Knowledge of a foreign language continues to be a huge selling point when it comes to finding a job in an increasingly global market.

As it becomes more and more common for businesses to deal internationally, the need for someone to translate continues to increase.

Despite technological advances in automated translation, the outlook remains very positive for those wishing to pursue a career as a translator or interpreter. According to some news reports, translation is one of the best careers of recent years and demand is expected to increase.

Here are  some tips for getting started in this lucrative freelancing field.

Getting started:

To become established in the industry it is necessary to have a suitable qualification and, perhaps more importantly, relevant experience. Many translators start off with voluntary work, translating for charities or institutions. This can be a great way to build up your CV and gain experience in different subject areas.

Alongside the qualification and experience, noted French translator Phillipe Galiniergives the following advice:

1. Keep your CV up to date
2. Become a CAT (computer assisted translation) tool expert
3. Be flexible
4. Choose your rates carefully

Choosing a sector to work in:

According to CILT (The National Centre for Languages) finance, IT and legal services are the three business sectors from which providers currently have the most work.

It is predicted that future demand will remain the same in these three sectors, whereas demand is likely to increase in both the tourism sector and the public service sector.

Translation Agencies

Most freelance translators and interpreters are registered with one or more agencies. This provides a platform for employment and over time can develop into a solid and recurrent business relationship.

Translation 2.0

Online global communication is creating a range of opportunities and specializations for translators.

Multilingual search engine optimization (SEO) is a set of tools and techniques for getting websites to the top of the search engine rankings on a global scale.

Multilingual SEO experts help expand your existing client base and bring awareness of your brand, products and services to a new audience. The professionalism entails a deep understanding of search optimization techniques and cultural (including some HTML), social and linguistic issues of searches in different languages and on local search engines. Read more.

See: Freelance Folder