Launching a successful freelance career

Launching a successful freelance career in translation

and interpreting

Marta StelmaszakFebruary 2014

Agenda

• About the speaker• Introduction• Milestone 1: Qualifications• Milestone 2: Setting up a business• Milestone 3: Marketing• Milestone 4: Networking• Milestone 5: Becoming involved

Introduction

• What does it mean to be successful?• There’s no one way• Freelance career means being a business• It requires passion and dedication

Milestone 1: Qualifications

• My path• Finding out about the industry• Qualifications• Continuing Professional Development• Professional organisations• Developing specialisms

Milestone 1: Qualifications

• Resources– http://wantwords.co.uk/school/lesson-64-market-researc

h-resources-for-translators-and-interpreters/

– http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation/publications/studies/translation_profession_en.pdf

– http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/study-on-the-size-of-the-language-industry-in-the-eu-pbHC8009985/

– http://www.iol.org.uk/– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK6NJcEdyp0

Milestone 2: Setting up a business

• My path• Attend a set-up workshop• Learn from HMRC and local council• Ask for help• Attend a business course• Get a business plan

Milestone 2: Setting up a business

• Resources– www.hmrc.gov.uk– Gov.uk (former Business Link)– Local council– http://wantwords.co.uk/school/translator-business-plan/– http://wantwords.co.uk/school/lesson-73-planning-busin

ess-development/

Milestone 3: Marketing

• My path• Attend a workshop or training session• Get some marketing materials• Hire an expert• Read blogs and follow experts• Get a marketing plan

Milestone 3: Marketing

• Resources– http://translationtimes.blogspot.co.uk/– www.wantwords.co.uk/school– Thoughtsontranslation.com– http://freelancefolder.com/– http://thefreelancery.com/– The Entrepreneurial Linguist– http://www.marieforleo.com/

Milestone 4: Networking

• My path• International Calendar of Events• Don’t restrict yourself to translation-related

events only• Learn how to network• Practise!

Milestone 4: Networking

• Resources– http://wantwords.co.uk/school/networking-for-translator

s/

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh25P4oyis8– Online networking

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/Watercoolernetwork/

• LinkedIn

Milestone 5: Becoming involved

• My path• Volunteer, offer help to professional

organisations• Start a blog or write an article• Present at industry events• Take pride in belonging to the profession

Milestone 5: Becoming involved

• Resources– http://wantwords.co.uk/school/lesson-46-popular-transla

tor/

– http://alexandria-library.com/2014/02/03/standing-out-or-the-art-of-becoming-an-outstanding-translator/

Questions

Marta Stelmaszakwww.wantwords.co.uk

marta@wantwords.co.uk@mstelmaszak