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The Savvy Newcomer aims to serve newcomers to the translation and interpreting professions by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed content on a weekly basis. We strive to provide you with the answers to the many questions you face as a new or aspiring translator or interpreter.

How to Make a Better Clientscape

By The Savvy Newcomer | May 2, 2023
How to Make a Better Clientscape

Title explanation: If a landscape is the land around you, your friendscape is what you see when you look out at your friends, and your clientscape is what you see, as a freelancer, when you look at the array of your clients. Remember, the way we see ourselves is in the mirror of the people around us… if you don’t think much of yourself, maybe you need to change the people around you. You can change your landscape view by changing your location, narrowing your focus, enjoying the sky, or looking out a different window. You can improve your friend…

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The Most Lucrative Ways to Specialize

By The Savvy Newcomer | February 7, 2023
The Most Lucrative Ways to Specialize

This post was originally published on The Freelancery. It is reposted with permission.  Yes. Specialists always do better. There is no debating this. I can’t think of any freelancer who made it big as a handyman. The world already has plenty of all-purpose copywriters, versatile translators, general web designers and utility infielders. Don’t jump into that haystack. You will be lost forever. It…

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How to Use Video to Attract New Clients to Your Website

By The Savvy Newcomer | January 10, 2023

This post was originally published on Successful Freelance Translator. It is reposted with permission. Hey, guys! Many of us have personal websites (if no, check one of my posts to learn why you should) and you may wonder how to attract new visitors and convert them into clients. In this posts, I will show you how to use video to attract…

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What to Do With All Those Languages You Speak

By The Savvy Newcomer | November 22, 2022
What to Do With All Those Languages You Speak

The following is a translation of the post “Traduction: Que faire de toutes ces langues que vous parlez?” (you can read the original via the hyperlink) by Matilda Gascon Delqueux from the blog Master TSM Lille, translated by our very own Kevin L. Hull. Without further ado, here is the translation. Many of us know languages besides those we studied…

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Using LinkedIn to Research People and Companies

By The Savvy Newcomer | October 18, 2022
Using LinkedIn To Research People And Companies

This post was originally published on Bruce Johnston’s blog. It is reposted with permission. I thought today I would go over an example of the research I would do before talking to a prospect. Here are the steps I take: I will check their company page to see how it matches up with their website and to review all their…

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Buddies Welcome Newbies: Starting #ATA63 Off on the Right Foot

By The Savvy Newcomer | October 6, 2022
Buddies Welcome Newbies: Starting #ATA63 Off on the Right Foot

Buddies Welcome Newbies: Starting #ATA63 Off on the Right Foot We’re so excited to welcome you to ATA63 in sunny Los Angeles! This year will be ATA’s first fully in-person conference since Palm Springs, and we can wait to see everyone. If you’ve already attended other in-person conferences this year or if this is your first one, navigating this new…

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Nine Questions from Language Majors on Their Next Steps to Becoming a Translator or Interpreter

By The Savvy Newcomer | October 4, 2022
Nine Questions from Language Majors on Their Next Steps to Becoming a Translator or Interpreter

If you are a language major considering your next steps, you’ve come to the right place! The translation and interpreting field is growing rapidly, and ATA is the largest association of its kind in the world. Whether you’re looking to become a successful solopreneur, interpret for the president of the United States, or work at a medical clinic in your…

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Savvy Diversification Series – How I Became a Medical Writer

By The Savvy Newcomer | September 20, 2022
How I Became a Medical Writer

The Savvy Newcomer team has been taking stock of the past year and finding that one key priority for many freelance translators and interpreters has been diversification. Offering multiple services in different sectors or to different clients can help steady us when storms come. Diversification can help us hedge against hard times. With this in mind, we’ve invited a series…

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Avoiding Your Biggest Résumé Mistake – How to Target Your Résumé

By The Savvy Newcomer | September 13, 2022
Avoiding Your Biggest Resume Mistake - How to Target Your Resume

We send résumés out all the time, in response to direct requests and in hopes of getting work. Résumés (or “CVs” for European clients) can be a vexing topic – but they don’t have to be. The Basics Let’s start with what you should include: Your name Your language combination Your contact details Your skills Your relevant experience The technology…

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Savvy Diversification Series – How I Became a Mobile App Localizer

By The Savvy Newcomer | July 26, 2022
How I Became a Mobile App Localizer

The Savvy Newcomer team has been taking stock of the past year and finding that one key priority for many freelance translators and interpreters has been diversification. Offering multiple services in different sectors or to different clients can help steady us when storms come. Diversification can help us hedge against hard times. With this in mind, we’ve invited a series…

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Savvy Diversification Series – Copyediting 101: What It Is, What It’s Not, and Who Needs It

By The Savvy Newcomer | July 12, 2022
Savvy Diversification Series – Copyediting 101: What It Is, What It's Not, and Who Needs It

The Savvy Newcomer team has been taking stock of the past year and finding that one key priority for many freelance translators and interpreters has been diversification. Offering multiple services in different sectors or to different clients can help steady us when storms come. Diversification can help us hedge against hard times. With this in mind, we’ve invited a series…

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