I'm not at that level yet, but I'd like to know how easy is it to get work as a translator or an interpreter?

There are most certainly people here who at least occasionally work in this field, so what would you say are the advantages/disadvantages of translating vs interpreting?

I haven't worked in the filed but from the job information I've seen, translators of documents and what not are paid either by the hour or how many words they translate.

I often see "JLPT 1 required" for both jobs.

Interperting means translating on the spot, no checking or consulting with other sources but it looks like you meet more people as an interpreter.

Unless you have some kind of specialized knowledge which you can certify (usually a degree), translation is a hard field to get into, especially if you plan on making a career out of it. But if you do have that specialized knowledge (e.g. engineering, natural sciences, philosophy, computer science) it can be extremely lucrative: $0.10 per word is the standard rate, so a 5000 word document would get you $500 - not bad for a couple hours' work. But yeah, general non-specialized paid translation jobs are fiercely competitive. Most companies will use a trusted agency rather than a freelancer anyway. Have you thought about joining a news agency like Reuters? Their work is effectively translation but the difference is that it's a full-time job in a high-pressure environment. Might be worth a look if you're the competitive type.

Rael89 Wrote:so what would you say are the advantages/disadvantages of translating vs interpreting?

I think you need two completely different types of personality for those two jobs.

- Interpreting requires you to be around people and talk all day with hardly a minute to yourself.
- Translating is just you and thousands of pages of (probably extremely boring) text.

It should be easy to know which one you can imagine yourself be, and which one seems nightmarish to you.

Rael89 Wrote:I'm not at that level yet, but I'd like to know how easy is it to get work as a translator or an interpreter?

There are most certainly people here who at least occasionally work in this field, so what would you say are the advantages/disadvantages of translating vs interpreting?

If you're good enough to work as a translator or interpreter, I really don't think you have much to gain from being around at this forum... so I don't think you will find many people here who has worked in this field.

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Also see:

Anyone working as a patent translator?
http://forum.koohii.com/showthread.php?tid=2853

Interpreting looks like a nice job. I wonder how well paid it is.

I've worked as a translator of European languages for 10 years. I also trained as an interpreter.
Contrary to popular belief, the personality profile for both professions is almost exactly the same. However, interpreting usually takes place very rapidly under time pressure, while in translation there is a lot more 'crafting' of the written word. Some of the skills needed are obviously entirely different. In the case of simultaneous interpreting, you may want to consider how happy you would be working in such a highly stressful environment.
Breaking into the industry as a serious translator or interpreter without a specific qualification (eg an MA in interpreting/translation) would be extremely difficult in my opinion. I would advise you to go and get yourself this kind of qualification. It is also true that, without a specialism such as finance or engineering, you would not be earning very much, even with the qualification.
My advice in the case of translation would be to gain a qualification and then look for an entry-level job as a staff translator, so that you can build the appropriate experience, before going solo as a freelance, at which point you will be able to command good rates. This process would take you about 6-7 years. It is by no means an easy profession to start out in, but if you enjoy translation it should be worth it in the end. Good luck!

check this out:

http://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/Mega...2&posts=27