Key Tips for Aspiring Translators

• Read, read, read.
• Write, write, write.
• Translate into your own language.
• Look for every opportunity to develop your knowledge of that language and the whole field of translation.
• Ensure your sphere of reference continues to expand - and keep up with IT, current affairs, trends, jargon and slang.
• Try to develop a specialist area of expertise and keep building on it. 
• Whenever you translate, read your version aloud to check how it sounds.  If in doubt, re-work it and try changing the word order, not just the words themselves.
• Remember to spell-check everything.
• Develop good links across the translation sector, and share ideas and contacts.
• Do your research about new clients and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
• Make sure you see the text before you commit to a translation job.
• Be honest about your skills, experience, abilities and capacity.
• Do not take on a project about which you have doubts or reservations.
• Make sure you have a contract or agreement and that you fully understand the terms.