Change to Full-time Translator
Most translators will go through a temporary part-time career before finally making the move to full-time. The reasons why translator start as part-time are kind of obvious:
- You will become a professional translator gradually
- Building a client portfolio takes time
- Your per word compensation tends to become higher as you become more experienced
- The longer you are in the industry, the more business you should have access to
While it is easy to understand the “gradual, takes time” element of transitioning your career, a few tips on how to make the transition smoother:
- Get savings in the bank enough to cover your expenses for three months
- Wait until you have a reasonable client portfolio
- Learn how to promote your services, so you can marketing whenever there is a slowdown in demand
Get savings in the bank
This is a well known advice regarding financials. You should have money at the bank enough to cover at least three months of expenses. This is particularly important when going through a disruptive transition. So, if you are letting go your 9 to 5 payroll job, or if you are dumping other part-time jobs for good, this is definitely a situation when you should have reserves in the bank.
Wait until you have a reasonable client portfolio
It is never a wise idea to rely on a single client. If a client represents more than 50% of your demand, losing this client could mean a drastic reduction of your income until you thing another client. Keeping between three to five main clients, while occasionally servicing other clients is a optimum arrangement for a freelance translator.
Learn how to promote your services
Time available when transitioning from part-time to full-time, or even after you already became a full-time translator, may be wisely used to promote your services. Keeping handy a script of the promotion strategies that works the best for promoting your services will help you change from “production” to “promotion” mode in no time
Instructions to Follow
- Make sure you have enough savings to cover your expenses for at least three months
- Make sure you have at least five active clients in your portfolio
- Write an script for how to promote your services during any down time in your work schedule