Tag Archives: translators

On taking a professional translator / interpreter career a step further 2

by • ProZ.com, translation business • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Something that cannot be said about the translation or interpretation profession is that it is a static one. Translation and interpreting –and the way these two activities are performed– have evolved throughout the years and continue to evolve, allowing language professionals to seek new challenges, inviting them to review their career plans from time to time.

Even if most language professionals feel good about what they have achieved, they may also feel compelled now and then to take their careers a step further. However, this step further may not always be that clear, and there are several options available that go beyond translation and interpreting.

One option translators and interpreters have if they feel like taking their careers a step further is the expansion of the services they offer. Expanding the list of services you offer to clients may involve learning a new language, adding a new field of expertise and even learning additional techniques such as subtitling or desktop publishing (DTP). Of course, adding a new service, like investing in anything else, means devoting time –and usually money– to getting it ready.

More…

ProZ.com Certified PRO Network: applications from translation companies now accepted Reply

by • ProZ.com, translation business • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The ProZ.com Certified PRO Network, an initiative of the ProZ.com community that has the purpose of identifying qualified translators and providing them with the option of networking and collaborating while distinguishing themselves as professionals, is now open to translation companies willing to demonstrate their unique capabilities in keeping with published industry standards.

ProZ.com Certified PRO Network

The ProZ.com Certified PRO Network keeps growing.

Allowing translation companies to apply for inclusion into the network is expected to have, among others, the following benefits:

  • Network expansion.
  • More successful service provider-outsourcer working relationships.
  • More room for direct communication and collaboration between service providers and companies.
  • A better understanding on the part of outsourcers of what being a Certified PRO means.
  • Extended network promotion.

Translation companies willing to enter the ProZ.com Certified PRO Network will be required to prove that they meet or exceed minimum professional standards in two screening areas: (1) business reliability and (2) good citizenship.

Information that screeners will check when reviewing company applications includes Blue Board record history and payment practices, number of years in the translation industry, client feedback, standards or certifications, quality processes followed and ProZ.com activity. Other data, such as services offered and capacity, may also be taken into account.

If you run a translation company, consider applying for inclusion into the Certified PRO Network by completing your online application.

More information about PRO certification is available in the Certified PRO Network FAQs section (recently updated).

Application from freelancers are also being reviewed on a daily basis. So, if you are a freelancer and you would like to enter the network, apply now.

Thank you to ProZ.com site moderators, class of 2011-2012 1

by • ProZ.com • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Like referees in sports, ProZ.com moderators help to ensure fair play by enforcing a specific set of rules in a uniform manner.

The ProZ.com moderator class of 2011-2012 is coming to an end, but before this happens, ProZ.com would like to thank all of those members who have given of their time to help maintain a positive, results-oriented atmosphere on the site. Each person in the class has made valuable contributions to ProZ.com, and some of them even beyond the moderator program.

ProZ.com moderators are volunteer members who have benefited from ProZ.com and have chosen to give something back by playing their part, in turn, in a system put in place to ensure fair play. Their role is to foster and protect the positive, results-oriented atmosphere that makes ProZ.com possible, by:

  • Greeting and guiding new participants, and helping them to properly use and benefit from what is available to them at ProZ.com.
  • Enforcing site rules in a consistent and structured manner to maintain a constructive environment.

The moderator class of 2011-2012 is certainly a very good example of the role. Thank you mods!

The moderator class of 2012-2013 is scheduled to begin in August. So, if you are a ProZ.com member and would like to volunteer for a one-year term as site moderator, please visit http://www.proz.com/moderators or contact site staff through the support center.

Looking forward to receiving lots of applications!

Lucía

ProZ.com Certified PRO Network: 3,000 members and counting! Reply

by • ProZ.com, translation business • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The ProZ.com Certified PRO Network, an initiative of the ProZ.com community to provide qualified translators and translation companies with an opportunity to network and collaborate in an environment consisting entirely of screened professionals, has reached 3,000 members and more and more applications are being submitted every day.

ProZ.com Certified PRO

Members of the ProZ.com Certified PRO Network have the benefit of networking with other screened professionals while distinguishing themselves as PROs. Many program participants view this also as an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the industry. Other benefits members of the program have include:

  • a distinguishing Certified PRO seal shown next to their name throughout the ProZ.com site;
  • a printable and downloadable certificate available in their ProZ.com profiles;
  • a special search option in the ProZ.com directory of freelance translators and interpreters, ProZ.com’s main source of jobs;
  • exclusive access to a personal workspace and to a Certified PRO Network private forum;
  • special discount on selected ProZ.com training sessions and events;
  • a distinguishing Certified PRO seal in in-person event name badges;
  • access to periodically organized virtual powwows for members of the network;
  • a Certified PRO logo to be used in personal websites, email signatures, blogs, etc.;
  • full access to ProZ.com virtual events;
  • the possibility to join Translators without Borders without going through their screening process;
  • the option to share glossaries with other members of the network;
  • the possibility to become ProZ.com mentors;
  • and more!

To enter the Certified PRO Network, ProZ.com members must complete an online application and submit it for review to prove they meet or exceed minimum professional standards based on the EN15038 standard for quality in translation and in three screening areas: translation ability, business reliability and online citizenship.

The ProZ.com Certified PRO network is being provided as a service to ProZ.com full professional members only (non-members can still complete and submit their applications for review). If admitted, members pay no additional fees.

Click here to start completing your application.

More information about the ProZ.com Certified PRO Network is available here.

Congratulations to the over 3,000 ProZ.com members who are further differentiating themselves professionally and taking networking and collaboration to a new level!

Risk management in translation: ProZ.com knowledge base for translators, translation companies, and others in the language industry 2

by • knowledge, ProZ.com, translation business • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Every business type is exposed to risks influenced by numerous factors and the translation and interpretation business is no exception. Regardless of the type of activity involved, everyone either offering language services or looking for language service providers is exposed so several types of risks that should be acknowledged if a reliable and successful service provider-outsourcer relationship is desired.

With this in mind, ProZ.com has been creating content and developing new tools with the purpose of helping translators, translation companies, and others in the language industry to learn about the different risks involved in doing business online and how to prevent them.

One of these resources, and probably the most widely used by service providers when assessing risks, is the ProZ.com Blue Board. The Blue Board record is the complete, searchable database of records made up of feedback entries posted by language service providers in connection with outsourcers they have worked with. For service providers, the Blue Board record has proved to be a great tool for assessing the reliability of specific outsourcers before accepting a job offer from them. For outsourcers, being listed in the Blue Board record with a good number of positive entries from service providers represents a great marketing tool. Outsourcers with a good Blue Board record report a higher degree of trust and shortened project launch cycles among those service providers who reference the Blue Board. More information about using the Blue Board record is available here.

Another great source of information in connection with business risks in translation is the ProZ.com Wiki. The ProZ.com translation industry wiki is an ever-evolving collection of articles about relevant, industry related topics, written and updated regularly by translators themselves. In this wiki, there are several articles on risk management, addressed both to language professionals and to outsourcers. Risk management-related wiki articles include the following:

For more information about the ProZ.com industry wiki, visit this page.

A recently released scam alert center is another potentially valuable resource for those seeking to manage risk when it comes to false job offers and other scams. The Translator scam alert center is an area used to provide organized, concise information regarding false job offers or requests and other scams which may be aimed at or are affecting language professionals and outsourcers. Information provided in the center is based in part on reports made by ProZ.com members through the online support system and in the ProZ.com Scams forum, and ProZ.com members have the option of subscribing to receive useful news and alerts of new scams as they are detected. The scam alert center is available here.

Finally, ProZ.com also offers its members a free webinar on “Risk management for translators and interpreters” on a monthly basis. This training session enumerates and explains risk management procedures that translators and interpreters should follow as part of their everyday professional activities. The schedule for these webinars is available here.

Regardless of the number of years a service provider or an outsourcer has been in the translation industry, risks are everywhere when doing business. However, the above-listed resources and tools have been made available by ProZ.com to promote not just professional practices, but also clear and concise information on the steps that should be taken to avoid risks when participating in the language industry. If you have any questions about these tools and resources, or if you need assistance with using them, contact site staff through the support center.

Podcast: interview with Paula Meiss on the call for papers for 452°F feature about literary translation and comparatism 1

by • knowledge, ProZ.com, translation business • Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Here’s a new ProZ.com podcast. These podcasts are designed to provide an opportunity to hear the week’s news, highlights of site features, interviews with translators and others in the industry, and to have some fun (see announcement).

An interesting announcement about a call for papers on literary translation and comparatism was shared some days ago in the translation news section of ProZ.com. The announcement was really interesting so I contacted Paula Meiss, who is one of the founding members, editor-in-chief and translator coordinator of the journal, to learn more about 452°F and this call for papers.

Paula explained that 452°F is an academic journal of literary theory and comparative literature. It was created in 2009 by a group of young researches and university lecturers based in Barcelona, Spain. Its goal is to help pre-doctoral students start publishing their work and also function as a bridge between these young researchers and more established ones. Another goal of the journal is to spread the results of the research in other languages other than English so the journal also accepts papers for publication in Catalan, Spanish, Basque, Portuguese, Italian, Galician and French. Once articles in any of these languages are submitted they make sure the articles are translated into English, Catalan, Spanish and Basque.

Paula also talked a little about the team of translators and proofreaders of the journal. She explained that the team is open to all translators and proofreaders willing to participate as long as they are willing to collaborate once or twice a year translating one or two articles. Volunteers can send their CVs to proyectos@452f.com.

Regarding the call for papers for the journal’s upcoming issue  she explained that the journal works with monographic sections and the 7th issue will be dedicated to literary translation and comparatism. Even though the journal is not devoted to translation studies, for the 7th issue articles about the relationship  between literary theory and comparative literature as a discipline will be accepted. The lines of research that will be accepted are:

a.    Intersemiotic and interlinguistic translation
b.    Translation and censorship – comparative reception of translation
c.    Literary translations and traditions
d.    Comparative literary translations
e.    Literary translation and criticism

Towards the end of the interview Paula describes the benefits of participating in this type of journal and shares some details about how rewarding her experience has been so far.

You can listen to the podcast here: ProZ.com podcast, 2011-10-28

The deadline for submissions is January 31st 2012. You can find more information here.

If you have any suggestions for possible themes for upcoming podcasts you can send them to romina at proz.com or via Twitter @ProZcom.

To listen to previous podcasts, check the podcasts tab in this blog.

Thanks for listening!

Romina

Podcast: interview with Lori Thicke about Translators without Borders’ work and needs 3

by • ProZ.com • Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Here’s a new ProZ.com podcast. These podcasts are designed to provide an opportunity to hear the week’s news, highlights of site features, interviews with translators and others in the industry, and to have some fun (see announcement).

After reading a recent article published on Speaking for Translators without Borders regarding an urgent call for volunteers, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the work Translators without Borders are doing and their urgent needs, so I interviewed Lori Thicke, co-founder of Traducteurs sans frontières (TSF).

In this interview Lori explains what Translators without Borders is and how it all started in 1993. She describes the goals of the organization and how ProZ.com has helped. She also provides some stats regarding the number of translators who have volunteered, the number of languages and words covered so far and describes how the selection process works.

As a special note Lori explains what the urgent call for volunteers is about and mentions that, even though the need for translations is ongoing, Translators without Borders also have a need for volunteers who can make and/or edit videos, write articles, research funding programs, write grant applications, mentor translators in Africa, and of course translate.

They are also looking for LSPs who can evaluate tests in different languages using the automated testing platform ProZ.com has programmed for them.

Those translators who are interested in staying informed about Translators without Borders’ work can receive information on Translators without Borders’ website, subscribe to their Blog Speaking for TWB, or check their page on Facebook and follow them on Twitter  @translatorswb.

Listen to the interview here: ProZ.com podcast, 2011-08-05

I hope you enjoy this podcast.

Feedback and comments are welcome. You can reach me at romina at proz.com or via Twitter @ProZcom .

To listen to previous podcasts, check the podcasts tab in this blog.

Later!

Romina