Who's an Interpreter / Translator?
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
– Nelson Mandela
Do you love learning new languages? Do you like meeting people from different countries and learning about their culture? Would you enjoy helping people from different backgrounds converse with each other? If so, consider a career in translation!
To put it simply, an interpreter/translator is a professional who reads, understands, speaks, and translates messages from one language to another. Over and above the language, you will also learn about the culture, art, music, history and more about the languages you master. Most interpreters/translators specialise in one language other than their mother-tongue and help others understand it. For instance, if you learnt to speak French and your mother-tongue is Hindi, you would help other Hindi-speakers understand French when needed, and vice-versa. One distinct difference between interpreters and translators is that interpreters orally translate, while translators work with text. Think this is the career for you? Read on to learn more!
What will you do?
Where will you work?
How do you get there?
What skills would you need?
Technical Skills
Technical skills refer to the specific knowledge and abilities required to perform particular tasks, often related to technology, engineering, computer science, or specialized fields. These skills encompass a wide range of competencies, including proficiency in software applications, programming languages, data analysis tools, and technical writing. Mastering technical skills allows individuals to effectively utilise tools and technologies relevant to their job roles. Strong technical skills will enable professionals to troubleshoot issues, implement solutions, and contribute to innovation within their organisations. build this skill
Research
Research is the systematic process of collecting, analysing, and interpreting information to increase understanding of a particular topic or issue. It involves identifying a question or problem, gathering relevant data, and evaluating sources to draw meaningful conclusions. Research can take various forms, including qualitative studies (which explore perceptions and experiences) and quantitative studies (which focus on numerical data and statistics). Strong research skills will enable you to find reliable information, assess the credibility of sources, and synthesise findings to support decision-making or further exploration. This skill is crucial in many fields, such as academia, business, healthcare, and technology, where informed decisions rely on thorough investigation and analysis. build this skill
Time Management
Time management refers to the ability to plan and organise how much time you spend on specific activities. Good time management enables individuals to work smarter rather than harder, helping them prioritise tasks, set goals, and allocate time efficiently. It includes skills such as prioritisation, scheduling, and setting deadlines, allowing individuals to maximise productivity and reduce stress. This skill is especially valuable in fast-paced environments, where the ability to adapt and adjust priorities can significantly impact performance.
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail means being careful and noticing small things that others might miss. It involves checking your work carefully for mistakes, following instructions exactly, and making sure everything is done correctly. This skill helps you do accurate work and avoid errors. In jobs, attention to detail is important for tasks like writing reports, managing data, or following safety rules. build this skill
Analytical and Data Skills
Analytical and data skills involve the ability to evaluate information, interpret data, and draw insights to solve problems or make informed decisions. These skills require critical thinking, logical reasoning, and proficiency in working with data sets, often using tools like Excel, SQL, or statistical software. This skill set helps you break down complex problems, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions. In the workplace, strong analytical and data skills allow you to provide insights that guide strategies, optimise processes, and drive innovation. They are essential for roles involving research, business analysis, marketing, finance, and operations. build this skillHow do you make it to the top ranks?
Intern
As an intern, your tasks would include researching, uploading content onto a website, looking for new terms of the language you specialise in, etc., and over and above assist the translators with their tasks.
Junior Translator
As you’re just starting out, you would be working on simple projects such as news brochures, product descriptions, news piece and others.
Senior Translator
At this level, you would be heading a team of junior translators and overseeing their work. Depending on where you work, you would handle multiple projects at a time. As a senior, you would also be involved with editing and proofreading the content written by junior translators.
Group Head
As a group head, your job would not just be limited to translating content, but also meeting clients, understanding their requirements and then guiding your team of translators to work on the same. It will be your job to ensure the timely submission of projects.
Director
You’re the Boss, Le Chef, El Capitan at this stage. You would oversee the entire working of your team of translators. You would be involved in the marketing activities and be on the constant lookout for new projects.
Pursuing your career locally VS abroad
If you pursue a career in translation in India, then it’s easier for you to get a job in the country as a translator in tourism, entertainment, media, publishing house, diplomatic service, legal or medical field. Most businesses in India are expanding globally and schools, as well, are introducing new languages to their curriculum. There is, therefore, high demand for translators in languages like French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Korean in India.
You can pursue a career in translation in India by opting to do a certification, diploma or a degree course in the language of your choice. The eligibility for these courses is your Class 12 exams. Most diploma courses in India are one-year courses. Top colleges from where you can pursue a career in translation in India are Central Translation Bureau, University of Pune, Visvabharti University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Himachal Pradesh University.
Pursuing a career in translation abroad would give you a deeper understanding of the language. You will meet people, learn about the land, understand their culture, etc., which will eventually help you obtain a deeper understanding of the language. Once you have completed your degree, you can always look for a job in the country. Other than graduation or master’s degrees, there are language programmes abroad that will help you master the basics. Top colleges to pursue a career in translation are Middlebury College, University of California, Cornell University, and Harvard University.
How much would you get paid?
Your pay will largely depend on your skill-set, the languages you’ve learned and the organisation you work for. However, we can give you a fair idea of the kind of salaries translators make.
What are your career options?
Writer
If you know multiple languages, you can establish a career as a writer. As a writer, you could work for publications or websites. You can work in various fields such as medical writing, scriptwriting, current affairs, travel and others. You could either be involved in translating text or writing an original piece for a regional or international publication. A degree in linguistics or literature in the language of your choosing will help you go a long way in this field.
Interpreter
As an interpreter, you would aid people who speak in different languages to have conversations with each other. Your job would be to understand what is being said and correctly translate it to the other person. Your job here is two-way. You must translate what is being said and also translate the response given to it. There is a strong demand for diplomatic interpreters in the government. However, it is important that you possess a thorough knowledge of the subject (finance, politics, etc.) in order to translate it properly.
Tourism
You can work with the tourism industry in India. Here you could look at creating brochures for people in different languages. Or, you could serve as a tour guide where you can help people from different nationalities enjoy all that India has to offer by making the communication process smoother for them. A diploma in travel and tourism would come in handy here. There are several courses offered by Blue Whale Academy, Thomas Cook, etc.
Transcriber
Today with streaming platforms like Netflix, Hotstar and Amazon prime bringing in more and more international content to our screens, there is more need than ever for translators and transcribers. As a transcriber, you would work on creating subtitles for video content in either the original language or in the local language.
Teacher
If you enjoy teaching, there is a good demand for German, French, Chinese, Sanskrit and other language teachers. You can either work with a school or college or start your own classes. Depending on your expertise and qualifications, you can decide at what level you want to teach the language. In India, to teach, you need to appear for and clear the UGC-NET exams.
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