How to develop an area of specialisation
In this month's translation industry updates we'll be talking about why it can be useful to develop an area of specialisation and how you can do this.
One of the great things about translating is being exposed to a far wider range of topics than people working in most other industries. At the same time, it can be easier to become more highly specialised in a smaller number of topics than to learn a little bit about everything. If you already have a good contextual understanding of a particular field and you are familiar with its terminology in both your source and your target languages then this will help you to maintain a high level of quality in your work while cutting down on a lot of your research time.
Having one or more areas of specialisation can also help you to stand out. Translating can be a highly competitive environment, and if you work in one of the common language pairs then having a specialisation can help to differentiate you from other translators working in the same pair with an otherwise similar background and level of experience. If you become skilled in a particular area then agencies or direct clients are also more likely to keep looking to you as the go-to translator for that topic.
Lastly, developing your expertise in a particular subject area or areas can be a worthwhile and fulfilling goal in itself. Translators are naturally curious people, and with reading and researching being such a big part of the job, you're probably already used to learning and developing on the job and enjoying the satisfaction that comes with this. Gaining expertise in a particular subject area might also open other professional avenues outside of translation.
With the above thoughts in mind, what are the best ways to go about developing a specialisation?
Start with what you know.
Think about work or studies that you’ve completed already. If you do translation as a side opportunity or you’ve moved into freelancing after a period of employment in another industry, you might already have professional experience that can help you in your translator life, whether that comes through a solid background knowledge of a particular area, or industry contacts that can help you.
If you’re just starting out in your career or you don’t believe that your previous activities are relevant to the direction you’d like to move into, think about which areas interest you already. Becoming proficient in any subject area involves doing a lot of reading or research, which is why one of the most commonly-given pieces of advice to any translator wanting to specialise is to choose something you already have a keen interest in.
Don’t be afraid to choose offbeat topics
You might not be drawn to any of the more “famous” translator specialisations such as legal, medical or life sciences, but even the most niche topics need translators that are familiar with that particular terminology. If anything, choosing a relatively narrow area of specialisation might generate more opportunities, since there are likely to be less translators operating in that particular area, and therefore less resources available for it.
Think about industries that are relevant to the languages you work with
Sometimes a country can be very successful in a particular industry without this necessarily being widely acknowledged internationally. Not many people outside of Hungary would necessarily know that Budapest is Europe’s biggest film production base outside of London, to give just one example from Central Europe. If you’ve spent time in a particular country then you might have an insider view of key industries operating in that country and be in a better position to look for opportunities, so always use any on-the-ground knowledge that you might have.
Continual learning is key
Even if you only have modest means, you can learn a lot for free online. In some cases the work you’re doing might need a special qualification for ISO reasons, but other than that it can be surprisingly easy to build up a reasonably good level of familiarity on a topic. Massive online open courses provided by learning platforms such as edX and Coursera are a great way of dipping your toe in a particular subject area without having to invest a lot of money, and an increasing number of major universities now make some of their educational resources available for free. Keeping up with latest industry developments through joining a professional organisation or reading trade publications, as well as following the general media, can also help to keep your skills up to date.
Be pragmatic
As you develop your skills and experience, remember to update your CV and LinkedIn profile accordingly, which is always good practice in any case. If you’ve completed a piece of work that you’re proud of, tell people, as far as this is possible within the terms of any confidentiality agreements that you might have signed with clients. Try to network as much as possible with people working in the areas you’d like to specialise in, even if this only means informal chats with friends or colleagues. Chance conversations can often inspire opportunities or at least ideas. If there are any kind of industry-related conferences and meet-ups either in your local area or remotely, try to attend where possible, and always tell people about the work that you do.
Lastly, enjoy the process. It’s a privilege to become skilled in any subject area, but even more so to be able to do it in more than one language. Always pursue what you love, and keep an eye out for any and all opportunities. And if you have any other specialisation tips, don’t hesitate to drop us a comment.
Happy translating, and see you for next month’s updates!
Sources
American Translators Association
Choosing and Building A Specialization
https://www.atanet.org/growing-your-career/choosing-and-building-a-specialization
Coursera
edX
Hungary Today
Record Revenue in the Hungarian Film Industry
https://hungarytoday.hu/record-revenue-in-the-hungarian-film-industry
The Translator’s Studio
How to Choose a Translation Specialisation
https://translatorstudio.co.uk/how-choose-translation-specialisation
A Translator’s Thoughts
How To Choose Your Specialisation
https://translatorthoughts.com/2013/04/how-to-choose-your-specialisation
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