- In recent years, there have been a flood of translators into the translating market. For this reason, the price and quality of translators has gone down. Now, more sophistication is being introduced into the profession, with the advent and conventionalization of certification programs and high education schooling. This is particularly relevant for situations in which companies or larger organizations (such as governments) depend on the accuracy of their translators. This is why this certification process is worth looking into.
- There are basically two groups of people in the translating community when it comes to certification, some who are for the idea and others who believe that it is a waste of time. Initially though, it is probably a good idea to get certified, particularly when you have no other work experience to validate the quality of your abilities in the eyes of a potential employer. In short, it looks good on a résumé, so why not?
- The other school of thought in the translating community rules out certification as largely inert and worthless because says very little about the nature of your work ethic and your ability to hold up under pressure. Also, certification can be both time-consuming and expensive, two qualities that make it particularly challenging for a recent graduate or an individual trying to break into the field from the outside. All in all, it makes sense to look at what your potential employers value before pursuing certification.
- There are basically two types of institutions that grant certifications to become a translator: brick and mortal "traditional" institutions or schools, and online classes. Both of these are considered valid in the field, and they each have different perks and drawbacks. It pays to look into the organization you are pursuing certification with before applying. Cost, class size and content can potentially vary widely from one organization to another. You might as well get the most bang for your buck.
- Once you have investigated the type of organization you would like to certify you, it is important then to figure out what kind of specialization you would like to work on. There are, of course, infinite specialization possibilities, but some of the more common ones are medical translation, technical translation and business translation. Knowing what field you want to enter will help you know how to specialize. The more specialized your certification, the higher your value to a future employer, and the higher your pay.
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