The Savvy Newcomer aims to serve newcomers to the translation and interpreting professions by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed content on a weekly basis. We strive to provide you with the answers to the many questions you face as a new or aspiring translator or interpreter.
Many language professionals start out doing their work “on the side” of whatever else they are doing in life. When people find out you are bilingual, you may be asked to do some volunteer interpreting to help out a friend, family member, or someone in need, or you may agree or be expected to do the occasional translation—and maybe even get paid for it. Volunteering and doing small side jobs are great ways to gain experience and improve your skills as a translator or interpreter. But in order to be a professional—whether you plan on doing this work part-time or…
Read MoreTips for Newcomers to the Translation and Interpreting Professions
By Corinne McKay Reblogged from the ATA Chronicle (September 2013) with permission from the author If you asked 100 translators or interpreters to describe their first days in the industry, you would probably get 100 different answers—or at least some very entertaining stories. If you want to become an accountant or an attorney, there is a clear path ahead of you.…
Read MoreBook Review: Diversification in the Language Industry
By Catherine Christaki From time to time, in the translation industry (I’m guessing in many other industries as well), there are trending topics and buzzwords that become hot topics for a period of time. A few years ago, the buzzword that all linguists were talking about was diversification: what it is, do we need it, who it’s suitable for, and…
Read MoreInterpreting 101: An Interview with Student Interpreters
By Kimberley Hunt I had a chance to catch up with three interpretation students at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS). As part of the T&I program at MIIS, interpretation classes are mandatory for the first semester to give students a taste of the profession. After that, students can continue pursuing interpretation as a career. Anna Bialostosky,…
Read MoreHow I Got Off to a Fast Start as a Freelance Translator
By Linda Kramer After being employed for over ten years, I longed for more freedom in my life. During my maternity leave (which here in Sweden is a whopping 18 months) I decided to take the plunge and become a freelance translator. And I’m not going to lie, it was scary. Thoughts of how I would survive without the security…
Read MoreWorking the Room Tips by Chris Durban
By Catherine Christaki Reblogged from Adventures in Technical Translation with permission from the author (incl. the image) During the ITI conference in Gatwick in May 2013, I had the privilege to attend Chris Durban’s Working the Room masterclass. Chris always offers numerous great tips about generating leads and finding direct clients. She inspires her audience to be and look more professional and…
Read MoreBook Review: Found in Translation by Nataly Kelly and Jost Zetzsche
by Jamie Hartz If your experience as a language professional has been anything like mine, when someone asks what you do for a living, you always have to qualify your response. “I’m a translator” isn’t going to cut it, but “I’m self-employed as a Spanish-to-English written translator” just might get the conversation going. Next time someone asks what you do…
Read More11 Tips for Freelance Translators from a Project Manager
By Enas Ibrahim Reblogged from the ATA Chronicle (May 2014) with permission from the author Having worked as a project manager in the language services industry for over five years, I have encountered many recurring issues when collaborating with freelancers that are not related to the linguistic aspect of the translation process. I share here what I see every day along…
Read MoreThe ATA Client Outreach Kit: A Hidden Gem
By David Friedman and Jamie Hartz Recently, The Savvy Newcomer team was discussing what valuable ATA resources we could spotlight here on the blog. If you are an ATA member and are interested in growing your direct client business and/or are interested in client outreach and PR efforts to boost the whole association and profession, then at least consulting the…
Read MoreManaging the Ups and Downs of Freelancing
By Jamie Hartz; reblogged from DVTA (Delaware Valley Translators Association) blog with permission from the author The choice to be a freelancer comes with a lot of fluctuation—there are slow times and busy times, and there are stressful projects and easier projects. The ups and downs that come with freelancing are aplenty—we often deal with loneliness, the stress of making all…
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In January 2015 I joined the American Translators Association for the first time and was ready to give it my all. When I logged into my online account with my shiny new member number and password, I felt like a deer in the headlights… How do I make the most of my membership? What resources are available to me? But…
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