Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

Chapter 6. The die is cast! 181∗∗∗∗∗∗∗Choose a course that is known to turn out good translators. Companies withvacancies tend to have a bias in favour of applicants who have graduated frominstitutions whose alumni have already proven their professional qualitiesin the past. It is well-known that graduates from certain institutions have ahead start in the employment market, because they are known to have thequalities that the employers are looking for and will be offered the jobs beforeanyone else.Apply for all vacancies advertised. However, a word of warning:– At least a third of the vacancies advertised are not bona fide job ads,but rather cheap publicity for the company pretending to offer vacancies.Some companies or agencies would be employing several hundred in-housetranslators if they had really taken on all those they had advertised for(unless there is a massive staff turnover, which would be just as bad a sign).– Apply for vacancies and go for interviews even if you do not fit the jobprofile perfectly. If you get through to the interview stage, (1) show themwhat you can do (2) dwell on your particular skills and expertise, and(3) learn as much as you can about interview techniques: it can come inhandy later.Send your CV. Employers may come across your CV when going through theirfiles prior to recruiting new staff. One particular feature of the translationindustry is that a CV mailed to a translation company may also lead tosub-contracting offers when the company needs to farm out work. Many atranslator looking for a salaried position has ended up freelancing followingthis kind of offer.Use your own networks to the full, including in particular, alumni contacts.Go in for the civil service exams regularly organised by government departmentsand other public bodies to fill vacancies in their translation services.These exams are widely advertised, but because these are competitive examinationswith a large number of applicants, it is advisable to have several yearsexperience, even though this is not officially a pre-requisite.Apply for jobs that do not actually seem to have been specifically tailoredfor translators. Many small and medium-sized companies have needs and‘problems’ on the ‘language’ and ‘documentation’ side that they have no ideahow to tackle. They will therefore advertise for jobs without making referenceto translators. Once they find out what services translators can actually render,they will hire one. So, go and tell them. And get the job.Alternatively, many people in small and medium-sized companies do knowwhat a translator can do. But their view of that particular person is a littlebit antiquated and they think their problems cannot be solved by hiringa translator. In fact, they would want someone to take care of international