Five top tips for excellence in translation.

1)   Google as much as possible: don’t focus merely on the linguistic aspect, but also verify the content of the text. The client will be delighted to know you’ve actually done your research. Don’t hesitate to point out errors or question the information provided. A good translator takes his time to immerse himself in the subject. Needless to say you should always be subtle when informing the client of inconsistencies. After all, no one likes to be corrected and criticised.

2)   Ask a second translator to proofread your text. I know it may sound time-consuming and it may require additional (financial) resources, but in the long run it pays to have someone – preferably a translator – proofread your texts, at least when you’re dealing with large volumes. Remember that unfortunately very few translation agencies actually proofread all translations, so errors can end up costing you dearly.

3)   Take your time. Sure, the more translations you accept, the more money you make, but don’t overdo it. Ideally, you should finish a translation, close the document and re-read it after half an hour or so (or better even, the following morning). I guarantee you'll find typos and discrepancies you missed the first time around.

4)   Build up a network of translator friends and enlist their help whenever you need it. The world of translation is a tough sector where everyone wants a slice of the cake, but translators do realise they sometimes need each other’s help. Set your pride aside and just ask. Social media – Twitter in particular – has opened up so many possibilities, all just a click away!

5)   Your job is done once you’ve sent your work to the client, unless there are complaints and/or queries on his part. Don’t forget that your way of communicating with the client is just as important as the translation itself. Don’t just write “Here you go”. Show that you’ve put some effort into writing your e-mail. A brief, sloppy message doesn’t leave a good impression.

And of course, be passionate about what you do. I can’t stress this enough. If your heart is not in it, the quality of your work will be affected, so don't accept any assignments just for the sake of it. If you're not good at translating contracts, don't even bother. Focus on your field of expertise.

Au boulot!

Social media & friendship.

 Friends can now be divided into ten distinct categories: 

1) The ones you actually meet on a regular basis, who know your profile picture was photoshopped and you never read books – it just sounds intellectual to add it to your hobbies.
2) The ones who like every single one of your photos, but don’t even know what you look like in real life. They are usually the ones who also like their own photos and statuses. Cringeworthy.
3) The ones who buy eggs from your Facebook farm (or something of the sort), but wouldn’t be able to pick them up if they were real, because they have no idea on which continent you live.

4) The ones who offer you a virtual shoulder to cry on when you’ve gone from Engaged to Single, but are secretly googling the ex hoping he’s free tomorrow night.

5) The ones who pretend not to know you when they see you at the supermarket because you’re only good enough to get their follower count up.

6) The ones who tag you in drunken photos, then tweet them to your boss “by mistake”.

7) The ones who add you as a friend because you’re the third cousin of their best friend’s wife.

8) The ones who send you twenty invitations to play Bouncing Balls, but don’t invite you to their birthday bash.

9) The ones who haven’t seen you in ten years, add you as a friend and expect you to invite them to your holiday home.

10) And finally the ones who are total strangers, but thought you looked familiar.