For quite a few months I was tempted to work for a translation and interpreting agency as their project person. Recently I have been asked to carry out duties that were against all the Codes of Conduct I have signed, that showed no respect towards translators and interpreters in general, no understanding of their principles and no moral obligations towards clients. I refused to do that, and that got me a warning letter. After explaining why I’m not going to support these practices, I left.
My immediate relief was visible to everyone around me. Standing for your principles gives you strength. And standing for translation and interpreting principles shows that you are a professional, you are not just someone who happens to know two or three languages.
I’ve spent two evenings on letting the stress go, I bought an extra desk to my office and now I am going to start my great freelancing adventure. I was partly freelance up till now, but here come times with no in-house job at all. For those of you who still can’t make a decision (there’s an upcoming post on that, postponed by my recent misadventures), I’ve decided to go public with my list of gains and losses.
What do you lose when you go freelance?
- steady income
- financial security
- recognition (?) in the industry
- opportunities to be promoted
What do you gain when you go freelance?
- responsibility for your own life (!)
- much more time to do things you like
- obligation to think of yourself as a company
- more time to learn and develop
- possibility to do everything you want in your life, with no glass ceiling above or bottom-line-minded people telling you off
- endless opportunities and chances to change direction
- flexibility
- satisfaction
- more ways of using your potential
Can you add anything?
I know that I’m going to make my freelancing happen. If you still have any doubts about being a freelancer, watch me!
Marta Stelmaszak
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14 Comments
Hey, I’m happy for you
Thanks for all the tips.
I started with translation as a freelancer and now for the first time I was hired by an agency to do subtitles. Although I’ve a contract I’m still a freelancer because I work from home and only when they sent me work. But I’m a bit “confuse” about something. It has been almost one month that they hired me and I haven’t received any work. Do you think that is normal?
Thank you
Marina Sandoval
Dear Marina
Thanks for your comment! This is fairly normal with agencies all over the world: they recruit freelancers, send all the papers upfront and then send them jobs if there are any. But it’s a good idea to remind them of you, simply asking how is it going and if they have anything for you. At least you will get a reply from them
Marta
True
Thanks!
Congratulations on being brave enough to stand for what you believe is right. Lots of people wouldn’t have guts for this. And good luck in the freelance career, I hope you’ll never regret this step.
Thank you! I must admit that giving up this job made me feel that I really belong to the profession. My integrity is stronger than ever and I already know I will never regret it
I really like your posts. GOOD LUCK!!!
Hi Marta,
Good luck and congratulations for being so brave! These are taugh decisions, but I am sure you won’t regret it, since you just followed your principles.
Have a great week!
Livia
Good luck, Marta!
I was in a similar work situation you descrive when I decided to leave my full-time employment in a translation agency and to go freelance. That was 9 years ago and I have never regretted my decision (tocando madera).
Best,
Anette
Wow, Marta. Congratulations on standing up for what you believe. You’re going to do *very* well as a freelancer, that much is obvious so there’s no need to wish you luck, but I do anyway as it can’t hurt!
Thank you, Lisa! I wouldn’t be able to call myself a translator ever again if I stayed. Principles matter
Hi Marta, Congrats for your decision, and I would add to your list the comforting feeling you get from supportive colleagues who are there when we need them most. Success on your freelancing!
Dear Marta,
Congrats on your decision. Standing for your principles not only gives you strength, it’s the first step to success. And I’m sure you’re already very successful at what you do. Keep up the good work and please keep posting, you are a true inspiration to me!
Georgia
Dear Marta,
I would say that a freelance interpreter must know malso business, marketing, management etc. Because you are not a mere employer where all is done for you.
I used to be a freelance interpreter in the UK, but I gave it up because of the insecurity, little job opportunities but I understand that it also depends on the demand of the language you work with.
After freelancing, I became an in/house translator and I must say, there are some perks, but many downfalls.
I think freelancing gives you wings you just have to learn to fly the right direction.
Zuzana
PS: I am also working on my PhD and I would like to get in touch with you, because I would like to quote some of your ideas in my work, and I wish you participated also on my questionnaire in the near future, if possible. I also know you since I heard about you from some members of the IoL who talked to me.
Dear Zuzana,
Thank you very much for your valuable comment. Go ahead and get in touch regarding your PhD. It sounds exciting! Just drop me an email at [email protected]