Starting work as a translator

by Estefania Diaz
(Cheltenham)

I am writing today with regards to a query about starting work as a translator.

I am Spanish and have been living in the UK for over ten years. I have recently taken the exams towards the Diploma in Translation from the Chartered Institute of Linguistics and I am therefore currently waiting for the results. I hold a Bachelor (Hons) degree in Management and Business Administration from the University of the West of England and I have also been working for the central government within the education sector for almost five years. Therefore the subjects that I am looking to training into are Business, Law and Social Sciences. I have also recently started to work for the Tapestry Translation and Interpreting Service Unit (Corporate Personnel Services) of the Gloucester City Council on interpreting assignments on an occasional basis.

I would like to find a job or even a placement as a trainee translator or a junior level position from English into Spanish ideally in Cheltenham, where I reside, Bristol or Birmingham, but when I look into the vacancies of different companies, most of them do require proven relevant experience in the sector. I would be most grateful for any information or advise with regards to how would I be able to get the experience requested by the sector.