tranfree issue 43 - 26 November 2001

12 Tips For Freelance Translator Success

By Radek Pletka

#1. Never Miss a Deadline

If you say you'll have a project done by a certain time, make sure you deliver. Your clients don't want excuses. They want on-time results.

#2. Use Every Advantage You Have

When starting out, leverage any prior translating expertise or background. Your grasp of an arena, its language and the contacts can give you a running start. But remember, every translator has to know his limitations. Don't take jobs over your head.

#3. Get Referrals

Always pump clients for referrals from within their company or elsewhere. It's much more promising (and less stressful) than making cold calls.

#4. Stay Visible

People don't want to hunt very hard for a translator/interpreter, so stay "visible" by phone, mail, Internet, or in person as much as possible and you'll get the work.

#5. Keep Sowing the Seeds

When you're busy it seems like the work will flow forever. It will end eventually! Therefore, even when you're snowed under, read the job list, make a few calls, and send a few resumes. If you skip on this now, you will be hungry later.

#6. Trust the Law of Averages

In God and The Law of Averages We Trust. Call enough people, send enough resumes, join enough organizations for translators, register on enough websites for translators, you'll find the work. Guaranteed.

#7. Go Out and Press the Flesh

Early in my translating career, someone shared this: 1 in 10 prospects you contact will hire you. 1 in 3 you meet will hire you. Enough said.

#8. Send Thank You Notes After Every Job

Choose artsy watercolor scenes and you might just see them tacked up in your client's cubicle; a constant reminder of you.

#9. Project a Good Attitude

People like to do business with those who are pleasant to work with. Be a good experience for your client, and you'll get work again.

#10. Listen More, Work Less

... Listen carefully to what the client wants (i.e. don't decide you know what they need) and you'll spend less time translating...and re-translating.

#11. Keep Your Word

Do what you say you're going to do, show up when you promise to, deliver on time and you'll instantly put yourself ahead of about 95% of the pack.

#12. Share it forward

If you get a job you can't do, refer it to a colleague. If you find a job you can't do, post it on the job list. If you can spare some time regularly, volunteer for a job search. If somebody finds a job thanks to you, he/she will pay it back by referring something to you soon or later.

The above tips first appeared in Radek Pletka's Weekly Job List.

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