Careers in Translation

Usually when you tell someone that you speak another language, or you are learning a second or third language, that person automatically assumes most of the time that you are interested in becoming a translator, whether you are or not.

Myself, I love learning a languages, and that love is what led me initially to consider translation as a career choice. And I'm not the only one that shares those same characteristics. There are many people out there that have considered careers in translation, and even just judging by the emails and comments I get on this site, there is a sizable number of those interested in language-related jobs.

Unfortunately, many people think that becoming a freelance translator is the only option for language lovers. This is definitely not the case. There are a ton of choices for language professionals, with careers in translation only being a part of what is out there.

In order to help those that are considering a change to the language field, or are interested in translation-related careers, here's a list that can help, or at least present some ideas and things to consider:

1. Freelance translator
OK, this is the most obvious career choice for those interested in becoming translators. Establishing yourself as a translator can be a tough thing to do but it can be exciting at the same time. Check out the Freelance Translator's Ultimate List of Translation Agencies to help you get started. Most probably already know this, but a freelancer is a translator that works for himself or herself without having a company to work for.

2. Translation agencies
There are a huge number of translation agencies throughout the world and many of the bigger ones have openings for in-house or staff translators. If you don't like the instability of the freelancer lifestyle, an agency position might be more suited for you. However, keep in mind that these positions are a little tougher to get because of the relatively low number of openings along with the high number of applicants.

3. Government agencies
The government (whether federal, state, or local) all have careers in translation that you might want to consider. There are a ton of different agencies located throughout all levels of the government. Just do a search on Google for government translator jobs. While there are many open positions for speakers of Middle Eastern languages like Arabic, there are other jobs out there for Spanish speakers. A good place to start your search for U.S. government jobs is www.usajobs.gov.

4. Web writers
Spanish-language Internet users make up a significant portion of the total Internet users. Because of this, these days more and more web marketers are writing web copy in Spanish to reach the Spanish-speaking market. If your language skills are good enough, you can supplement your translation work by writing web copy or articles.

There are a lot of freelance-type sites out there that are free to sign up for. It can be hard to get initial jobs, and beware, some freelancers on these sites (especially users in third-world countries) charge very small amounts and it can be hard for first-world freelancers to compete.

5. Foreign language teacher
With foreign language instruction becoming more and more popular throughout the world, there are more opportunities for those who speak foreign languages to teach. What's really great is that there are both traditional opportunities to teach as well as online opportunities that are cropping up all over.

Finding one of the many Spanish professor jobs can also be a great way to supplement your freelance translation income or to use your foreign language skills. And don't think that you have to become a university professor; there are opportunities out there for elementary and high school teachers as well as substitute teachers.

6. Owning your own translation business
If you've already done the freelance thing and are looking to increase your business or try some out some management, you can always check out what is involved in forming your own translation company. It will take a lot of work but this can be particularly rewarding for experienced translators looking to expand and earn more money.

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