Ultimate guide for freelance translator (day2)

Requirement to be freelance translator

Language skills

To be a successful translator, you have to be fluent in both of your translating language and your native language. Additionally, you must be good at writing in your native language.

If you are living in the country of your translating language, it is a great benefit for you to become a translator. it accelerate your proficiency in a short period of time.

Most translation agencies will not consider non-native speakers for professional translation work.

Computer skills

As a translator, you have to work with a computer every day, particularly with the Microsoft Office suite and CAT tools. Familiar with those software is essential to every translator.

Additionally, knowledge of InDesign and Photoshop will also helpful when dealing with jobs that require DTP (Desktop Publishing), and enable you to offer that service to your clients.

The basic knowledge of HTML doesn’t hurt either! If you’d like to learn HTML, below is the references:

www.codeacademy.com, www.w3schools.com, www.udemy.com

Business acumen

Good translators’ skills aren’t limited to languages.

If your career goal is to become a freelancer, you will also need to develop the skills that make many self-employed people successful. Gaining a good knowledge of sales and marketing is also important to your career.