Career as a Translator

[wp_ulike]

Translator Career Profile

Do you want to work as a translator?

READ: This page helps you to read about the career and the info you need to decide on whether this is indeed the career you want to follow.

RESEARCH: Learn about the skills required and minimum subjects to enter this career, as well as the places where you can study further after school.

PREPARE: If you want to plan and prepare for your career, then join the OZT Community! Members have access to tools while chatting with other students and experts from around the world. Prepare to be amazed!

CAREER MENTOR

UPDATED:

29 April 2024

Adverts:

Advertise with OZT

What is a translator?

Translators convert the language contained in different publications, such as newspapers, books, TV, film and websites into a different language.

Translators will only work with script (things written). So if you want to look at a career where you can help people understand what a foreign speaker is saying, then you can go over the the Interpreter Career Page instead.

Many languages?

There is an estimated 7,000 languages and dialects in the world

History of translation?

One of the most valuable pieces of translation is the Rosetta Stone with inscriptions in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Greek

What do they do?

Category:

Media / Business / Education / Zoos, Aquariums, Museums & Theme Parks

Focus:

The primary focus of a translator is to translate a specific language into a second language, keeping the meaning of the words and sentences the same. With animal science in mind, translators need to know and understand the various scientific words, so that they will be translated correctly.

Daily Tasks:

Discuss brief with clients
Read through the text to understand context
Translate text
Presentation to clients of work done
Create and add new work to a portfolio
Administration and filing

Where they work:

Environment –

Translators will work indoors from within an office setup, mostly working on a PC or laptop.

Places of Employment –

Most translators work privately, under contract for various clients. They can also be employed by newspapers, website designers, government, conservation organizations, zoos, aquariums, theme parks and scientific publication houses.

Average Salary:

As most translators are self employed, their income is based on obtaining contracts. On average the income per year is around $45,000. This will differ from country to country.

Difficulties:

The most difficult part is staying updated with words or phrases used in the field of translation (animal science for example). They may work long hours and over weekends and holidays to finish work within tight deadlines.

Future growth and Possibilities:

The average growth of new job vacancies in the translator industry is good, especially for technical websites who need specific and accurate translation, instead of relying on automatic internet translations.

3. Which Skills are required?

The skills required for a career as a translator can be divided into two very important groups. The first is the group containing life skills, which are the core skills that are necessary or desirable for full participation in everyday life. The second group is career skills, or the specific skills required to allow a person to enter and operate effectively within a specific career. Some or maybe even all of the life skills can assist in strengthening the career skills, and they might even be the same for specific careers.

Life Skills:

Self-awareness
Empathy
Critical thinking
Creative thinking
Decision making
Problem Solving
Effective communication
Interpersonal relationship

Career Skills:

Excellent grasp of second or third language
Good business knowledge
Basic customer service skills
Good health and physical fitness
Excellent computer literacy (translation and editing software)

Life Skills

40%

Career Skills

60%

4. Which Subjects must I have at School?

Language

Business Studies

Biology

Language

Business Studies

Biology

The subjects you choose at school are important as they lay the foundation for further studies at college or university. While still at school, it’s also important to learn more about the animals you will work with, as well as gain some experience.

OZT has a list of various tertiary institutions where you can study further, after school. Each of these institutions also have their own Group page on OZT where you will find the exact subjects they require of you to have passed in school. Keep these requirements in mind, and discuss it with your school, guidance counselor and parents to ensure that you are prepared!

5. What will I need to Study?

Minimum Requirements:

To become a professional translator depends on your level of proficiency in a second language. If you speak a second language fluently , then the minimum requirements will be a College Diploma. More advanced studies at University level is required if your knowledge of the language is still basic to intermediate.

Focus:

Major –

The best major to choose is the language(s) you want to specialize in. This is extremely important if you are not already proficient in that language.

Short Courses –

There are several courses available on translating material. Also try and do as many as possible in the field you want to specialize in.

Duration:

The duration of College and Bachelor’s Degrees can be up to 3 or 4 years. Short Courses are usually between a few weeks and a year.

Possible Career Preparation Paths:

If this is your dream career that you want to pursue, then it’s important to plan the way forward.

Why is planning important?

To ensure that you understand the requirements for your career, and that you are always prepared for the next step on the road towards your dream. A Preparation Path is like your road map to where you want to be.

Possible Paths:

CAREER PATH 1 High School Certificate + Experience while still in School + College Diploma + Completion of Short Courses

CAREER PATH 2 High School Certificate + Experience while still in School + University Degree

Possible Combined Career Paths:

It is possible to sometimes combine two or more related careers. This normally happens when you study and practice a specific main career, but the knowledge and experience gained also help you to have a paying hobby or secondary income career.

Possible Alternatives (there are a lot more):

COMBINED PATH 1 Translator + Book Illustrator

COMBINED PATH 2 Translator + Marketing Officer

Stepping Stone Career:

Being a translator can also be used as a stepping stone career. A stepping stone career is one which is used to help you get to another career, normally because the other career is too difficult to reach (sometimes due to things like high fees etc).

You can begin as an intern after basic short courses and expert guidance (maybe working under a mentor). The money made can then be used to pay for studies towards a promotion or another career, and the experience helps in gaining knowledge. One paying to help get to the other.

Some of the possible paths:

PROGRESS PATH 1 Work as a Translator -> while studying towards a career as a Wildlife Veterinarian

Training and apprenticeship:

Even though it is important to study to get into some of the animal careers, most of the skills you will need as a translator will be acquired through practice. This means that you will learn how to perform some of the daily tasks by actually doing it a few times and learning the steps.

In very few cases, apprenticeship is also possible where you need to learn skills from a more senior translator or expert.

Join the Translators Group in STEP 8 to learn more and even interact with the educational institutions that will help you secure your dream career!

Average level of education of those entering the career:

High School Certificate 0%

Diploma or Short Courses 0%

Degree or Higher Studies 0%

6. Licenses, Certificate, Registration and Professional Associations

Certain animal careers require some form of legal certification to prove that you can indeed do the work, and work with the necessary equipment.

Although not required by law, certifications may help workers establish their credentials and enhance their skills.

Learn more about requirements by joining OZT in STEP 8.

Professional Associations:

7. Where can I study further?

All of the above information will help you understand more about the Career, including the fact that there are different paths to take to reach it. But if you are almost done with High School (Grades 11 or 12), you also need to start thinking about further studies, and WHERE you will study.

See the List of Universities, Colleges and Online Training Academies who offer courses towards translation.

8. Join the OZT community

Join us as a special member and learn more about becoming a Translator.

Members of the Platform have special access to:

Info on the best places where you can study (colleges, universities and online)
Expertly designed advice to prepare you for the career, and links to places where you can gain valuable experience. For some career experience is necessary, otherwise you wont get the job!
Top notch info on each of the different species you will work with
Make friends around the world and share knowledge
Compete and win points, badges, games, prizes and certificates. Be the best of the best, while you learn and prepare!

If you have decided on being a translator, please click on the JOIN GROUP button. If this career is NOT the career for you, then you may return to the MAIN CAREER menu, and search for something different.

Other interesting Careers

Trending Today

Career Profiles and Resources

Career Mentor

Career Mentors are Members who assist by volunteering to keep each Career Page factual and current, while mentoring Students in the related Career Group.

Learn More …

Career Contributors

Contributions by expert members are always appreciated to allow the Students to make informed decisions. Please add your contribution through the attached Form:

Contribution Form

List of Career Mentors/Educators who have contributed to this Career info:

Group Admin

One Zoo Tree

Pinterest Link

A few pictures about the Career: