Work as a Translator in India

Work as a Translator

Hello dear reader, if you are looking for information regarding work as a translator in India, you are at the right place! Keep reading further to know more about this startup business idea. 

What is a translator?

Work from home translation or freelancing vary as per the needs of the client.

The basic job of a translator is going to be same in both the above cases, which is translating source files such as, business documents, marketing materials or websites from the source language to the target language.

With every other client, the requirements or needs will vary, but do not worry, you will be told in advanced what is it that you have to do, so make sure that you keep polishing your translating skills.

Depending on your particular skill, knowledge area and experience over the years, clients will offer you different types of translation jobs which are broadly categorized as follows:

1. Language based translation job
2. Duration based translation job
3. Industry based translation job

In lucid words, every industry will offer you different type of translation jobs as per their needs.

If you want to work as a translator and make good money for a long period of time, it is important that you make sure that your approach is accurate. Our duties and responsibilities molds us into proper shape that will help our potential to grow many folds.

Role of a translator

Individuals who want to take on this job choose to translate their ideas as well. If you want to work as a translator in future, it is important that you know your language. Fluency is key.

It is a translator’s job get his audience read what he has translated. You have to be able to translate and convey your feelings as precisely as possible.

Listed below are some important duties that a translator should be aware about: 

• Pronunciation: If you want to work as a translator, you have to understand its meaning and context before translating it to the target language. Hence, language proficiency is must needed. You can avoid translating everything word-for-word and simply choose to translate the content while maintaining its meaning.
• Multitasking: While working as a translator, you will be required to manage a lot of activities at a time, such as translating online content or videos, translating television media by adding subtitles or providing a dubbing script to the actors.
• Online resource: If you want to obtain additional assistance in this field, you can take help from various online tools which are easily available on the internet.
• Task involving clients: To give clients quotes based on the size of the project will also be one of your duties as a translator.
• Satisfy your clients: When you are done with your job, it is important that you ask for a feedback. It is very important that you leave your client happy and satisfied. Also if there is room for improvement, it is important that you work on that as well.
• Software: To promote efficiency and consistency in the translated content, translators use highly specialized translation software.
• Ethical obligations: A translator must have a proper understanding of the various industry quality standards set forth by different companies in order to do their job effectively.
• Translation: Your duty as a translator will be to translate a wide variety of texts, including books, legal documents, research papers, technical manuals, scientific articles, educational materials or commercial materials, so the general public can easily access them.

Eligibility to work as a translator

• If you want to work as a translator, you can go for a certificate, diploma or degree course in the desired language after your secondary school.
• If you want to seek admission in a reputed university, you will have to clear certain entrance tests to get into these universities.
• There is no specific subject combination, so you can go for anything. But a good grasp on the choice of your language should be a must.
• For perusing certificate or degree in a desired language, class 12 is mandatory.
• As we have mentioned above, if you are seeking admission in a reputed university, such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, you will have to clear their entrance exam.
• If you are inclined towards french language, a language proficiency test organized by TEF should be your goal.
• For German language, Max Mueller Bhawan organizes to teach German.

Steps to work as a translator in India

1. Completion of 10+2: A basic education is what will make you realize why you should be doing this job in the future. You have to acquire at least more than 50% in order to qualify as a translator.
2. Clearing entrance exam: Every Institute have a different criteria to give admissions to students in their Institutes. You can appear in Common Entrance Examinations such as, IPU-CET, AMU-EE, JMI-EE or DU-JAT.
3. Graduation’s degree: After completing your 10+2 level of schooling, you can apply for admission to a bachelor level programme in the choice of your field such as, BA (Bachelor of Arts) French Honors, BA (Bachelor of Arts) Italian Honors, BA (Bachelor of Arts) German Honors etc.
4. Post graduation’s degree: After you have completed your graduation, you can go for a Master’s degree, which will widen your knowledge area and also the field of your work. You can also go for a Postgraduate Diploma in Translation, MA (Master of Arts) Linguistics, MA (Master of Arts) English etc.

Types of Job Roles

1. Health or Medical Translators and Interpreters usually works in health care settings and help people communicate with doctor, nurses, technicians and other medical employees. Translators in this category must have a thorough knowledge of all the medical terminology.
2. Legal or Judicial Translators or Interpreters works in court and other legal settings. In hearing, recording statements, depositions and trials, they assist those people who have limited English proficiency. A thorough grasp of the legal terminology is a must in this case.
3. Literary Translators are responsible for converting books, poetry, short stories and journal articles from one language into the target language. These translators work together with the intention of original publications as well as authors.
4. Sign Language Translators or Interpreters facilitate communication among those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
5. Conference Translators or Interpreters work at conferences that have non-English-speaking-audience. They usually works at international business conferences.

What are the employment opportunities?

Translators have a wide range of employment opportunities in every field that you can try your hand on.

You can consider Software Developing Companies, Newspapers and Magazines, Educational Services such as, State, Local or Private, Hospitals, Travel and Tourism Sector, Hotel Industry, Exhibitions and Fairs, Airline Offices Export Agencies, Radio Stations, Trade Organizations, Publishing Houses, Research Organizations or Courtrooms.

Top companies for translators

Oracle, LG, Samsung, GE, Hyundai, HP, Aventis, Moulinex, Thomson, UNO, FAO, Reserve Bank of India, top Publishing Houses are always on the lookout for quality translators.

If you have a good grasp of this job profile and are looking for good opportunity to work as a full-time translator, you can apply for these companies.

Skills required if you want to work as a translator

If you want to work as a translator and make good money, you should have proper business experience, a strong concentration, cultural sensitivity, precision, interpersonal management, communication abilities and most importantly, writing abilities.

Pay/Salary of a translator

• Translators can expect to earn about Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 as far as starting salary is concerned.
• After receiving good experience, you can earn around 25,000 per month and more.
• If you are thinking about opening your own business, you can earn around Rs.50,000 per assignment.

More options for aspiring translators

• As we have mentioned above, a person who is both a translator and interpreter have more job opportunities in this field. In both large and small businesses, translators can find work to support their living.
• You can choose to apply for translation department of a specific office.
• In India, there are a number of multinational corporations, and the need to stay current with market trends on a global scale necessitates the use of translators and interpreters who can efficiently transmit the necessary message to the target audience.
• In India, during global summits and conferences, the need and role of a translator is crucial.

Pros of becoming a translator

• This job profile has its own set of advantages such as, value for money, different payment in different cases.
• The translator gets an instant promotion. There is opportunity to communicate with a variety of people.
• Working as a translator means learning something new every day which most people would not have much idea about.

Cons of becoming a translator

• Self employed translators have variable work schedules, which may include long periods of limited work.
• You should be expecting facing tight deadlines. Sometimes your work can leave you feeling lonely.
• Translator jobs can be stressful in the real-time as you have to keep pace with the speaker.

So, this is all for now in work as a translator in India. I hope you enjoyed reading it, as much as we enjoyed writing it. If you liked our content, do comment down below and share it with your fellows. 

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