Let’s start with freelancers. Why would someone want to work as a freelancer rather than an in-house translator? One of the main attractions to being a freelancer is the ability to be your own boss. You can decline the jobs that you don’t like while accepting the ones you do. You are able to set your own rates and your own hours. You have more flexibility to arrange your schedule around your needs versus regular employees who are expected to work a scheduled amount of time each day. In general, freelancers have the potential to make more money than in-house translators as well, so it is a very attractive path for many.

So why would someone not want to be a freelancer? The freedom sounds like it would be enough, not to mention the potential amount of money that you can make. One of the main reasons that some people prefer working in-house over freelance is because of the variance in the work. The frequency of work that you receive is not always guaranteed even if you have repeat clients. You are reliant on people offering you work rather than just having a steady stream of guaranteed work. Also, you need to be able to market yourself and compete with other freelancers for work. If you are unable to set yourself apart from the other translators out there, then you will have difficulty finding work because you will just be blending in and not showing off your skills.

What makes working in-house so great then? One of the biggest draws to working in-house is having structure. If you are hired as a translator or interpreter for a company, you will only have to worry about the work that they give you. You will have a schedule for your work hours, you will have a team to work with, you will have a steady salary, and you will have company benefits. You might even receive training that will help you improve your skills or work better in the company. There will also be opportunities to use new technology or receive benefits that you would have otherwise have had to pay for on your own if you were a freelancer.

The downside of working in-house though is the fact that you are working for a company and have to play by their rules. You have to make sure that you conform to their company culture and values, so that could mean that you lose a lot of your individuality and uniqueness. The translation or interpretation styles that you had in the past might not work at the company anymore. You also have no ability to choose the work you do. If your employer gives you the same kind of work over and over again, then you have no choice but to do it.

Fact: Based on the 2010 data, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics also project 58,400 translation and interpretation jobs available to translators and interpreters.

Question: How many professional translators and interpreters are out there to take the translation and interpretation jobs? Is being bilingual or multilingual enough to warrant a successful translation and interpretation project?

The story below is brought to you by Ringo Li, a conference interpretation student at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

I would like to share some insights based on my personal experience. I grew up speaking Mandarin and started learning English since elementary school. Later, I attended high school and college in the United States. I am a proficient bilingual, which opens up many doors for me. Yet, I can tell you that I am far from a qualified translator or interpreter.

Becoming a professional translator and interpreter often requires years of education and training. Experience is also a key element. Moreover, the language specialists’ expertise in specific fields such as medicine, business, technology, law or international relations can also increase success. These are some useful criteria for seeking quality language services. After all, quality work is what matters the most — a highly skilled translator or interpreter can always explain things clearly and accurately in another language.

Today’s world is filled with an overflow of information. When it comes to language services, there are numerous choices — but there are only a few reputable, quality providers. For best results, always look beyond mere bilingualism and multilingualism!

Monterey Language Services strives to provide the highest quality of translation and interpretation services. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

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