Build a Professional Translation Portfolio
Applying for translation jobs can be daunting — whether it involves writing a personal statement, compiling a portfolio or indicating your language proficiencies or qualifications.
At the same time, presenting yourself in a way that appeals to potential clients or employers can sometimes make yourself feel like a sellout. Or at least, that’s how it used to make me feel.
Perhaps it is time to shift this perspective. Instead of approaching your personal resume or portfolio as a means to brag about yourself, use it to showcase your strengths and abilities as a translator, so that you can instil confidence that you are the right person for the job.
As someone who is relatively new to the job market, I have also had my fair share of applying for jobs and gigs. As a result, I learnt a great deal about what I should and should not include in my portfolio.
Here are some insights I’ve gained from personal experience, peers and the online translation community:
1. Detail is key
When presenting sample translation work from past projects, delve into more detail with regards to the project — what the purpose of the translation was, what the source and target languages are, who it was intended for, and what kind of specialisations it required.
Don’t forget to also get consent from your clients before releasing any information about them! In the case that the source text of your projects are protected by Creative Commons or any other license, make sure to give the proper attribution to the text author, including contacting them and asking for permission if necessary.
2. Prioritise key skills
Where details can beef up your portfolio, leaving some out can be just as crucial. Over-including could result in information overload, causing people to lose interest in your portfolio before they get to the important bits.
So what should you include or exclude from your portfolio? Make sure that your showcased work has purpose. You could even include your reason for highlighting it if it is appropriate.
A good place to start is by assuming the client’s perspective. If you know that your client needs a translator that is well versed with medical terminology, and you fit the bill, highlighting the relevant skills such as your medical knowledge or experience should be your priority.
Another note to make while curating your portfolio is the order of the work you choose to display: always place the most important information at the top!
3. Presentation is important
Have you ever encountered a product that looks so underwhelming it never crossed your mind to reach out for it regardless of its quality? Well, that logic could apply to building a good portfolio as well. If your portfolio has a messy layout, lacks proper formatting or looks unappealing, it could drive away potential clients that would have otherwise been a perfect fit for you.
Visuals are just as important as the content of your portfolio, and making your portfolio ‘look good’ does not have to be difficult either. Something as simple as using a template on Microsoft Word or Canva, could change the way you are seen by others.
4. Don’t forget to include testimonials
Another overlooked way to present yourself and provide credibility to your work is through testimonials from previous clients. This can be via a short statement or comment, or a contact — with their consent — so that potential clients can reach out to them for themselves. Positive reviews from your previous collaborators can add a huge boost to your reputation as a translator.
5. It’s okay to have multiple portfolios
It can get confusing for clients if they are met with a portfolio that is convoluted and hard to follow. A portfolio that includes anything and everything shows potential clients that it lacks focus and that you are not clear on what they need as a client and what you can provide to them as a translator.
Instead, it is totally possible to prepare several portfolios with different specialisations to suit different needs. That way, you can tailor to each client, which can give you an edge.
Depending on your interests and expertise as a translator, you can create separate portfolios based on:
- Language pair
- Service types (such as subtitling and editing)
- Specialisations (such as legal, literary or medical)
With that, I hope these 5 tips will help you find the motivation and push to improve your job hunt!
If you are new to the translation scene and would like some resources to start somewhere with, check out this article that features tips and advice from veteran translators in the industry.
Good luck!
Written by Chrystal Hooi
