12 TIPS FOR FREELANCE TRANSLATOR SUCCESS
*******************************************************************

	                   By Radek Pletka

#1. Never Miss a Deadline
If you say you'll have a project done by a certain time, make
sure you deliver. Your clients don't want excuses. They want on-
time results.

#2. Use Every Advantage You Have
When starting out, leverage any prior translating expertise or
background. Your grasp of an arena, its language and the contacts
can give you a running start. But remember, every translator has
to know his limitations. Don't take jobs over your head.

#3. Get Referrals
Always pump clients for referrals from within their company or
elsewhere. It's much more promising (and less stressful) than
making cold calls.

#4. Stay Visible
People don't want to hunt very hard for a translator/interpreter,
so stay "visible" by phone, mail, Internet, or in person as much
as possible and you'll get the work.

#5. Keep Sowing the Seeds
When you're busy it seems like the work will flow forever. It
will end eventually! Therefore, even when you're snowed under,
read the job list, make a few calls, and send a few resumes. If
you skip on this now, you will be hungry later.

#6. Trust the Law of Averages
In God and The Law of Averages We Trust. Call enough people, send
enough resumes, join enough organizations for translators,
register on enough websites for translators, you'll find the
work. Guaranteed.

#7. Go Out and Press the Flesh
Early in my translating career, someone shared this: 1 in 10
prospects you contact will hire you. 1 in 3 you meet will hire
you. Enough said.

#8. Send Thank You Notes After Every Job
Choose artsy watercolor scenes and you might just see them tacked
up in your client's cubicle; a constant reminder of you.

#9. Project a Good Attitude
People like to do business with those who are pleasant to work
with. Be a good experience for your client, and you'll get work
again.

#10. Listen More, Work Less
Listen carefully to what the client wants (i.e. don't decide you
know what they need) and you'll spend less time translating...and
re translating.

#11. Keep Your Word
Do what you say you're going to do, show up when you promise to,
deliver on time and you'll instantly put yourself ahead of about
95% of the pack.

#12. Share it forward
If you get a job you can't do, refer it to a colleague. If you
find a job you can't do, post it on the job list. If you can
spare some time regularly, volunteer for a job search. If
somebody finds a job thanks to you, he/she will pay it back by
referring something to you soon or later.

_________________________________________________________________
The above tips first appeared in Radek Pletka's Weekly Job List.

Find out more at...

                 http://tranfree.com/t/t.pl?43rp
_________________________________________________________________