of those and more translations.
The nice thing about this kind of work is that I can do it anywhere and in my own time. I don't have to stay up till 4 am unless I want to.
I hope I can keep it up to supplement my retirement income when that time comes.
From some nice, sunny place
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Me!? No way!
Working from home, with no dress codes required.
No meddling with co-workers, and long drive back and forth everyday, 5 days a week in this age of high gasoline price.
Changing job never crossed my mind, as I am making equivalent or greater amount of money than most of office workers. Why should I?
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Ágata Sousa
Brazil
Local time: 07:07
English to Portuguese
| Sometimes... | Apr 15, 2008 |
Andrea Riffo wrote:
... though not seriously.
Every time I find myself translating an interesting text, or read an interesting book, I feel compelled to make an effort and go back to university for another undergrad degree in a field completely different from languages and/or translation (usually, that of the text and/or book).
(...)
In the end, I think I'll stick to Translation. I doubt that any other profession/occupation will give me such opportunities to learn about so many different things. And get paid for it to boot!
Andrea
[Edited at 2008-04-15 17:33]
Exactly the same with me. Every time I found a new and interesting subject I think about changing my profession, but it only lasts until I think again and consider that doing that every day may not be so nice. And translating I can learn about all this stuff, and never get bored
| | | | | I hear you =( | Apr 16, 2008 |
Jeff Whittaker wrote:
I do not see much of a future in translation. I have not been able to raise my rates in 12 years. Even more depressing was a recent e-mail I received from Proz offering a $250 course in translation from an outsourcer that pays .05.
You used to be able to make a career out of translating - have a house and a family. Sadly, this is no longer true. I feel sorry for new people who think they will be able to earn a living from this job as it has become fodder and feeding ground for amateurs and scam artists. The current recession/depression we are experiecing in the US is not helping matters either. Things are getting really bad here.
[Edited at 2008-04-15 21:13]
The situation with work in the Sates is really bad nowadays...
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 04:07
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam | No thought of changing | Apr 16, 2008 |
I have found the one thing I can do better than anyone else around, so I do it.
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