Job profileTranslator

1. Responsibilities
2. Salary
3. Qualifications
4. Skills
5. Work experience
6. Career prospects
7. Related jobs and courses

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Translators use their language skills to translate one written language into another, retaining the meaning of the original text as closely as possible

As a translator, you'll convert written material from one or more 'source languages' into the 'target language', making sure that the translated version conveys the meaning of the original as clearly as possible. The target language is normally your mother tongue.

Transcreation may also be part of the job, which is a mix of translation, localisation (taking into account factors such as cultural nuances) and copywriting, where the text is culturally and linguistically adapted to suit the reader.

Types of translation

You can translate a variety of content, including:

• commercial
• educational
• financial
• legal
• marketing and advertising
• medical
• political
• scientific
• technical.

You could also work as a literary translator, translating works of fiction, or as a subtitler, translating dialogue on films, TV programmes and video games.

Responsibilities

As a translator, you'll need to:

• read through original material and rewrite it in the target language, ensuring that the meaning of the source text is retained
• use translation memory software, such as Wordfast, memoQ, Across, Trados Studio and Transit NXT, to ensure consistency of translation within documents and help efficiency
• use specialist dictionaries, thesauruses and reference books to find the closest equivalents for terminology and words used
• use appropriate software for presentation and delivery
• research legal, technical and scientific phraseology to find the correct translation
• liaise with clients to discuss any unclear points
• proofread and edit final translated versions
• provide quotations for translation services offered
• consult with experts in specialist areas
• retain and develop knowledge on specialist areas of translation
• follow various translation-quality standards to ensure legal and ethical obligations to the customer.

Salary

Salaries for translators in the UK vary widely and freelance rates are often calculated according to the word count. Your income will depend on a range of factors including your experience and qualifications, the nature of the work you're translating (general or specialist) and the level of demand for the languages.

Translation of highly specialised texts, from or into unusual languages, demands higher rates than general translation.

Working hours

Working hours for in-house translators are usually 9am to 5pm. If you work as a freelance translator, your hours can be flexible but you'll need to organise them to make sure you can meet fixed deadlines.

Part-time work is possible and short-term temporary contracts are available. You may need to juggle several freelance projects at one time.