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As language professionals, we have a duty to keep up with training and education in our languages and specializations; with technology, legislation, and other developments important to our field; and with other people, both colleagues and clients. Attending a professional conference is a great way to manage all of these obligations. But conferences, by their very nature, can be big, overwhelming, and difficult to navigate. Simply showing up and hoping for the best is a recipe for exhaustion, failure, and wasting all the money we invested to be there. To really make the most of the conference experience, it helps…
I’m just going to open with it—this article was not written by ChatGPT. It might be the only one on the topic not to close with that twist since the release of the Large Language Model (LLM) in November of last year. We’ve read a lot of speculation in that time, from hype to hysteria. Here, I’d like to look…
On our Copyediting-L email group through the University of Indiana, someone asked the following question, which elicited a number of responses: “Does anyone have any general ideas on how to do proper intel and to “screen for pay,” so I’m more strategic in my client hunting?” I’ve been on social media with editors and translators for more than 20 years now, and…
This post is a reblog, originally published on Marketing Tips for Translators. It is reposted with permission from the author. Do You Know the Easiest Way to Make More Money Right Now, With the Least Effort? I often listen to audiobooks through Audible on my phone when walking the dog, exercising or driving in the car. I recently started listening…
This post was originally published on the FAZT Blog. It is reposted with permission. As professional translators, we often discuss the significant investment required in our field. This includes expenses on training, software, work equipment, association fees, and time spent on day-to-day business management, such as paying taxes, managing social media, and meetings. 📚 However, the misconception that a translator…
Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned translator or interpreter, you’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking about marketing yourself and making meaningful connections to build a fulfilling career. Social media, LinkedIn, and professional websites have their merits, but there is another avenue that linguists are exploring: podcasting. If you’ve been inspired by the growing number of top-notch podcasts…
This post was originally published on That Translation Blog. It is reposted with permission. I admit it. I’m slightly addicted to TikTok. As a marketing and luxury goods translator, it’s actually a really useful business tool (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it). I was recently working on a tourism translation for a French hotel, and in that there was…
If you’re interested in a career as a translator or interpreter, it can be hard to figure out how to break into the industry. Where are the jobs? What should you specialize in? How do you set rates? One way to answer these and many other questions is to start out as an entry-level project manager (PM) with a language…
This post was originally published on ORH Translations. It is reposted with permission. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I was faced with the difficult decision of what to do next. I was frightened, anxious and overwhelmed with the thought of stepping into the big, scary working world. I would say that I was quite naive when I finished my…
There is much to be learned from our colleagues, but it can be intimidating to strike up a conversation with the “pros.” For that reason, we at Savvy have done the work for you in our Linguist in the Spotlight interview series, where we pick the brains of experienced translators and interpreters and bring their stories right to your screen.…
This post is a reblog, originally published on Tip of the Tongue. It is republished with permission from the author. The question of when a price proposal is too high is quite complex. Last week, I submitted a bid for a specialized service to an experienced professional. In my proposal, I took into account my investments in terms of time…