Borders are disappearing more and more and companies and organizations are becoming increasingly international. As a result, translations are needed more frequently. Those who do not want to deal with foreign languages on a long-term basis look for interpreters or translators for these tasks. There are many large companies in this field, such as the firm Alphatrad Austria – Übersetzungsbüro in Wien, which translate documents of all kinds into a wide variety of languages. But what is the difference between the two jobs? And what qualifications are required?
Interpreter or Translator?
A major difference is that interpreters translate orally and on site, for example at conferences, meetings or discussions, usually from the foreign language into the native language. They therefore work almost exclusively live and in front of an audience. These kinds of translations are often known from television, where, in front of the running camera at important events, the interpreter translates the texts live. Interpreters need a high level of concentration as well as great mental resilience. If mistakes or pauses occur, they can no longer be ironed out.
By contrast, translators render written texts into a foreign language or from a foreign language into their native language. This is less about speed or responsiveness and more about accuracy and meticulousness. It is often important to convey the technical or cultural context optimally, tailored to the target audience. If you read a legal text in German, it quickly becomes clear what experience is required to translate such content.
However, when choosing one of these career paths you should be aware that the chances of securing a permanent position as an interpreter or translator are very low. The majority of this professional group work freelance. Anyone who wants to build a livelihood in this field should have a healthy dose of self-promotion and bring business-management know-how. Interpreters must be adaptable, resilient and have a polished demeanour. Translators, on the other hand, must be willing and able to quickly and thoroughly familiarise themselves with various specialist fields. The chosen language combination is absolutely important, because English is and remains the most commonly requested language. If you want to find and build a niche, exotic languages are a good choice.
Translator job at Alphatrad Austria
At the translation agency Alphatrad Austria, the minimum requirement for collaboration as a freelance translator is training as a translator or interpreter and at least 5 years of full-time employment. In Austria you need a completed degree in humanities and cultural studies in translator and interpreter training. Alphatrad also operates according to the native-speaker principle — which means that translations are always done into the translator's native language, even if the foreign language is mastered very well. Alphatrad employs around 3,500 freelance translators from around the world and is currently very busy. Anyone who still wishes to apply to Alphatrad can apply online on the following page: www.duction.com
