Read about the next session of my online course,
Getting Started as a Freelance Translator, beginning July 19, 2010

Would you like to become a translator?

If you're bilingual, translation is an excellent full time or part time career option. Many bilingual people become translators after or in addition to other careers, and employment prospects for translators and interpreters are strong and growing.

It's worth noting that in addition to writing and consulting about careers in translation, I'm still actively employed as a freelance translator for clients throughout the U.S. and Europe. So, all of the advice that I give to aspiring translators is first-hand and based on my current experience in the industry.

When I started my freelance business in 2002, I had a hard time finding reliable information on how to succeed as a translator. Since that time I've seen many translators fail, not because they can't handle the work but because they make basic business mistakes, don't know how to market themselves, or have a hard time finding translation clients who have steady well-paying work. If you're wondering how to get started as a translator, here are some ways I can help you succeed.

Online course. Take the course I've developed and taught since 2005, Getting Started as a Freelance Translator. The course runs entirely online and students have 12 weeks to complete six lessons. It teaches beginning translators how to find and keep translation clients, pursue translator certification, set translation rates, market their services and more. Tuition for the course, including six e-mailed lessons, individualized feedback on six sets of practice exercises and unlimited e-mail contact with the course instructor is $350.
One-on-one consultation. An excellent option if you'd like to get constructive feedback on your resumé and cover letter, ask questions about getting started in the translation industry, create a marketing plan, or decide if a career in translation is for you. One-on-one consultations are $75 an hour, and a typical resumé and cover letter consultation takes about two hours. Contact me to set up an appointment.
Onsite seminar. Bring a one-day version of Getting Started as a Freelance Translator to you; a great option for colleges, universities, foreign language clubs, etc. In this six-hour training, we'll cover the same topics as the full-length course, spending about an hour on each of the six lessons and interactive exercises. Each student will receive a copy of my book, How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, plus a one-hour one-on-one consultation with me during the month following the one-day course. The cost for this on-site course is $500 for up to five students and $750 for six to ten students, plus travel expenses outside of the metro Denver area. Contact me to set a date.
Free articles for freelance translators. Visit the Articles section of my website for information on topics of interest to freelance translators. You may also reprint these articles for free; see the notice on the Articles page.