Do you love France and want to live there? Are you fluent in speaking French and can communicate well with it? Do you want to work as a translator offering French translation services? If that’s the case, then you need to start at the bottom and then work your way up. It’s not going to be easy as you establish yourself as a French translator. But it will be worth it in the long run because you will be going through different challenges to prove that you’re a worthy French translator.
So if you’re sure that you want this type of career or business in the future, below are some tips that will help you get started. It’s not as easy as it looks, but it’s what you can do to establish yourself early on as a professional French translator.
Volunteer to Translate for NGOs
The first thing you can do to build yourself is by applying as a volunteer at NGOs (non-governmental organizations). Being a volunteer means you don’t get to receive any salary. But it will build your reputation and resume. But even though you won’t get paid, you will sometimes receive a gift for your work. During this stage, always start translating French to English or your native language. It’s easier, and you’ll be able to produce a perfect output. After that, you can offer English or your native language to French.
Apply at an Established Translation Office
Most translators operate online, but it’s also lovely to work at a physical location together with other employees. It’s an excellent way for you to see how professional translation is done live and up close, and you get to work with multi-lingual people such as yourself. Not only that, but you will have the chance to work with professionals who can further correct your translation. It will also give your resume that much-needed boost.
Create an Excellent Profile Online & Know the Price & Discounts
Once you’re ready to work as a freelance French translator, it’s time for you to build your online profile. Most will make it on LinkedIn, an excellent platform for employers who want to hire you for freelance work. You can also create your profile on Facebook since it has billions of monthly users, and one of them will surely need your help. So the first thing you need to do is create your business name with the word “translations” on it, design your logo, and list the specific translation service you provide.
Once you have a business name and a logo, you can start thinking about your price range. Some will charge $25 to $75, depending on the length of the job and the type of document needed to be translated.
Become a Professional Translator
Once you have established your work, you should join your country’s translation association. Once you’re a part of this association, you can market yourself as a certified French translator.
