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Poll: Would you want to work as an in-house translator?
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PERSONAL DEL SITIO
Feb 5, 2014

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you want to work as an in-house translator?".

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Mary Worby
Mary Worby  Identity Verified
Reino Unido
Local time: 14:39
alemán al inglés
+ ...
No! Feb 5, 2014

All the work and none of the perks of self-employment, why would I want to do that!

 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brasil
Local time: 11:39
inglés al portugués
+ ...
In Memoriam
Not any more Feb 5, 2014

In my full-time jobs, 1973-1987, part of my assignment was translation. It was a major part until 1980, and then tapered off gradually.

No grudges at all, but for me it's history. Now I enjoy variety in my assignments and the freedom to choose.


 
Cecilia Civetta
Cecilia Civetta  Identity Verified
Italia
Local time: 15:39
Miembro 2003
italiano al español
+ ...
Other Feb 5, 2014

Not now. I did it already, many years ago.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
Estados Unidos
Local time: 06:39
Miembro 2003
español al inglés
+ ...
Other Feb 5, 2014

I spent half my career as an in-house translator. I loved the work and having colleagues around to talk with, but at this stage in my life I'm loving the flexibility of a freelance life even more.

 
John Cutler
John Cutler  Identity Verified
España
Local time: 15:39
español al inglés
+ ...
Not really Feb 5, 2014

I'm sure I'd learn a lot, but I'd miss my pyjamas.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 14:39
Miembro 2007
inglés al portugués
+ ...
Couldn't say it better myself! Feb 5, 2014

Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:

I spent half my career as an in-house translator. I loved the work and having colleagues around to talk with, but at this stage in my life I'm loving the flexibility of a freelance life even more.


 
DianeGM
DianeGM  Identity Verified
Local time: 16:39
Miembro 2006
neerlandés al inglés
+ ...
Not today ... Feb 5, 2014

Every job has its pros and cons, freelancing suits me, my family and our needs perfectly right now, for lots of reasons, plus I like where I live and I'd have to move or commute to work for someone else and I don't think I'd like that ...

 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japón
Local time: 23:39
Miembro 2011
japonés al inglés
Agree with John completely Feb 5, 2014

John Cutler wrote:

I'm sure I'd learn a lot, but I'd miss my pyjamas.


Yes, fluffy wabbit slippers probably wouldn't make it past the security guard.


 
Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei
Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei  Identity Verified
Ghana
Local time: 14:39
japonés al inglés
If I could walk there Feb 5, 2014

If a translation company opened up five minutes down the road, I'd think about it. Otherwise the lack of a commute is one of the most attractive things about freelancing for me, so I'd be loath to give it up.

 
Cristiana Sima
Cristiana Sima  Identity Verified
Rumania
Local time: 16:39
inglés al rumano
+ ...
with Mary, John, Julian Feb 5, 2014

and everybody else who appreciates the benefits of freelancing (after being employed)

I think it's like "once you go black, you never go back" kinda..


 
Of course Feb 5, 2014

It makes life a lot easier when it's raining

 
Allison Wright (X)
Allison Wright (X)  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 14:39
No, not really Feb 5, 2014

I have worked in a company where I was the only translator, and in a multilingual organisation where I was not employed as a translator, so I have never really been under the microscope, as it were, while in the process of translation.

Sometimes, I wriggle around a lot, and stretch and pull faces, and laugh (at the text), and occasionally make slurping noises when I drink my coffee, or sing arbitrary bits of songs to keep me motivated, or say two possible versions of a translated se
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I have worked in a company where I was the only translator, and in a multilingual organisation where I was not employed as a translator, so I have never really been under the microscope, as it were, while in the process of translation.

Sometimes, I wriggle around a lot, and stretch and pull faces, and laugh (at the text), and occasionally make slurping noises when I drink my coffee, or sing arbitrary bits of songs to keep me motivated, or say two possible versions of a translated sentence aloud*. None of these delightful habits would really be accepted in an office environment.

I never was a particular fan of office chatter. I would hate it now if an office mate interrupted my translation thought processes to tell me about the latest cool colour of nail varnish, or something.


* Forgot to mention the swearing on account of the typos, dammit.

[Edited at 2014-02-05 16:48 GMT]
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Damien Poussier
Damien Poussier  Identity Verified
Francia
Local time: 15:39
Miembro 2012
inglés al francés
+ ...
In-house? Feb 5, 2014

Depends. Could I still get up at one in the afternoon?

 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 09:39
inglés al español
+ ...
Been there, done that Feb 5, 2014

Allison Wright wrote:

Sometimes, I wriggle around a lot, and stretch and pull faces, and laugh (at the text), and occasionally make slurping noises when I drink my coffee, or sing arbitrary bits of songs to keep me motivated, or say two possible versions of a translated sentence aloud*. None of these delightful habits would really be accepted in an office environment.

I never was a particular fan of office chatter. I would hate it now if an office mate interrupted my translation thought processes to tell me about the latest cool colour of nail varnish, or something.


When I finished my BA in translation, I wanted to be an in-house translator really, really bad. I fulfilled my wish more than once, but I learned some lessons along the way:

- Translation is serious work that requires a lot of concentration. I disliked being interrupted or having my manager ask me to drop everything for some urgent request.
- The focus required for translation requires your own space: so, I ended up hating those bullpens and open office environments, as well as the office noise, the random cellphone beeps and such.
- I loved having colleagues and like-minded people to talk and spar on ideas, but I really disliked the office politics, the American way to be corporate nice but personally offended.
- I never quite understood the American way of corporate culture in the sense that they encourage you to be sincere, offer solutions and think outside the box...as long as they like what you have to say.
- Perhaps when expecting a manager to act like a mentor was asking too much. I've worked with some challenging managers, but the last one was a waste of human skin: no self confidence, no initiative, below-average intelligence and only looking for number one (herself). Sometimes I wondered how she got a degree in software development in the first place.

Right now, I live the best of both worlds. I'm on a renewable contract that equals a full-time job, I attend teleconference meetings once or twice a week (but they only last 30 minutes), I collaborate with my team peers, but I don't have to deal with the micromanaging of projects or the ungodly interruptions.


 
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Poll: Would you want to work as an in-house translator?






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