Business Practices
Worksheets on translation and interpretation, based on ASTM Standards:
- Worksheet for interpreting services – 2014. Adheres to ASTM standards.
- GT Translations process filled in Feb 2017. Helen Eby was ASTM Technical Contact for the ASTM Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation F2575-14, which this document is consistent with.
Other documents Helen Eby wrote or was involved in
- GT developed this Style Guide for translation into Spanish to guide clients as they review Spanish translations. It was first published on Feb 10, 2012.
- GT developed this guide for web page translation for clients.
- Helen Eby, from Gaucha Translations, was the Technical Contact for the ASTM Subcommittee F43.03 on Language Translation that led to the publication of the revised Translation Standard, F2575-14.
- This PowerPoint is an overview of both the Interpreting and the Translation standards, including their legal implications and links to the ASTM download sites. Helen Eby has presented versions of this at ATA, ACES, OHA, and other venues.
Other useful resources
- ATA Position Paper on Remote Interpreting, published in August 2021
- Internet interaction principles from Seth Godin – 10 principles he published in September 2016. They are excellent guiding principles for all times.
- What does a copy editor do? See this list of job descriptions from the Editorial Freelancers Association. See the Editors Canada description.
- Due diligence links for translators, by Paula Gordon (dba Plan B)
- Interpreting log for dual-role employees – a spreadsheet similar to what I use for other types of work.
- DHS Language Access Plan, updated in 2022
Finding work
- Check this map to see where your language is spoken, and where it is taught. Then go to the ATA Chapters and Affilliates page and register with the local chapter that serves the locality where your language is spoken! You will be able to find your target market more easily this way. Many local associations will accept members from other areas.
- How to start freelancing
- How to use Linked In to get high-paying clients. An article by Lori De Milto published on The Savvy Newcomer. Check The Savvy Newcomer for additional articles.
Spreadsheets to help establish a business case for a rate
- Helen Eby created a simplified approach to evaluating her rates from a cost of doing business perspective before launching as a full-time translator and interpreter. Click on the following link to download the spreadsheet. Helen-Eby-rate-rationale-2023 03 31
- The American Translators Association has put together a spreadsheet to help translators and interpreters evaluate their rates from a cost of doing business perspective. Please click on the link to CalPro on this page (right after the explanation paragraph).
- Helen gave a presentation at NAJIT, in Washington State and in Oregon on business practices. She then wrote this document: How to be an interpreter or translator and not go broke
- Negotiation is a very important part of life for a freelancer! Check “Negotiation – A Learnable Skill” in The Savvy Newcomer blog. It may give you some helpful ideas on negotiating translation rates. Since 70% of interpreters also work in the translation field, this could be important.
- There’s a great booklet by Jonathan Hine: “I Am Worth It!”. This book outlines the things to consider when you set rates as a freelancer. Check his online bookstore! It’s only about $6.
Before accepting work from a new client
The Proz.com BlueBoard is “a searchable database of language job outsourcers with feedback from service providers” and rates language companies according to respondents’ LWA (Likelihood to Work Again). It gives a rating of 1 to 5 for free, and if you become a Proz member you can have access to more details. Proz also offers training, access to terminology discussions, etc.
Payment Practices™ is the oldest and most extensive dataset related to the payment practices of translation agencies and other consumers of translation services. It has a free trial for 7 days, and then a very low cost annual subscription.
Translator Scammers Directory: Linguists post information on known scammers
How not to get a job. There are things you can say that will look bad to potential employers. Conversely, knowing these things can improve your chances with a client.
ATA guides for translation and interpreting contracting:
- Check the ATA Translation and Interpreting Services Agreements.
- The ATA Business Practices page has more useful resources available.