Interpretation And Translation: Five Fulfilling Career Options For Translation Students

Pursuing a career in the field of translation is particularly a fulfilling path for individuals with excellent linguistic capabilities.

Wherever you look around, it seems most people are writing and speaking to one another in English. But did you know that only 20 per cent of the global population can speak English? Well, English is the native language of less than 5 per cent of the world's population. These factors call for the growing need for translators and interpreters. Explore five fulfilling career options ideal for translation students.

Work for The United Nations

Working with the United Nations as a translator can be the most demanding and prestigious opportunity. The UN has six official languages -- Chinese, English, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, and French (and some documents require German translation). As a translator for the UN, you have to translate content like statements and reports from member governments; therefore, fidelity and accuracy are of prime importance. Translators attend conferences and meetings to help UN representatives communicate seamlessly.

Become a translator-copywriter

A copywriter’s job is to generate text to describe information related to services or products for businesses and consumers. On the other hand, a translator-copywriter translates that text into the appropriate language. A translator does not simply convey the words but also the appropriate tone and a sense of enthusiasm. They have to find accurate local terms, and the content should be clear and persuasive in the local language.

Work as a literary translator.

A literary translator’s job involves translating the language of literature from one to another. They study journal articles, books, short stories, and poetry to evaluate the intended linguistic complexities and meaning. It is essential for literary translators to precisely capture the original style, sentiment, and tone of the authors in their translations. Since most literary works are culturally specific, translators are required to devote special attention to the historical context and thematic details of the text.

Work as a Judicial or legal translator.

Judicial and legal translators work for legal organizations like law offices, courts, and more. They need to attend various legal proceedings, such as hearings, depositions, trials, and arraignments, to translate conversations and documents from one language to another. They are also expected to perform vital justice-oriented work.

Become a game tester

Game testers collaborate with video game designers to maintain accuracy in the game’s dialogue and text translation for international editions. Their job involves proofreading texts and running the entire game to identify aspects of cultural sensitivity (if at all present). They may also have to prepare summaries and reports for addressing the developers.

If you have a good knowledge of multiple languages, consider acquiring an academic degree in translation and opt for the abovementioned career options.