In today’s era of globalization, exposure to different cultures, environments, and languages has grown immensely. Naturally, so has our awareness regarding others and our interest in learning more about them and their ways. One group this has benefited from this is people who belong to or have had extensive exposure to multicultural or mixed backgrounds. The skills these people acquired growing up make them valuable global community members and open up new employment opportunities. One such field is translation services.
- Translation Services
Translation services entail tasks that require translating one language into another. Translation was initially a function that only held scope in academic and literary fields. However, many other industries require translation services nowadays. For instance, legal services often require the translation of documents into the language of the court. Similarly, the media industry needs multilingual persons to develop subtitles or dub a work from one language to another. There are many other places where translation services are required, some of which may surprise you. If you’re interested in learning more about the scope of translation, maybe check out the most translated document in the world!
- Translation Careers
As we’ve seen above, multiple pathways are available for those pursuing a career in translation. Additionally, there are many benefits to a career in translation services. Let’s look at some of these below!
- Skill-Based Employment
One of the most important benefits of a career in translation is that it is a skill-based field that does not necessarily require a formal degree. Although some people study languages at graduate/post-graduate levels, it is not necessary for a translation career. The main requirement is for you to have an expert-level grasp of the languages in question and are aware of the basic fundamental rules of translation. If you can effectively translate in a manner where the final result is a complete and proper reflection of the original, you are eligible for a position in translation!
- Lucrative Opportunities
Translation requires an expert or native speaker’s level of grasp over languages. Unfortunately, this is not an easily acquired skill; therefore, few eligible resources are available in the market. This shortage of supply makes the available translators a high-value commodity. Hence, people and companies alike generally pay significantly more for translation services. This has caused the field of translation to become highly lucrative with ease of employability. In other words, working in translation pays well and has no shortage of better opportunities for those looking to grow.
- Independence
One of the best parts about working as a translator is the autonomy and independence that comes along with it. Since the translation function is highly specialized, there is little to no interference by the clients/employers in your work. One of the main reasons is that the person/company requiring your service generally does not know/have the skills to meddle with your work. This means you can work at your own pace (of course, reasonably) with complete peace of mind, making translation a low-stress career!
- Flexibility
Since translation is an independent function that does not give or take support from other departments, no chain of reliance requires you to be available at set times/places. Most translators are allowed to work remotely, with flexible timings. This allows them to set their working hours, which can be a blessing for many people. For instance, those with young kids, old parents, or special medical needs. They can work comfortably from their own home without worrying about anything!
- Freelance Options
Translation is among the top functions people outsource or hire freelancer translators for. As a result, there is an incredibly high demand for translators on most freelance websites. Freelancing is akin to self-employment. You sell your services directly to customers/consumers at terms decided between you and the customer. This means you can set your charges, delivery time, and service scope. This gives you a lot of leeway while working. As long as you are good at your work and can guarantee timely delivery of work, freelance translating is a great option!
- Creative License
As with all creative functions, translation offers you the ability to use a little creative license. Language is a fusion of science and art; as such, the rules are not set in stone. You can say what you want in one way. Or you may use another way to express yourself. (see what I did there!) Therefore, with a translating job, there’s very little chance of you making a mistake. Now, that’s a benefit we’d love to have in our work!
Conclusion
If you are considering a career in translation, we hope to have given you an idea regarding the benefits thereof. The field of translation is growing at an exponential pace, and as a translator, you will get to do a lot of diverse work using your linguistic skills. Moreover, you will have the luxury of working at your own pace and comfort. In our opinion, it’s a win-win situation. So stop contemplating, and start working on building your translator profile!
