Breaking into the translation industry as a newly qualified translator can feel overwhelming. One of the biggest challenges is figuring out your niche. When you know that translation agencies and clients aren’t just looking for someone who knows multiple languages but rather specialists who understand specific fields inside and out, the pressure is on you to figure out what those specialisms are. Whether it’s legal, medical, technical, or marketing translation, having a clearly defined specialism can set you apart from the competition. But how do you choose the right specialism, especially when you’re just starting out?
Many new translators struggle with this because industry classifications for specialisms can be confusing, and the pressure to market yourself effectively is high. That’s why we need a clear, structured way to identify, refine, and develop specialisms. That’s why I wrote this article which originally appeared in the journal Meta. In it, I explore a framework designed to help translators not only recognize their strengths and interests but also strategically build expertise in new areas. Plus, we’ll look at how this approach can be integrated into translator training programs to better prepare students for real-world demands.
Source:
Byrne, J. (2014). A Framework for the Identification and Strategic Development of Translation Specialisms. Meta, 59(1), 124–139. https://doi.org/10.7202/1026473ar
