"How to Become a Home-Based Translator" -- An Interview with Corinne McKay

We first interviewed expert translator and author Corinne McKay in May 2006. Since many people have foreign language skills, but aren't sure how to go into home-based translation, we touched base with Corinne recently for an update.

I'll let Corinne reintroduce herself in her own words.

"I am an ATA-certified French to English translator, still based in Boulder, Colorado. The focus of my translation business is on legal, corporate communications and international development translations for law firms, international development organizations and translation companies. In addition to working as a translator, I teach classes for people who want to become translators, serve as the President of the Colorado Translators Association (http://www.cta-web.org), and published the book 'How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator' in 2006."

(For more on Corinne, see her website at http://www.translatewrite.com, or her blog, "Thoughts on Translation," at http://www.thoughtsontranslation.com.)

RRR: Just to recap, how did you get started in freelance translating, and who were your top entrepreneurial role models?

CORINNE McKAY: I taught high school French for 8 years, then after my daughter was born, I decided to find a work-from-home job where I could use French. My first day as a freelancer, I opened up the Yellow Pages to "Translators and Interpreters" and started making phone calls, then over the course of my first year I cold-contacted over 400 potential clients, plus joined two translators associations and a local freelancers group. I'd say my best role models were other people in the local freelancers group; people who had thriving businesses, loved their work and made their own decisions.

RRR: Here in the US, with increased immigration more and more people are bilingual. How would you recommend that people with good foreign language skills get started as home-based translators?

CORINNE McKAY: For beginners, some type of credential or experience is really useful. Translation certificate programs are becoming more popular, and New York University even offers one online. Translator certification, offered through the American Translators Association (http://www.atanet.org) is helpful too, although not a must-have. Finding a mentor who's established in the business is another excellent option. Freelance business management is also essential, something I cover in my book, "How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator."

After that, it's time to find some clients! Cold-contacting and networking are the keys here. Beginners should become active in associations (such as local chapters of the ATA) for translators, and for freelancers in general. Contact every translation company in your area and ask for an interview; find translation companies on the web and apply through their websites; contact businesses who work in countries where your languages are spoken; set a goal of contacting at least 500 potential clients during your first year in business. Use Web 2.0 tools like LinkedIn or your own blog to help you connect with prospective clients: offer to answer their questions about translation and you're instantly the expert!

RRR: What range of income can freelance translators expect to earn during their first few years of work, and after they've gained experience, in exchange for how many hours per week of work? Has the recession impacted the flow of work?

CORINNE McKAY: Fortunately, the translation industry doesn't seem to have been hit by the worldwide economic downturn as of yet; many translators have even seen an increase in their workload. Definitely plan on a startup phase of six months to a year, during which you will be marketing yourself assertively. The average full-time freelance translator in the US earns a bit over $60,000 a year; a figure that I would say is very achievable if you have excellent translation and business management skills and market yourself in the right places. More and more translators are earning six-figure incomes (see my blog for a post entitled "Secrets of Six-Figure Translators") and even for someone working part-time on a flexible schedule, I think that income of $25,000-$40,000 is quite realistic.

RRR: What are your favorite "Dos and Don'ts" for aspiring freelance translators?

CORINNE McKAY:

Do:

-Set up a professional-looking website. Focus on something clean-looking and informative and prominently state your language pair(s).

-Meet as many other translators as you can. Learn from them and build their trust so that they will refer clients to you. Even if you live in a remote area or move around a lot, get involved online by joining LinkedIn groups or participating in forums on sites like ProZ.com or TranslatorsCafe.com.

-Offer a range of services: of course translation, but maybe you can also help clients save time and money by reviewing their foreign-language documents and determining which ones need to be translated, or by summarizing documents so that the client can get a general idea of their content.

Don't:

-Accept too little return for too little marketing effort. Aim to contact 500 clients during your first year in business; cast a wide net and apply to a variety of corporations and translation companies in your source and target language countries.

Let the current economic news get you down. Remember, people don't start speaking another language just because money is tight; market yourself as a money and time saver, not as a money pit.

RRR: Where can people go to learn more about becoming a freelance translator?

CORINNE McKAY:

- The American Translators Association (http://www.atanet.org) administers translator certification in the U.S. and is the main professional association for US-based translators.

- ProZ (http://www.proz.com) is a large translation job board and portal; it's not always the best source of work, but the information on the site is excellent.

- My website http://www.translatewrite.com and my blog http://www.thoughtsontranslation.com have free articles for freelance translators and information about my book and course for beginning and aspiring translators.

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Comments

[Lars]

Interesting interview, but I`ve got a few things to add; You dont HAVE to have a website to get jobs. Actually you can get a job as a freelancer for SDI Media Group, Softitler or some other company that`s into translations. But this is for computer games, movies, tv series etc, not books and stuff like that. I work for SDI myself, and I really like it. I translate tv series for the most part. I make about 45,000 usd a year. You dont get rich, but it`s quite ok. Furthermore, computer games pay well; I once got paid 4500 usd for 2 weeks work. That`s pretty nice.

[Laurie Neumann]

Sounds like an interesting way to make a living from home. This should be inspiring to people who are fluent in another language, especially those who have taught a foreign language and now want to transition to a home based setting.

Great interview.

[Language Translator]

This is really a good way to earn. This should encourage people who needs an income but can't leave home for some reason or the other. However, no matter what your work is, whether from home or you need to spend a few bucks for the gasoline, you should like job and it makes you happy.

[Jessica]

Great Info! Thanks for the post!