| 话题中的页数: [1 2] > | Poll: Have you ever thought about changing your career? 论题张贴者: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever thought about changing your career?".
This poll was originally submitted by patriciacharnet. View the poll results »
| | | |
As I said before (another very similar poll) I started by having another career, which ran concurrently with my part-time freelance translation activities for a few years. I was in my late 30's when I started translating full time and then I landed an in-house job through an open competition. I worked there for 20 years and retired 9 years ago. I’m still going strong and loving it!
| | | | | I have changed my career a couple of times already! | May 5, 2015 |
I was a physicis/engineer for years, then moved to public administration (in a technical field) and I now work as a technical and scientific translator. There's a common link (working in different languages and the technical aspect of the job), and I've been lucky enough to be able to use my past experience into my new careers, but the day to day of the jobs are very different.
I have answered "other" to the poll, as I imagine that it refers to having thought of changing career from... See more I was a physicis/engineer for years, then moved to public administration (in a technical field) and I now work as a technical and scientific translator. There's a common link (working in different languages and the technical aspect of the job), and I've been lucky enough to be able to use my past experience into my new careers, but the day to day of the jobs are very different.
I have answered "other" to the poll, as I imagine that it refers to having thought of changing career from translation. Not yet, as I very much enjoy this job, but if at one point I don't any longer find it intellectually stimulating or it doesn't fit into my life for any other reason, then maybe...Life means evolving and learning. I always keep training myself and keep an eye open for work choices... ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Doesn't a career involve some kind of progression where you get more respect and better pay?
| | |
|
|
|
| I have changed | May 5, 2015 |
I started out as an engineering apprentice.
When I graduated, I went into the IT department. Over the next 30 years this evolved into my own consulting company.
For the last 10 years of that, I also had a concert sound and lighting company.
Then I retired, got bored and took up translating.
I doubt that I will have a fifth career as I plan to fully retire in about 3 years, but you never know.
| | | | | Too late now! | May 5, 2015 |
Seriously, I knew I wanted to be a translator since my first Spanish class in eighth grade. Not for one minute have I deviated from my plan.
Over the last 7 years I have squeezed in training as a landscape designer, since plants are my passion, but it was never meant to replace my "day job."
| | | | | yes, no radical change but ways to keep it challenging | May 5, 2015 |
Chris S wrote:
Doesn't a career involve some kind of progression where you get more respect and better pay?
don't you have that now ? I see this job as a career : I am accepting translations in certain fields and I deepen my knowledge about them on my free time in order to get specialised in those fields and get recognition from my clients. My work is appreciated and I am respected by those I am working with. I do think that this will keep on getting better and better as I cumulate experience, get new contacts and grow as a translator. Regarding payment, of course there is a limit in what we can invoice but there also is a raise there as I get specialised and the quality of my work increases. I can get more and more complex topics for which I do expect to be better paid, and, having proven "my value", the chances to see those expectations fulfilled are rather high.
Another way to develop my career would be to participate to conferences as a lecturer or offer trainings to fellow translators for example. There is room for evolution in our job !
| | | | DZiW (X)
乌克兰
English英语译成Russian俄语
+ ...
When I'm translating something quite difficult in a specific area, I always feel a little sorry that I'm just a translator--not a specialist in some field (e.g. not a neurosurgeon, not a welder, not a real programmer, not some blah-blah-blah), but once I'm finished, my sorrow goes away
Not the case while interpreting though.
| | |
|
|
|
| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
More a case of what fate had to offer as it came careering by and caught me up in the slipstream...
But the last time it whirled me up, when it landed me in translating, I did hold on tight in case the adventure didn't last.
I suppose I have progressed from being a complete rookie through getting a diploma and now being able to turn down jobs I know I would not do well. I have achieved one or two ambitions along the way, so you could call that a career too.
... See more More a case of what fate had to offer as it came careering by and caught me up in the slipstream...
But the last time it whirled me up, when it landed me in translating, I did hold on tight in case the adventure didn't last.
I suppose I have progressed from being a complete rookie through getting a diploma and now being able to turn down jobs I know I would not do well. I have achieved one or two ambitions along the way, so you could call that a career too.
I have definitely considered moving on from other jobs (and acted on it), but not this one! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I've considered that many times | May 5, 2015 |
I'm sick and tired of not having any real contact with human beings (rather than their internet alter egos) in my job. I think I would like to try something new.
I will probably go on translating something part-time for years to come because the prospects of getting a better paid job with my background and qualifications are bleak. And then again there are translating jobs that I would really like to keep since they are really fun and/or very good paid, so in the long run I want to ... See more I'm sick and tired of not having any real contact with human beings (rather than their internet alter egos) in my job. I think I would like to try something new.
I will probably go on translating something part-time for years to come because the prospects of getting a better paid job with my background and qualifications are bleak. And then again there are translating jobs that I would really like to keep since they are really fun and/or very good paid, so in the long run I want to do something else in addition to translating.
[Edited at 2015-05-05 17:21 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Changes in the past; too late for more now | May 5, 2015 |
I've been a secretary, admin assistant, programmer, analyst, English trainer, job coach, translator, marketing consultant and proofreader/copy editor. I think that will probably do me. Before I left school I wanted to be an archivist, librarian and industrial archaeologist, but those aren't going to happen now. I did get accepted as a trainee chef but very wisely decided to back out at the last moment, although I did do some cooking and serving for a friend's bar/restaurant. Retirement is loomin... See more I've been a secretary, admin assistant, programmer, analyst, English trainer, job coach, translator, marketing consultant and proofreader/copy editor. I think that will probably do me. Before I left school I wanted to be an archivist, librarian and industrial archaeologist, but those aren't going to happen now. I did get accepted as a trainee chef but very wisely decided to back out at the last moment, although I did do some cooking and serving for a friend's bar/restaurant. Retirement is looming now and that will be the time to dabble a bit in some of these areas. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Mario Chavez (X) 
Local time: 06:23
English英语译成Spanish西班牙语
+ ...
| Going with one's personality | May 5, 2015 |
username_ wrote:
I'm sick and tired of not having any real contact with human beings (rather than their internet alter egos) in my job. I think I would like to try something new.
I will probably go on translating something part-time for years to come because the prospects of getting a better paid job with my background and qualifications are bleak. And then again there are translating jobs that I would really like to keep since they are really fun and/or very good paid, so in the long run I want to do something else in addition to translating.
[Edited at 2015-05-05 17:21 GMT]
Unlike doctors, engineers or (gasp) politicians, translators can always choose to pair up their practice with another career. There are some happy combinations: university professor/translator, interpreter/translator, customer service/translator, technical support/translator, nurse/interpreter, etc.
If you are a very extroverted person, chances are that you'll suffer more the absence of the social stimulus given by other human beings. So, you'll have to go pick a career path that will allow you to regain that stimulus. Good luck!
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 06:23
English英语译成Spanish西班牙语
+ ...
Chris S wrote:
Doesn't a career involve some kind of progression where you get more respect and better pay?
I see a career (or a profession) as a calling, avocation or job course to which the person is committed to. Thanks (or not) to this so-called globalization, translators everywhere are facing similar challenges and choices...and pressures.
I can only speak for myself, Chris, but I consider myself lucky in that I can pick and choose my clients and say no to some projects, even when I have the time to work on them, because I can. Having no dependents, no family responsibilities and no large debts (unlike so many of my fellow Americans with a university degree and owing tens of thousands of dollars in student loans), I can afford to set my own schedule and navigate around the pressures.
Cheers.
| | | | tilak raj
印度
Local time: 15:53
正式会员 (自2012)
English英语译成Panjabi旁泽普语
+ ...
| No, It gave me support to live | May 6, 2015 |
No, It gave me support to live.
| | | | | 话题中的页数: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Have you ever thought about changing your career? | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
