How To Find The Right Translator

Anyone who’s looked for a translator knows there’s no shortage of people out there who call themselves “professionals.” It’s challenging – and time consuming – to wade through a sea of resumes and pick out the gems. Here are some tips to help you find the most qualified and dependable person for the job, as quickly as possible.

Before we get down to business, it’s important to remember why hiring a qualified translator matters. Yes, you can hire a friend or relative who is fluent in another language, but remember, there is an art to translation. Well-trained translators know the difference between saying something simply in another language and communicating nuanced ideas. If it weren’t for this very significant difference, Google Translate would be the only tool a company needed to get the job done.

1. Target your search

Start by looking for good people in the right places. Placing an ad on Kijiji will get you an immediate response, but resumes will likely flood in from the wrong type of applicant. Use trusted translators to reach out to their networks, which acts as a built-in reference. Place ads on websites and “job boards” that will be seen by people in-the-know, in your industry. Remember, it takes time to vet each applicant so you don’t want to make extra work for yourself.

2. Talk to them

You’ve picked a good-looking resume out of the pile. Once you’ve seen the translator’s qualifications, credentials and experience on paper, the next step is to speak with them. You can get a sense of their personality and level of professionalism very quickly. Some applicants may over-state their experience in a resume, and you can often expose any embellishments when speaking on the phone. You don’t want to waste your time – or theirs. If they aren’t qualified, you’ll want to cross them off the list as soon as possible.

3. Test their skills

You need a way to test a translator’s expertise to demonstrate their ability to do the type of document you’d assign them. You want to find out if their language skills are up to par, and also if they speak the “language” of whichever field you’re in. One awkward or incorrect word on a website or brochure can make the difference between getting or losing a customer, so you need to be sure they can be trusted with your job.

4. Ask around

When using a translator for the first time, it’s important to test more than their technical skills. Ask for references to find out whether they’ve honoured past deadlines and delivered quality work when they say they will. If a translator has a history of missing deadlines or making excuses, you can bet they’ll do it again.

5. Talk money

Always ask what the translator’s rates are before you hire them. You want to ensure the rate is reasonable for both you and them. If the translator feels they’re being under-paid, you might not get the quality of work you’re expecting – and need. If you’re hiring a translator who is based in another country, make sure you know the exchange rate, and the potential for that rate to fluctuate, if you agree to pay them in another currency.

6. Start Small

When you find a translator who meets all of your criteria, it can be tempting to assign them a huge project and tick that box. But always start with a reasonable assignment to make sure they are truly up to the job before trusting them with an extremely important, time-sensitive document.

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Laura Regehr, Editor

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