Posted by Richard Carter on July 14, 19100 at 13:13:02:
What an excellent message board. It is of invaluble assistance to novices such as myself. I have recently graduated from Oxford University in the UK with a BA in French and German, and I am now keen to enter the World of freelance translating. However, it does seem that the "vicious circle", about which a previous correspondent writes, prevents progress, i.e. can't get a job without experience, can't get experience without a job!
I have spent three years doing 3 to 4 incredibly difficult literary translations per week, and I also spent 7 months in Paris working half as an auditor and half as a translator for PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Do you think that this can be desribed as "commercial and literary experience", or is this pushing it a little! I have investigated joining the ATC and the ITI in the UK, but yet again, the sticking point appears to be this experience. Surely a recent linguist graduate from Oxford, with an excellent set of academic results and references behind him must have something to offer??!! What can I do aside from blanket mailing every translation agency in the UK with my CV and does anyone know of anyone willing to give test translations to untried candidates? I fully realise that the companies and agencies concerned are bound to want experienced translators with a proven track record, but everyone must start somewhere!
Yours thanking you in advance,
Richard Carter,
p.s. great site, keep up the good work.
