| Páginas sobre el tema: [1 2] > | Poll: If you were starting out in your career again, would you still go into translation? Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you were starting out in your career again, would you still go into translation?".
This poll was originally submitted by Ben Harrison. View the poll results »
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Perhaps there are things I would do differently after university and would do a Master in Interpreting but yes, I would still go into translation.
| | | | Julian Holmes 
Japón
Local time: 20:25
Miembro 2011
japonés al inglés
| Haven't a clue ... | Oct 16, 2013 |
I didn't plan to get into translation. Translation found me. It happened naturally -- that's how the whole fate and destiny thing works.
Wish "Haven't a clue" was an option. I'll opt for "Other N/A" to get my well-earned Browniz. 
Anybody out there with a crystal ball?
Added one line
Corrected small typo -- not having a good day at all today. Sniff
[Edited at 2013-10-16 08... See more I didn't plan to get into translation. Translation found me. It happened naturally -- that's how the whole fate and destiny thing works.
Wish "Haven't a clue" was an option. I'll opt for "Other N/A" to get my well-earned Browniz.
Anybody out there with a crystal ball?
Added one line
Corrected small typo -- not having a good day at all today. Sniff
[Edited at 2013-10-16 08:27 GMT]
[Edited at 2013-10-16 15:05 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rolf Kern
Suiza
Local time: 13:25
inglés al alemán
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In Memoriam | Haven't a clue ... | Oct 16, 2013 |
With Julian ...
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I generally enjoy it and it pays quite well and it gives me a fair bit of freedom
There are other jobs that I would enjoy more and jobs that would pay better and jobs that would give me even more freedom, but I don't know if there's anything out there that would do all three
As some famous cycling dude once said: strong, light, cheap - pick two
| | | | John Cutler
España
Local time: 13:25
español al inglés
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| I suppose... | Oct 16, 2013 |
Like Julian, I was sort of invited into the profession. (I guess that makes us translators unofficially honoris causa)
I didn't actually start out my career as a translator. They were a couple of other completely different professions before this one. If I hadn't become a translator, I'm sure I would have found something else to do.
| | | | | With hindsight yes... At the time, no | Oct 16, 2013 |
If I could have had the benefit of hindsight, then yes, definitely, but when I was actually starting out, the answer was no fear!
I wanted to read medicine, which was hopeless, but I tried anyway. I was advised to try something with languages, but I saw languages as a means to an end, not an end in themselves. (Can't remember what I meant by that, but that is how I put it.)
My father translated among other things, and that was not what I wanted to do. It took a new coun... See more If I could have had the benefit of hindsight, then yes, definitely, but when I was actually starting out, the answer was no fear!
I wanted to read medicine, which was hopeless, but I tried anyway. I was advised to try something with languages, but I saw languages as a means to an end, not an end in themselves. (Can't remember what I meant by that, but that is how I put it.)
My father translated among other things, and that was not what I wanted to do. It took a new country and a new language - and years of what the Danes call wandering in the desert - before I came round to the idea that not only was it a possibility, but that I had finally found my niche.
I was well up in my forties by then, but no experience is ever wasted. The most amazing things turn up sooner or later in a translation.
Maybe all the sidetracks were just preparation for the real thing. I agree, there is an element of fate or destiny in it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
España
Local time: 13:25
español al inglés
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| Many a slip... | Oct 16, 2013 |
Yes, probably.
However, although when I left university with a language degree I had vague notions about becoming a translator, in reality I ended up doing all sorts of other things before ending up in EFL teaching, which eventually ended up in me becoming a full-time translator about 20 years later...
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John Cutler wrote:
Like Julian, I was sort of invited into the profession. (I guess that makes us translators unofficially honoris causa)
I didn't actually start out my career as a translator. They were a couple of other completely different professions before this one.
Before starting working as a translator (part-time for a few years followed by 20 years as full-time in-house translator and reviser) I had more than a couple of other completely different professions (civil servant, senior secretary, hotel manager, junior director, account executive, public relations officer, vocational trainer)... I do not regret at all this intricate weaving as it gave me a valuable insight of different areas of business.
[Edited at 2013-10-16 09:42 GMT]
| | | | Marjolein Snippe
Países Bajos
Local time: 13:25
Miembro 2012
inglés al neerlandés
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| probably not... | Oct 16, 2013 |
Like many others here, I seem to have stumbled into translation.
For me, this has worked very well and I wouldn't go into translation as the start of my career - specialising in another subject first, then putting that experience to good use as a translator works for me - I think it has made me a better translator and for me, it means I enjoy what I do more than I think I would otherwise.
| | | | Suzan Hamer
Países Bajos
Local time: 13:25
inglés
+ ...
| With Julian, Rolf and John.... | Oct 16, 2013 |
I began as an editor and proofreader, developed into a translator... translation found me.
| | | | Carmen Grabs
Alemania
Local time: 13:25
Miembro 2012
inglés al alemán
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| Probably yes, | Oct 16, 2013 |
if to choose was an option.
But as the others said here, translation found me.
If I had to choose again, and if to choose was an option I would definitively go for self-employed again.
Maybe as translator, but maybe as farmer and landowner
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| where's "maybe"? | Oct 16, 2013 |
I would have to think long and hard about it... 
| | | | Mónica Algazi
Uruguay
Local time: 08:25
Miembro 2005
inglés al español
| I found translation | Oct 16, 2013 |
I decided to take a degree-course in Translation, so in my case it was the other way round.
I guess I would go for it again and again, only I would add linguistics, anthropology, journalism, short-story writing, songwriting and lots more! : )
[Edited at 2013-10-16 14:12 GMT]
| | | | Vincenzo Di Maso
Portugal
Local time: 12:25
Miembro 2009
inglés al italiano
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| Translation found me! | Oct 16, 2013 |
When I finished my university I got a terrible disappointment. I mean I was confident I could find a nice job with the Arabic language but nothing pop up. I was hoping to be easily appointed by an important company or institution because of my skills in Arabic. Nothing of this happened. Then I knew my girlfriend, who is from Portugal. At the same time I didn't want to stay far from Italy for long periods. Translation was actually not an option when I completed my university, but it could have be... See more When I finished my university I got a terrible disappointment. I mean I was confident I could find a nice job with the Arabic language but nothing pop up. I was hoping to be easily appointed by an important company or institution because of my skills in Arabic. Nothing of this happened. Then I knew my girlfriend, who is from Portugal. At the same time I didn't want to stay far from Italy for long periods. Translation was actually not an option when I completed my university, but it could have been the best opportunity to create a family in Portugal and live in Italy for a part of the year. Flexibility is a must in my situation. I am basically happy with my job, although sometimes I feel quite sad because our job forces us to stay long time alone.
What I can say is that translation is one of the best paths for someone who graduated in Languages. Both in Italy and Portugal language services are not valued at all.
I am quite happy. ▲ Collapse
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