On Translation: How to work with a freelance translator

I was born in Russia. How did it happen that almost half of my life I’ve consciously dedicated to learning English I find rather hard to narrate in few words… But today’s reality is that one of the main things I do for a living is working as a freelance translator, using both my passion for the English language and my Russian roots to provide the best translations for my clients.

But sometimes, being a translator can be tricky. Mainly, because being a freelance translator means being a negotiator as well. So, before my work as a translator begins, I have to make sure that the ground for the work lying ahead is solid and my collaboration with the client is built right.

As a translator with experience, I’m aware of all the aspects of this work. But, quite often, I meet potential clients who have not had experience working with freelance translators before, and this is where things can go astray.  

So, I thought, it would be amazing to share my four tips on how to work with a freelance translator, useful for clients and translators as well. These four tips will help to organize a fruitful collaboration between freelance translators and their clients.

My tip NUMBER 1: Communication.

Despite how simple this might seem, lack of communication can be a real barrier to a productive collaboration. What do I mean by that? As a client, especially working with freelance translators, you might have your doubts, your fears, and your insecurities about whether this particular translator is a right fit for your job.

These feelings are absolutely healthy, but you don’t have to hide them. Tell about your fears, doubts, and insecurities as they are. Don’t be shy about asking to translate a short sample of your work for free to make sure that the qualification of the translator is enough for the work.

My tip NUMBER 2: Deadlines.

Probably, this is one of the most important things to discuss before getting to work. As a client, you have to set a date by which the work must be completed. Don’t use abstract deadlines like two months or four weeks. Instead, use dates.

Believe me, no one wants to be confused about this stuff.

And please, don’t expect to get a high-quality translation of a 60,000-word text within two weeks. Even the most experienced translators have their human limits. Be realistic about your deadlines. 

My tip NUMBER 3: Price.

There are three main criteria that form the price for a translation. Those are the amount of work, deadlines (the more urgent the work is, the higher the price will be), and types of translation (medical, technical, and legal translations are usually higher in price than general translations like articles, emails, brochures, or even, sometimes, books).

Also, price can depend on how experienced the translator is, although, today, you can easily find a freelance translator with a colossal background ready to work for a relatively lower price and vice versa.

But even if you have a limited budget, don't hesitate to write to more experienced freelancers. Sometimes, they can do work for a lower price if they find it valuable. 

Tip NUMBER 4: Open connection.

Don’t leave without exchanging your contacts. After all the previous aspects are established and everyone is ready for the work, it’s important to exchange your contacts now.

Even though the work of the translator is to translate and the work of the client is to wait to see the final results, it’s important to stay in touch meanwhile. Communication, at the beginning of the work, is as important as in the process of it. Leave your email address, Skype, or any social media, and please be cooperative and answer as soon as possible.

That's it for today. Hopefully, these four tips will serve as a good foot for the productive collaboration between freelance translators and their clients. 

And remember,

best collaborations are built on trust.