Translating matters

Going solo I am now into my third month of freelancing, so I thought I would share how I found making the transition from in-house translation to working from home.     Working alone! The hardest thing I found about freelancing was no longer being able to go for a quick coffee with colleagues. Don’t get me wrong, the freedom of being your own boss is great, but working alone every day can start to feel a bit lonely. Luckily, there are a lot of networking opportunities out there – it is definitely worth joining local groups and associations to meet other translators in your area. Here are some of the best networking opportunities I have found so far:         Powwows on Proz         Professional translator associations, such as the CIoL and the ITI, and their local branches.         Social media groups (Things Translators Never Say on Facebook is a good one). Not having to leave the house to go ...

TRANSLATING MATTERS My name is Lucy O'Shea, and I have recently made the transition from in-house to freelance translation. Having completed my first month of working from home, I thought I'd share a few things I have learnt. Hopefully my experience will be of use to other people thinking of taking the leap and going freelance! Lesson No. 1:  Do your research! Start thinking of your business plan and read up on how to work as a freelance translator. There are loads of brilliant  blogs and books available!  This book by Corinne McKay is very helpful (even if it is based on the American market):  https://lnkd.in/bJUavMt Lesson No. 2:  Use "aggressive" marketing techniques. You may be the best translator around, but nobody will know that if you don't put yourself out there. It takes time to establish your client base, and not every direct customer or agency will need your services. Contact as many potential customers as you can whilst you have the time in...