| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Have you ever worked at an in-house position? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever worked at an in-house position?".
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I worked as staff translator at an EU institution for 20 years and retired in 2006. I loved the work, my boss, my colleagues and… the pay (I usually earned much more than I do now). I often miss the camaraderie, the lunchtime chats, the teamwork and also the helpdesk support! All the work done there prepared me for freelancing…
| | | | Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 21:16
Member (2020)
English to German
+ ...
- LQA in a video game localization company
- QA in a translation company
- PM in another translation company
In fact, I only decided to go 100% freelance once it became clear that my last employer's contract with a major customer (where I was doing project management) was ending and the new vendor would not let me keep working part-time. Can't say I miss being employed either. While I always got along with most of my coworkers pretty well, I am more than happy not having... See more - LQA in a video game localization company
- QA in a translation company
- PM in another translation company
In fact, I only decided to go 100% freelance once it became clear that my last employer's contract with a major customer (where I was doing project management) was ending and the new vendor would not let me keep working part-time. Can't say I miss being employed either. While I always got along with most of my coworkers pretty well, I am more than happy not having to get up early and commuting using the full trains or even fuller roads of the Stuttgart region.
[Edited at 2023-08-09 09:26 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I spent a month at a UK boutique agency as a student, which gave me invaluable experience and taught me how to be a proper, professional translator.
After qualifying, I spent three months in the UK and Denmark at a global agency. The UK office was a shambles, but the Danish office was very professional and I still work with contacts I made there 30 years later.
I still do odd bits for the global behemoth that swallowed the global giant that swallowed that global agency... See more I spent a month at a UK boutique agency as a student, which gave me invaluable experience and taught me how to be a proper, professional translator.
After qualifying, I spent three months in the UK and Denmark at a global agency. The UK office was a shambles, but the Danish office was very professional and I still work with contacts I made there 30 years later.
I still do odd bits for the global behemoth that swallowed the global giant that swallowed that global agency, even though I hate them intensely and look forward to their imminent destruction by AI, because I am unprincipled and inconsistent and it pays well. ▲ Collapse
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Tanja Oresnik 
Slovenia
Local time: 21:16
French to Slovenian
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| I have, and I gained precious experience there | Aug 9, 2023 |
My first full-time job was as an in-house translator for a car manufacturer quite a while ago when it was still the norm to employ. I had great colleagues and the job was very interesting. It allowed me to gain in-depth knowledge of the field and automotive industry is still one of my favourite subjects today.
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That's how I started out as a translator. I worked in-house for two years, then decided to leave and go freelance for a variety of reasons... Can't say it was a good choice. Things are going downhill, to the point where I've been having next to no work in the past few months. That's because I refused an outrageous and insulting offer from a good agency client who offered me 0.02 €/source word for MTPE. I'm considering looking for a new position at the moment. But that's another story.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 21:16
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
I started out as an in-house translator with the US Air Force's Civil Engineering and ended up staying with them for twenty years until the RIF-Program (reduction in force) started. Suddenly (or not so suddenly) left without a job, and being just another unemployed person just wasn't what I was looking for. The only acceptable alternative was to become a freelance translator. Also to enable me to continue what I love, translating.
[Edited at 2023-08-09 11:21 GMT]
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:16
Member (2008)
Italian to English
question "Have you ever worked at an in-house position?".
answer. Yes. In my early days during a lean time as an architect I was employed by an Italian construction company, where one of my roles was to translate numerous documents into English. That was before the Internet and computers. I did it all by hand, using the best available technical dictionary.
[Edited at 2023-08-09 10:51 GMT]
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Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 21:16
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
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I was fortunate enough to start working in a translation agency right after I graduated. I stayed for 5 years and until this day I'm convinced it made all the difference to become succesful as a freelance translator.
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Two years 'in the trenches' as a tech editor with a major Russian LSP. A sheer endurance test with hard-fought truths that framed my freelance operating system.
| | | | Metin Demirel
Türkiye
Local time: 22:16
Member (2018)
Italian to Turkish
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I couldn't take it any longer.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 21:16
French to English
Yes. I started out freelancing when pregnant with my daughter, hoping to build up a business before having to go back to work after parental leave.
When it was clear that I wouldn't be earning enough money, I started looking for a job as a translator and I was hired by an agency. I worked there for a long time. I probably could have struck out as a freelancer after a few years, having learned a lot with the people who proofread my work and the people whose work I proofread, but I wasn't s... See more Yes. I started out freelancing when pregnant with my daughter, hoping to build up a business before having to go back to work after parental leave.
When it was clear that I wouldn't be earning enough money, I started looking for a job as a translator and I was hired by an agency. I worked there for a long time. I probably could have struck out as a freelancer after a few years, having learned a lot with the people who proofread my work and the people whose work I proofread, but I wasn't sure of myself at all.
When I did strike out on my own again, I had loads of contacts and was earning plenty very quickly. ▲ Collapse
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| What did happen? | Aug 9, 2023 |
Metin Demirel wrote:
I couldn't take it any longer.
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Not for a translation agency, but I was employed by two university departments, each for several years, where I was responsible for writing/editing/translating their research output. One was here in Greece, the other in the UK.
| | | | Sofia Gutkin
Australia
Local time: 05:16
Member (2012)
Russian to English
+ ...
I'm not counting the 4-month internship I did in 2012, which helped me to understand how the industry worked and what PMs were looking for.
I would have loved to have an in-house position, but there was no way I could find one in Australia in my language combination. It was freelancing or nothing... I guess I'm spoiled now because I value my freedom so much, and the ability to wake up late.
I was working at a hospital when I first started freelance translating, and the... See more I'm not counting the 4-month internship I did in 2012, which helped me to understand how the industry worked and what PMs were looking for.
I would have loved to have an in-house position, but there was no way I could find one in Australia in my language combination. It was freelancing or nothing... I guess I'm spoiled now because I value my freedom so much, and the ability to wake up late.
I was working at a hospital when I first started freelance translating, and the early starts, very short lunch breaks and my abusive boss really spurred me to leave that world. ▲ Collapse
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