How to be a professional professional translator?
It’s not just some sort of punchy headline trick that every other translator can use. Professionalism is something much more than just a word. And against popular opinions, not only lawyers, doctors or architects can be professional. Inspired by that thought, I decided to try to identify these crucial qualities, I tried to catch what makes a professional professional. Very often being professional makes this difference between a good and great translator. And who wouldn’t like to be great?
“True professionals never declare their professionalism; they demonstrate it”
How to demonstrate your professionalism?
1. Be competent
Competence means more or less having the knowledge necessary to do the job. But it also means being able to admit to the limits of this knowledge. I will repeat it once again: translators don’t have to specialise in everything. It’s much more professional to deny a good job than to take up something you can’t deal with and deliver poor quality translation.
2. Be reliable
Keep deadlines, follow instructions, carry out agreed duties. Don’t switch your phone off or go on holidays without letting half a dozen agencies know. It usually takes just a group e-mail.
3. Show integrity
Have some principles regarding your work, these principles that you will never break. Like always proofread your translation two times, never outsource translation without consent, never translate more than 5,000 words a day (or any other number that works for you). Principles will make you feel much more professional!
4. Show respect
Every person matters and deserves to know that. Your clients, that cheeky agency person, your project manager, your co-workers, people on Twitter or LinkedIn. They all matter. It’s much more important over the Internet, where showing people that you respect them is a start for every relation.
5. Develop yourself
Professionals are constantly honing their skills. They are aware that the more they know, the more they have to offer. Never stop pursuing knowledge.
6. Be supportive
Some people say that sharing knowledge is a landmark of professionalism. I don’t know how professional I am now, but I was always saying that it makes much more sense if 10 people use these resources than just 1 person.
7. Be consistent
Have your own brand and communicate it. Have business cards. Have a professional website. If you promise to blog 2 times a week, blog 2 times a week. If you are going to have a presentation, put your logo on it!
8. Communicate
Don’t forget that there always is the other person, waiting for your reaction. Answer to e-mails, return phone calls, write thank you notes. Talk and pass information. It’s crucial for translators: we work in the communication business!
If you have any ideas to add here, I will be delighted to amend this post! Together we can create a Professional Translator’s Checklist!
