July 30, 2005
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The Power of the MA
I'm slowly getting over the disappointment of not getting the scholarship for the PhD and now I'm starting to look to the future and my options as a newly qualified translator.
And this is actually really exciting. This week has been a real eye-opener for me in terms of seeing the real value of my MA. I've signed up with one translation agency so far and that's Wordbank in London. Also, I'm scheduled for an interview with Alpha CRC in Cambridge next Tuesday, and that is for a job as a senior in-house translator - in spite of the fact that I don't have any work experience in translation yet. In other words, Alpha would consider me for the post because of my MA with University of Surrey.
One Week as a Freelance Translator
Wordbank has sent me a steady stream of translation jobs this week, so much in fact that I've even said no to some of the jobs. They have a very clear training strategy for their freelance translators. All the jobs I've been sent this week have been proofreading other translators' translations – so that I can look at their style and learn from their way of handling translation problems before I start translating myself. And in spite of only doing proofreading this week I've actually made £355 ($620) in one single week!
Now, this is pretty much exactly what I would earn as an in-house translator, and I'm not even translating yet, nor am I accepting all the jobs I'm offered. So going freelance from the very beginning seems to be very much a real option.
The Power of the Internet
As all freelance work is done via the Internet – all files are sent via email and I return them the same way – freelance translation offers an amazing flexibility. For example, for one of the jobs this week, I got up at 5.30 am and worked between 6.00 am and 12.00 and then I was finished for the day.
But that's not all. Since everything is done via the Internet, there is nothing stopping me from going to Sweden for a month – or Egypt – to work from there. As long as I have my laptop, my dictionaries and a broadband connection, I could carry on working from literally anywhere in the world. Talking about having working holidays.
In-House or Freelance?
So now, at the start of my career as a translator, I've got make a decision which route to take: freelance or in-house. I didn't think freelance was a viable option straight out of university but with this flying start, I can see that it could really work.
The question is which one to go for. Being offered a senior position straight out of university is obviously a great opportunity (if they offer me the job). But so is the flexibility of working freelance. Anyway, I'll think about it some more and decide after the interview on Tuesday.
Comments (10)
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!! You just maybe better off not having the PhD. I know someone who did no go for his PhD because it would have actually limited him in the real work world. He has had a great carear with his MA. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR DECISION!!!!!!!!!
Good luck with your decision.
It sounds like freelance is the way to go.
It seems to have fewer restrictions.
Things are looking up! Good for you. Blessings.
yippee! Congrats on all of the options. I know you're going to do great. I plan to use you when I can to translate for me as a free lancer. It won't be much, but you're the person I plan to come to!
This is great news, Bjorn!!! I would think both options are possible. You could do Cambridge as it would look good on a résume and do the freelance as well. Just a thought. I think of you often and your kind gift to Terry. He was so amazed and grateful. I have a handwritten note in which he tells me to write you and thank you. That day he was in too much pain to use the computer! Bless you, Bjorn, and bless your choices this week!!!
Congratulations Bjorn! Very happy for you. Think of which position best fits your lifestyle. The senior position may pay more, but you'd lose your freedom. Your decision, of course!
Freelance, freelance! Don't give up an ounce of your freedom for a few extra measly pounds and the vague notion of security! But, as Dennis Miller says, that's my opinion - I could be wrong. Best of luck!
Also - thanks for reminding me of Dahab! What a great place it was a decade ago - love to get back there and see if it's changed too much.
Congrats, sounds like a great situation to be in! I don't know how things work over there, but in my field in-house employees have the added bonus of employer-provided health care and pension accounts.
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