If you’re serious about becoming a translator without a degree, you’ll know that the translation industry is one of the toughest to crack into. This article will walk you through my own personal step by step process (on how to become a translator without a degree) in the hope it may help others looking to break into the industry.
Becoming a translator without a degree sounds nearly impossible, doesn’t it? Documentation, perfect grammar and spelling, and years of experience are all prerequisites to becoming a translator. And that’s why I’ve put together this guide to help you get started with your career as a translator without a degree. Whether you want to become an interpreter or a written translator, these steps will get you where you need to go.
Becoming a translator without a degree is possible, but it takes dedication and hard work.
There are many options open to you, depending on your background and skill set. If you have experience working with professional translators or as an interpreter and want to pursue this field as a career, you may be able to get hired as a translator. However, if you don’t have that kind of experience or don’t think it’s feasible for you right now, there are other ways to become a translator without a degree.
While some people choose to get their degrees first before they start working in their chosen field, others try their hand at being self-employed first with no formal training at all. These people often find success through word-of-mouth advertising—friends and family are often willing to pay for services because they know the person offering them has been recommended by someone they trust. This can be an excellent way to build up your client base while helping people who need translations done quickly—the beauty of it all being that there are no fees associated with using this type of marketing strategy! In this article we’ll also see how to become a certified translator, degree to become a translator.
How to become a translator without a degree
Find out and learn the requirements of your chosen career.
Find out and learn the requirements of your chosen career.
Once you have a good idea of what kind of translator you’d like to be, it’s time to start researching the requirements for that job. The first step is to understand how long it takes to get a job in this field and what skills are needed for the role: do they require a college degree? Are there any certifications or tests I need to take? What type of experience must I have before becoming an entry-level translator?
Once you know what positions are available, look at their salary ranges as well as cost of living in the area where they work. This way, you’ll be able to determine if it’s worth pursuing further education or training if there isn’t much money in translation jobs right now.
Get familiar with different translation tools and software.
The most important thing to do is to get familiar with different translation tools and software. There are many free resources out there, but some paid tools offer additional features that make them more useful in certain scenarios. Reviewing these tools can help you decide which ones are right for you, so it’s worth spending some time doing that research before making an investment in them.
A few things to look for:
- What languages does the tool support?
- What text types does it handle best (such as legal documents or technical manuals)?
- How much does it cost?
Consider taking freelance jobs to improve your experience.
If you’re still looking to build your experience, consider taking some freelance jobs. Freelance work is an excellent way to gain experience, as well as get your portfolio started. In fact, when I was preparing for my job interview I was working as a full-time translator and it was my freelance experience that got me the job!
The great thing about freelance translation is that if you don’t have much experience under your belt yet, you can start off by working for free (or very little) just so you can get some practice in. This will also help establish connections with other translators who might be able to give good advice on how best to improve your translations and advance your career path.
Familiarize yourself with other languages.
If you’re serious about becoming a translator, it’s important to familiarize yourself with other languages. The more languages you know, the better your ability to translate. If you live in a country where your native language isn’t spoken by all of the locals or visitors (like Switzerland), learning their three official languages will help immensely when translating for people who don’t speak your own dialect. Here’s a list of some useful languages:
- Spanish – This language is spoken by over 350 million people around the world, making it one of the most common on Earth. It is also commonly used as an international business language, so if you work in this field or hope to gain employment as an interpreter or translator after completing college courses and/or certified training programs, acquiring proficiency in both written and spoken Spanish could prove beneficial later on down the line!
- French – Another widely-spoken language whose usage extends beyond just Europe; translation into French can be used everywhere from Canada’s Québec province all across its maritime regions down south towards Louisiana. Learning this second tongue would probably serve any aspiring translator well!
- Arabic – While not quite as widespread as either English or French (only about 250 million people speak Arabic), there are still plenty of opportunities available for those who wish to make use of their proficiency when dealing directly with clients overseas especially those located within North Africa but also throughout other parts such as Egypt which borders both Israel and Jordan.”
Build a portfolio by volunteering as a translator.
Volunteering is a great way to build your portfolio and get some experience as a translator. However, if you don’t get paid for it, your chances of finding work in this field will be slim.
You might also consider joining local translator associations, as they provide an opportunity to network with other professionals who could help you find jobs or edit your work.
Start your own website or blog site.
- Start your own website or blog site.
- Use a content management system (CMS) like WordPress.
- Use a CMS to build any kind of website, from a personal blog to an online store.
Most CMS are free and open source, which means that anyone can use them for free!
Compile a list of references, employers and clients you’ve worked with.
You should compile a list of references, employers and clients you’ve worked with. This will give your future employer an idea of the quality of your work. You should also create a professional website or LinkedIn account so that potential employers can find you easily.
If someone has not worked for you before, ask for a reference from someone who has worked with them in the past. It’s important to keep track of who has given you references so that when it comes time for interviews, there aren’t any surprises as far as whom they’ve spoken with about your skills and abilities.
You don’t need to go to school to be a translator if you build the right skills, create your own opportunities and work hard at it
You don’t need to go to school to be a translator if you build the right skills, create your own opportunities and work hard at it.
- Build the right skills. You won’t find yourself with a lot of clients if you don’t have any experience or quality work samples under your belt. Luckily, there are many ways to get these—from online courses like those offered by Open2Study and Coursera to self-teaching via books and websites like Translator Toolkit (formerly Translators Without Borders). And while it’s helpful to know one or two other languages well enough so that you can pick up new words in them as needed during translation projects, this isn’t strictly necessary—you can still provide translations without being fluent in another language (and many translators do). Just make sure your target audience knows this as well!
- Create your own opportunities: Don’t wait around for companies or clients who will hire you; take advantage of every chance that comes along—even if they’re not perfect fits at first glance! If someone asks me about translation services on social media or email, I’m happy offer my services even though our businesses aren’t exactly related… because why not? The worst that happens is getting turned down politely; but often times such connections lead into mutually beneficial relationships down the road!
how to become a certified translator
Professionals in the workforce earn their reputation in many ways, but credentials can provide authentication of someone’s achievements. For those who work in the translation field, becoming a certified translator and attaining certifications can help you stand out in your career. Credentials help set you apart in from competitors and also demonstrate a commitment to your field of study.
Kent State University’s M.A. in Translation can put you on a rewarding career path, and one that can be augmented by way of ATA certification.
How to Get Your American Translators Association Certification to Become a Certified Translator
You are only allowed to take the ATA exam once a year per language combination, so successfully preparing is a crucial element to certified translation. You may, however, take the exam in a different language combination in the same year. The current passing rate is less than 20%, so passing the ATA is surely no easy feat.
A few day-of exam tips include software requirements, printed resources, and ID specifications, among other daily test preparation habits one may have.
THE ATA TEST
The ATA exam was designed to test your translation abilities at a professional level. The three-hour exam for certified translation features three different passages, each 225-275 words in length. Throughout the proctored exam, you must translate two of the three passages to the best of your ability.
To officially become a certified translator, you must:
- Make sure your language(s) are supported by the ATA exam (listed below)
- Become a member of the ATA (for at least 4 weeks prior to testing) and take their pledge of ethics
- Pay the costs of the translator certification
- Take the ATA certification exam
- Pass the exam
degree to become a translator
Although a translator can consult reference materials as he or she works, it is still essential to have a native speaker’s grasp of the vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure of the language you are translating. If you are planning to earn a translation degree and you are still in high school, it never hurts to begin preparing as soon as possible. Take advanced language classes if they are available at your school. Look for other opportunities to broaden your language skills and cultural competencies. For example, you can watch movies and read books, magazines and newspapers in Spanish.
Earning Your Translation Degree
A bachelor’s translation degree is all that is required to enter the field. If you already know that you would like to be a translator rather than an interpreter, you will want to focus on your reading and writing skills. Continue to hone your skills by doing extra work outside of class. Practice translating short texts from your chosen language into English. You might also consider joining or forming a club to practice speaking your chosen language.
While you are working toward your degree, look for internship opportunities. Landing an internship at a translation agency gives you the chance to practice your language skills, develop industry connections and potentially meet your future employers. You will also learn invaluable work skills, such as time management and office etiquette.
Acquiring Certification as a Translator
Although it is not strictly necessary for landing a translation job, earning a voluntary certification can be an effective way to demonstrate your skills to employers. It also serves as a reflection of your dedication to accuracy in translation. The leading certification agency for translators is the American Translators Association (ATA). They administer certification exams in a variety of languages, including Spanish.
Note that some translators specialize in certain types of source material, such as medical or legal translation. These specializations require advanced knowledge of industry-specific terms in both languages. If a specialization appeals to you, consider earning an additional certification. For example, you might earn a certification from the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators.
