Insider tips for becoming a Localization freelancer at KAYAK & OpenTable
The KAYAK & OpenTable Localization team is based in Berlin, Copenhagen and London and collaborates with a pool of remote freelancers.
Working remotely can be difficult sometimes — we know! — but we have created a good system to make communication run smoothly: group chats, intuitive training videos and an internal wiki are just a few of the resources we use to ensure that essential information is always available to quickly answer any questions that arise.
If you are a freelance translator who’s thinking of expanding your career to the travel/dining industries, here are eight tips from our team on how to make a good impression during the application process.
1. Learn about our company.
Do a little research to get to know the KAYAK & OpenTable brands, website and apps: this will also help you find out what kind of content you’ll be translating so you can highlight all the relevant experience on your CV (or interview).
2. Read the job description carefully.
Having native fluency in the target language as well as a professional localization background with the exact specified language-locale pair is the most important aspect that we look at. Of course we’re very impressed by your proficiency in four languages… but the main thing we’re looking for is that you have the fundamentals. Many of our roles involve other types of work in addition to translation. Check and see if LQA or SEO skills are also specified.
3. Wow us with your cover letter.
An impressive cover letter is a great way to present yourself and convince us with your motivation, your writing style and familiarity with English. Ultimately, this is a language job, so consider this an opportunity to show off your enthusiasm and writing skills. Pro tip: we love our brands and we like to see them properly written.
4. Polish your CV.
Everyone says they are “detail-oriented,” but have you checked your CV for typos? Moreover, a short resume highlighting the most relevant experiences will stand out (a.k.a.: you can take out that internship you did after graduation 7 years ago…)
5. Show off your technical skills.
We love to travel but we are a tech company first: being tech savvy is always key, so highlight your experiences with product localization, describe the tools you are familiar with, and share your personal interest in the tech industry. Note: knowing the difference between VPN and VoIP can also be a good start.
6. Ace our localization test.
If you are selected to take our localization test, this is your chance to show us your skills! Think like a copywriter when working on the task, and make good use of the comment sections to share your thought process. And don’t forget: the existing websites are a useful resource to find examples of our tone of voice and terminology.
7. Tell us how you’d improve our site.
Before your interview, run a quick check of your mic/camera settings (you don’t want to waste the first five minutes trying to remove an amusing cat filter) and get ready to meet our team. While presenting yourself, highlight your most relevant work experiences and bring us your questions: we love to hear your take on the translations you’ve seen on our websites, and how you would improve our products to engage better with your local audience.
8. Be authentic.
We love to work with professionals, but we are also looking for great people: share your story and focus on what makes you unique. What is the achievement you are most proud of as a translator? Any fun facts to share about your work? Tell us, we want to get to know you.
As a travel company, we love bringing people together. Quality localization is a big part of this — it’s what lets users all over the world feel at home when using our products. If you feel you share this value with us, check out our Careers page to see if there are any Localization Freelancer positions open!
