Millions of translators exist worldwide. Many start freelance because it’s simple. A laptop and a platform are enough. But simplicity doesn’t equal freedom. Most freelance translators depend on agencies or platforms, facing feast-and-famine cycles and lower pay.
What To Do Now:
Know your current priorities: freedom or stability?
If you need freedom, treat translation as a business:
Define your online presence and be active
Cultivate an audience
Share your work
If you want stability, join an in-house role: gain experience and exposure to structured workflows
Freelancing without a clear business model leads to burnout. Being an employee without purpose for the sake of a paycheck leads to stagnation.
Have intentional control over your work, no matter the path.
→ To Dive Deeper: Read the full article
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We recently asked on LinkedIn: What is the most essential skill for a professional translator right now?
70% of you said deep subject-matter expertise drives credibility and long-term success. The poll is still open. Feel free to share your thoughts here and checkout the results.
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