Technology has made it easy to travel overseas and communicate with people from the most distant corners of the world. Since more and more companies are expanding their operations to foreign markets, they are in constant need of skilled bilinguals who can translate their technical manuals, articles, and travel brochures.
The great thing about being a translator is that you are not location-dependent. You can work from wherever you are as long as you have a computer and good internet connection speed. Or, you can take translation gigs on the side if you want to secure multiple streams of income. The possibilities are abundant, provided you have the required qualifications and a solid track record of successful collaborations.
With that in mind, here’s how you can travel the world by getting translation jobs abroad.
Choose a Niche. The ability to speak a second language gives you a competitive advantage over other digital nomads. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for translators will grow by 29 percent by 2024. Companies are looking to hire bilingual and multilingual speakers who are fluent in Mandarin, Russian, Portuguese, German, and Spanish.
If you truly want to stand out and land more projects, you need to specialize in one or two niches, such as personal injury law or cardiology. That way, although the job spectrum narrows, your chances of being noticed and perceived as an expert increase considerably.
Know How to Look for Clients. Nowadays, you can apply to for a Mandarin translation project posted by a German company while hiking through the Bolivian mountains. You just need to know where and how to look for clients.
There are plenty of freelance job platforms where you can look and apply to translation jobs from all over the world. Most of these sites operate on bidding, meaning that you contact the company and offer a price quote based on your skills and qualifications. The translator who matches the requirements of the company best gets the job.
Make sure to build a professional profile that accurately reflects your skills and expertise. Accept low-paying gigs in the beginning to build your reputation and acquire clients. Be flexible and adjust your bid based on the project requirements and your needs.
Learn How to Market Your Skills Abroad. Although relying on online hiring platforms can help you earn a great income, you can take your translation career even further by marketing your skills separately. For example, you can build a website where you can include the services you offer, contact information, your rates, and work samples.
Use the website as a presentation card when approaching potential clients. Make sure to optimize it so that when companies are looking for translators in your niche, your website appears at the top of search results.
Don’t Forget to Network. As with any other profession, it can help knowing other people in the business. If you decide to live in a country for a few months or even a year, you could get more job opportunities by networking with the locals. So, although your job doesn’t necessarily require communicating with other people, don’t be a stranger. Engage in conversation with people in coffee shops or at conferences—you never know what it can lead to.
A few decades ago, most people wouldn’t even dream of earning an income while traveling the world. Nowadays, however, you can have a fulfilling career as a translator while being location independent. It’s a dream come true.
Katrina Denning
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