Translator Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a translator. Feel free to use our translator job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a translator.
Who is a Translator?
Translators are professional in the field of communication who is skilled at translating written documents from one language into another language. Translators can pursue formal education to acquire linguistics and translation capabilities or they may be proficient in one language through their study. Universities and colleges, educational institutions, non-profit organizations as well as private businesses, and other organizations may hire translators in a full-time, part-time, or consultative capacity.
Translators interpret written work like books articles, reports magazines, manuscripts, and other written texts from one language into another for their customers.
In this capacity, experts have a specialization in providing fast translating services that are done in a way that allows the text to be read as accurately as it could when it was written in the original language. Translators generally have a good understanding of the history and culture of their languages, so they will be able to translate colloquialisms, idioms as well as cultural concepts, and convey the styles and tone of the original text most accurately. Translators usually communicate, read and write fluently in the language they choose to render the ideas they translate swiftly and with clarity.
A book translator transforms the original language that a book was written into a different language. The kinds of books a translator deal with include non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. The translator can be a freelancer, an independent contractor, or can be employed by a literary translation agency.
The goal of literary translation is to facilitate the exchange of literary thoughts, ideas, and concepts among various cultures and languages. There are no limitations to the languages that require translators. Nearly every country and culture around the globe is home to literary works written by authors whose work is extremely sought after by those who cannot know or speak the languages in which they’re written.
A translator is typically thought of as having one of the most challenging job roles in the publishing industry. Interpreters, who translate messages verbally have the benefit of being able to have the person she is translating verify the accuracy of the interpretations that are being made. In contrast, a literary translator usually works from an isolated location that is not near the writer.
It is usually thought of as an extremely difficult job to translate spoken words into written ones because the tone of text is easily lost or misinterpreted by only a handful of incorrectly translated terms or sentences. A precise word-for-word translation originally written by a translator for books is not always a precise reproduction of the book’s original author. A lot of words and phrases are completely unintentionally missing the message of the writer.
A professional translator usually has to have a thorough understanding of the origin and language of the target. The source language is the language in which the original text was written. A target language is the name of the language in which the work will be translated. Knowing the literary tone of the book’s original text is just as crucial to the translation as is the interpretation of the text.
Translator Job Description
Below are the translator job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a translator job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a translator include the following:
- Reading materials
- Writing and proofreading
- Translating a text from one language into another
- Editing computer-translated text
- Examining the quality of a translation’s translation and accuracy
- Making subtitles for videos or presentations
- Utilizing online translations and computer-aided translators
- Consulting experts from the industry
- Working with clients to identify their requirements and ensure the final product will meet those requirements.
- Keeping up-to-date on the latest tools and techniques for translation.
- Writing, reading, and speaking fluently in at least two languages
- Translating written content and written communication like journals, books, and articles from one language into another
- Researching to find out the context, cultural references and use accurate jargon and slang, or words that are not translated
- Making glossaries or terminology banks that they could use in future projects
- Utilizing time efficiently to meet deadlines for projects
Qualifications
Education
The training of a translator usually begins at the high school level, where they study great foreign languages courses. The majority of translators graduate with a bachelor’s degree in one of the fields like interpretation, translation, and international studies. Students who wish to specialize in translating specific kinds of documents could also take classes in engineering, medicine, business, or law.
Although you may be able to obtain translation jobs with no degree, particularly when you have a variety of native languages, a bachelor’s degree can dramatically increase your chances of being employed and progressing within your field. The majority of international and government agencies such as the United Nations, for instance, require translators to have university degrees.
Experience
Experience is among the essential requirements to be a translator because you have to study writing, reading, and speaking to master it. To demonstrate to employers that you can translate effectively, acquire experience through:
- Being a resident of a foreign country.
- Engaging in conversations and communicating with people of different cultures
- Volunteering in hospitals, community organizations, and sporting events that draw international athletes.
- Finding a paid or non-paid internship at a translation firm
- Participating in training programs for jobs such as legal or medical translators
Certifications
Translators can obtain professional certifications to prove their expertise and skills to potential employers. The ATA gives the certification in 29 different languages. Certification involves passing a three-hour exam that requires you to translate college-reading-level pieces of content while following instructions for audience, purpose, and style. Translators who pass the test prove their proficiency as well as their capacity to follow the instructions of clients.
Examples of these certifications include:
- American Translators Association Certification
The American Translators Association (ATA) provides a general certification for professionals. Employers could use this credential as a measure of translator ability and proficiency. To obtain this credential, applicants must pass an exam lasting three hours that includes questions on translation techniques including text comprehension, as well as writing clearly in the language of the target. There is a wide range of languages certification candidates can choose from, such as English to Arabic, German, Polish, Hungarian and Chinese. The ATA requires professionals who are certified to maintain their credentials by regular continuing training.
- Core Certification Healthcare Interpreter
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) is the body that grants its Core Certification Health Interpreter (CoreCHI) certification to professionals looking to prove their professional expertise and other abilities, including ethical decision-making, culture adaptability, and critical thinking skills. The CoreCHI exam lasts two hours and is open to interpreters of all languages that do not have a specific language performance test. CCHI eligibility requirements are at least 18 years old or more, possessing a High School diploma or GED equivalent, completing 40 hours of professional healthcare interpreter training, and maintaining ability in two or more languages.
- Certified Medical Interpreter
The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) provides a Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) credential that allows professionals to show their ability to adhere to the ethical standards for medical interpretation. Employers might seek out experts with this credential as it demonstrates that they are capable of providing accurate and complete interpretations, adhere to the regulations, and are a champion for the security of patients. To earn this credential, experts must pass the written test as well as an oral test which is available in six different languages. These languages include Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Cantonese, and Spanish.
Essential Skills
- Knowledge of languages
The ability to communicate or write in a minimum of 2 languages can be the highest ability of translators. Certain languages are in high need:
- Research
Translators typically use their research abilities to discover and verify rules for various languages. Research skills are a key component of the continuous development of translators as they develop more knowledge of the different languages.
- Knowledge of computer-assisted translation (CAT)
There is a variety of CAT software that translators can use in enhancing their translations. Below are some types of CAT software translators could utilize:
Software for searching languages
This program functions as an engine for searching, however instead of searching on the internet, it searches for fragments of text that have been previously translated to locate texts that are similar to a source document. Translators can utilize this program to assist in writing translation.
Software for managing terminologies
This software saves terms in databases that translators can consult as they translate the text and communicate verbally.
Translation memory software
Software used to store translations helps automate a portion of the process of translation for translators. It can store paired sections of text, as well as the translations for those segments within translation units.
- Cultural understanding
Cultural knowledge is a significant connection to the knowledge of languages for translators who are required to translate between languages from different backgrounds. Slang, references, and Idioms, for instance, may have different meanings based on the context in which they are utilized. Knowledge of the culture can help translators communicate more effectively.
- Communication
A translator is the one who will communicate ideas between different languages, so the ability to communicate is essential for translators to have.
How to Become a Translator
There are a variety of methods to become a translator, ranging from people who translate speech while it occurs or even recorded speech to be dubbed, to translators of poetry and books. It can be very profitable to be a translator, particularly when you’re fluent in a language in which there is significant demand.
The majority of people opt to work as a translator in their language since they’re more likely to have a good level of proficiency to write or talk in it with ease. The next step is to choose the language you’d like to translate to or from. If you’re fluent in a different language, such as in the case of the context of a bi-lingual family, you could start from that language. If you’re beginning with a blank slate, you are on a more difficult path to travel, however, you’ll have more freedom to choose the language that can earn you the highest pay.
In the same way, most people think it is logical to become an interpreter in a language for which there is a huge demand and growth rate.
Once you’ve acquired the language you speak, you’ll need to choose what type of translation you’d like to undertake. You likely have an inherent aptitude that inclines you to one particular field or the other. To translate, written texts, for instance, you have to be able to write in your native language, otherwise, the quality of your translations will be poor regardless of how proficient you are. In the same way, many people can’t remain on top of speech when it flows towards them in a continuous stream, and they’re reciting phrases back. Therefore, working as a translator of live speech isn’t the best job for them.
A lot of translation jobs do not require a college degree, but you could be able to be hired when you submit documents to prospective employers. A specific degree will show potential employers that you’ve got a collection of abilities but, a few organizations offer certification in particular areas of translation. If you’re looking to work in technical translation which is an extremely lucrative career, it’s a good option to study classes or read up on particular areas you may want to work in, since having a solid knowledge of technical terminology will be essential to get jobs.
Where to Work as a Translator
Translators hired by businesses or agencies are generally employed full-time in offices. Freelance translators can work more flexible hours, either from home or may work on multiple projects simultaneously. Translators are employed by employers like:
- Translation companies
- Government agencies
- Organizations of civil society, such as police forces
- Healthcare facilities
- Labs for research or organizations
- Legal firms and courts with various clientele
Translators usually work on their own and in groups of a smaller size. They could travel to other countries to learn the languages they are proficient in.
Translator Salary Scale
Translators earn an average of $47,069 annually in the United States. Translators who specialize in a particular area, are certified by ATA, or have a long period of experience could have higher earnings.