Looking for colleague and career advice Thread poster: Mirza Arif
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Mirza Arif
Indonesia
Local time: 18:44
English to Indonesian
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Hi, I'm Mirza from Indonesia.
I don't have linguistic background or degree, I like speaking english but never consider it as a career. Somewhat this September I've been asked by someone from China to assist them as consecutive interpreter for 3 days on field for Agricultural projects. I'm surprised because I never did professional linguistic work before, yet I can deliver pretty well based on my client feedback. What surprised me even more was, I was paid pretty decent doing that, the amou... See more Hi, I'm Mirza from Indonesia.
I don't have linguistic background or degree, I like speaking english but never consider it as a career. Somewhat this September I've been asked by someone from China to assist them as consecutive interpreter for 3 days on field for Agricultural projects. I'm surprised because I never did professional linguistic work before, yet I can deliver pretty well based on my client feedback. What surprised me even more was, I was paid pretty decent doing that, the amount that I never get in my life just for 3 day work. fyi I work as Online Taxi driver now. That experience change my whole point of view, I never thought that I have skill that could valueable to others. I'm not saying that I'm very good, I know I have so much to learn still.
For that reason I'm starting my way into the linguistic industry, did some research and end up here. Reading several forum posts I learn one of important things is making connection with fellow linguist. So here I am hoping that we could know each other more virtually and hopefully IRL. Please do say Hi in reply. u'll be appreciated if you can give me career advice as someone with no experience. My short experience that might me relevant : I have degree in Agriculture. I was working at multinational organization as OJT. Interpretation work I said before. volunteering subtitle translation for TED talk, I did about 5000 words EN to ID.
also there are several details I couldn't found on forums, please allow to ask :
1. What is the rough picture of the market nowadays between EN and ID? I see some veteran members had legal certification and specialization, is it the main market?
2. As a newbie should I focus on one topic that has high demand, or I just pick what I like? I had so much interest outside of my degree, should I focus only on one topic?
3. Is true that working with agency could helpful for new comer without experience? If yes, is it any links that I can research more?
4. some job posting require memeQ or Trados. Should I invest straightaway in CAT tools, or just walk my way slowly and seeking for project that dont require CAT tools.
most importantly, please be my friend and mentors. Nice to meet you. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mr. Satan (X)
English to Indonesian
If building up a connection with other translators and interpreters is really important to you, it might be in your interest to join HPI and participate in their events. Attending (or even hosting) a ProZ powwow is another way to meet up with your colleagues. Personally, I'm too antisocial to care about all tha... See more If building up a connection with other translators and interpreters is really important to you, it might be in your interest to join HPI and participate in their events. Attending (or even hosting) a ProZ powwow is another way to meet up with your colleagues. Personally, I'm too antisocial to care about all that malarkey. But to each their own. ▲ Collapse
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Hi Mirza,
Well done for picking up your first client and performing your job well. That's great! Your first step might be to ask this client if they have any contacts who might also need your services. It can't hurt. Also ask them to leave a testimonial on your LinkedIn profile or that you can quote on your website.
Regarding specialisms, I would focus on your degree to build a specialism in agriculture. It's something that sets you apart from other translators. You don... See more Hi Mirza,
Well done for picking up your first client and performing your job well. That's great! Your first step might be to ask this client if they have any contacts who might also need your services. It can't hurt. Also ask them to leave a testimonial on your LinkedIn profile or that you can quote on your website.
Regarding specialisms, I would focus on your degree to build a specialism in agriculture. It's something that sets you apart from other translators. You don't need to limit yourself to this field, but do make sure you understand the subjects you are translating.
I don't know anything about the market for Indonesian I'm afraid. Joining a local translator's association may help you with that.
Yes, get in touch with agencies. Search for the ones that deal with your languages and specialism.
Don't forget that translation is different from interpreting. You will need excellent writing skills in addition to two languages.
You probably will want to buy a CAT tool if you decide that translation is the career for you but they are expensive and some agencies can give you access to an online tool. I don't really know if you should invest in one now or not.
Anyway, good luck!
Rachel ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mr. Satan (X)
English to Indonesian
Rachel Waddington wrote:
Joining a local translator's association may help you with that.
Pretty sure this was exactly what I suggested.
[Edited at 2022-10-31 12:32 GMT]
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Mr. Satan wrote: Rachel Waddington wrote:
Joining a local translator's association may help you with that. Pretty sure this was exactly what I suggested. [Edited at 2022-10-31 12:32 GMT]
... and I agree with you.
| | | | Mirza Arif
Indonesia
Local time: 18:44
English to Indonesian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Mr. Satan wrote: If building up a connection with other translators and interpreters is really important to you, it might be in your interest to join HPI and participate in their events. Attending (or even hosting) a ProZ powwow is another way to meet up with your colleagues. Personally, I'm too antisocial to care about all that malarkey. But to each their own.
Hi Satan. I'll try to make contact with HPI, do you listed as a member too? and since you are from Indonesia, can I ask what project are you currently working? do you have suggestion for agencies I should check?
Rachel Waddington wrote:
Don't forget that translation is different from interpreting. You will need excellent writing skills in addition to two languages.
You probably will want to buy a CAT tool if you decide that translation is the career for you but they are expensive and some agencies can give you access to an online tool. I don't really know if you should invest in one now or not.
Hi Rachel, nice to meet you.
thanks for the advice. tbh, I have no idea what kind of work I should be taking. I really enjoy the Interpreting work I did before. I don't feel like working, more like playing. I hope I can do more work like that. But I'm not sure that kind of work always available, so I try every kind of work I can do in linguistic industry to know which one has higher chance for me to get some work.
when I translating subtitles for TED talk as a volunteer, I kind of enjoy it too. I think the writing skills is not as demanding as translating documents or marketing. But I have no idea, this is just my thoughts.
do you think thats a good move? or should I focus on one of the Interpretation or translation work?
| | | | Mr. Satan (X)
English to Indonesian
Mirza Arif wrote:
do you listed as a member too?
Nope.
can I ask what project are you currently working?
I am an audiovisual translator specializing in the subtitling branch, so this is what I do for a living.
do you have suggestion for agencies I should check?
I mostly work with direct clients these days. Hence, I'm not the best person to answer this question, I'm afraid. Don't ask how did I manage to get them, though. That's kinda my trade secret. 
By the way, your candor in this thread might be a misplaced virtue. Not everyone around here wants a newcomer like you to succeed. Especially since you made a career change from a different background, which is completely unrelated to linguistics. I'm just sayin'. 
when I translating subtitles for TED talk as a volunteer, I kind of enjoy it too. I think the writing skills is not as demanding as translating documents or marketing. But I have no idea, this is just my thoughts.
Hmm, I don't think I can agree with this statement.
| | | | Mirza Arif
Indonesia
Local time: 18:44
English to Indonesian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Mr. Satan wrote: I mostly work with direct clients these days. Hence, I'm not the best person to answer this question, I'm afraid. Don't ask how did I manage to get them, though. That's kinda my trade secret. By the way, your candor in this thread might be a misplaced virtue. Not everyone around here wants a newcomer like you to succeed. Especially since you made a career change from a different background, which is completely unrelated to linguistics. I'm just sayin'.
I'm not surprised tho.. first if u build ur career with years of grind and effort, u cant just let random stranger newbie asking for help without getting to taste ur grind and suffering. doesnt sounds fair.
second, there are only certain amount slice of the cake, so not everyone can get it.
thats doesnt matter, I'm here to learn what other linguist in my pair are working on, how they work, so I can get a rough picture of the market.
after I did more volunteering work, I agree. its not less demanding in writing skills. and also bcs ur specialized in subtitling too.
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Yes, starting a new job can be difficult. I also passed through a similar situation, and I understand your feelings.
| | | | Réka Stüber 
Germany
Local time: 13:44
German to Hungarian
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Hi Mirza,
I don't work with your language pair or in your specialization, but if you want, you could try MateCat. It's an online CAT tool that's free (built basically by a joint effort of universities and research centres) so you could try it out and see if cat tools are helpful for your work. I'm only not so sure how well it handles Indonesian but I tried a test run and it seemed at least working. Also it runs only on Chrome iirc.
(However, a CAT tool isn't MT, you're the one respo... See more Hi Mirza,
I don't work with your language pair or in your specialization, but if you want, you could try MateCat. It's an online CAT tool that's free (built basically by a joint effort of universities and research centres) so you could try it out and see if cat tools are helpful for your work. I'm only not so sure how well it handles Indonesian but I tried a test run and it seemed at least working. Also it runs only on Chrome iirc.
(However, a CAT tool isn't MT, you're the one responsible for doing the work but once you put in some effort in building your memories it does usually save you some time, esp. if you're doing repetitive or recurring jobs.)
All the best!
[Bearbeitet am 2022-11-13 23:19 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mirza Arif
Indonesia
Local time: 18:44
English to Indonesian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Réka Stüber wrote:
Hi Mirza,
I don't work with your language pair or in your specialization, but if you want, you could try MateCat. It's an online CAT tool that's free (built basically by a joint effort of universities and research centres) so you could try it out and see if cat tools are helpful for your work. I'm only not so sure how well it handles Indonesian but I tried a test run and it seemed at least working. Also it runs only on Chrome iirc.
(However, a CAT tool isn't MT, you're the one responsible for doing the work but once you put in some effort in building your memories it does usually save you some time, esp. if you're doing repetitive or recurring jobs.)
All the best!
[Bearbeitet am 2022-11-13 23:19 GMT]
I browsed for some free CAT tools but not tried this one yet, ofc I will give it a try, thank you..
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