One of the best things about being a freelance translator is the freedom to make your own decisions. It’s also one of the worst things, as it means the buck stops with you! For anyone new to the wonderful world of self-employment one of the most important tasks is finding good agencies to collaborate with on projects. With that in mind, we offer some advice on finding the cream of the crop and avoiding the crooks.

The first important characteristic of any agency/freelancer relationship is good communication. Agencies should provide you with a designated contact person for each job, who should be quick to respond to emails, courteous and respectful – as should you, of course! They should be clear about deadlines and prices, and if you hit a snag, they should be solution-focused and quick to pass on useful feedback to help you improve.

Another common point where great agencies distinguish themselves is as regards rates. A quality agency will not ask you to work for a pittance, because it is not in their interest to drive away talented translators and attract only the worst. Be aware, however, that agencies rarely pay as much as direct clients, because they need to pay their own staff first. Most agencies can offer a steady flow of work that comes to you, which makes the slightly lower rates worth it.

Finally, great agencies invest in the value of their translators. Perhaps they offer training, resources or incentives. They should certainly be happy to provide feedback on your work and references upon request.

If your agency consistently pays late, you’ll need to think hard about whether it’s worth continuing with them. That said, most agencies offer lots of advantages to the freelance translator, from reliable regular work to an opportunity to network, so don’t be too afraid of the sharks. Happy translating!

This is the summary of the article published on LinkedIn Pulse under title Is your translation agency treating you fairly? Top tips for freelancers by Oleg Semerikov and Translators Family.

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