Knowledge of niche languages is an asset in the labor market

Interview with Marek Jankowicz-Bogdański, Project Manager and Dominika Paciecha, Senior Project Coordinator at Kelly Services, about the requirements for professional translators and the specificity of this profession.

FOCUS ON Business: How would you describe specifics of the work of a professional translator?

Marek Jankowicz-Bogdański, Kelly Services: Professional translators and interpreters are responsible not only for word-to-word translation but also for bridging the gap between cultures, dialects, and many different characters and personalities. There are many other branches of translations: sworn and legal translations, localization, or interpreting. Of course, that does not conclude all available options as there are many different professions. In Kelly Services Poland, interpreters handle real-time phone conversations regarding legal, medical, insurance, or finance-related matters. Our interpreters work mainly for clients based in the United States and the United Kingdom, and the job is entirely remote. To give you an example: a Polish immigrant living in the US with limited English proficiency visits a doctor. The doctor can request a phone interpretation from our client via a dedicated mobile application. The call is rerouted to the interpreter, relaying the intended message from the source to the target language. Either Polish or English.

What are the formal requirements for translators? Are soft skills required in this profession?

Dominika Paciecha, Kelly Services: Soft skills are a must. To do their job correctly, translators must be culturally sensitive and careful with the words they choose. Even simple errors may disrupt the communication flow. Near-native proficiency in both source and target language is another skill required from any translator on the job market. A translator is one of the jobs that requires lifelong learning. Language changes all the time, so a translator has to make sure they are always up to date with all the languages they translate. In Kelly Services Poland, we are looking for people with high empathy and the ability to handle stressful conversations. In our case, linguistic background and education are not required, albeit welcome. We provide training and coaching sessions for our employees to develop their skills further.

Is it a niche job or the opposite? How do you see institutions and companies’ demand for translators?

M.J.B.: The world is globalized and intertwined more than ever. Companies are involved in international trade and business, which requires professional and accurate communication. There are all sorts of contracts, customer service calls, and documents to be translated, so the demand will only continue to grow. Poland has become an attractive destination for foreigners, and many foreigners in a given country mean numerous jobs related to translation and interpretation. In my opinion, a translator will add value to any company operating in an international setting.

How much does a translator earn? What factors affect the translator’s salary?

M.J.B.: Translators’ earnings depend on multiple factors. The demand for the language and how rare it is in a country are essential factors. There are all sorts of geopolitical factors as well. For example, Poland has a strong partnership with Germany, and thus German is a high-demand language. A lot of Poles can speak in German, so the salary is not as high as a Korean or Japanese speaker could expect.

Let’s assume I know Spanish at a fluent level, and I am considering a career as a professional translator. Where to start from?

D.P.: Choosing the right career is an important step. As I mentioned, there are a lot of different language-related professions on the job market, so any person interested in pursuing this career path should research the specifics of each job and establish what they are interested in. Some positions do not require native proficiency, so we should also consider how many languages we know and at which level of command. When it comes to Kelly Services Poland, we require bilingual proficiency in both English, and one of the other languages interpreter would be required to work with. It would be at least C2 in both English and Spanish in this case. A degree in linguistics is necessary if sworn translations are the main career choice. There are many other jobs, for example, in the gaming industry, that do not require any linguistic education.

Can I find a professional translator or a job as a translator with Kelly Services?

D.P.: Kelly Services Poland specializes in sourcing the best talent for our clients from many different industries: finance & accountancy, digital & tech, sales, marketing, supply chains, management & consulting, and many more. A lot of these positions are multilingual. Currently, our BPO branch is hiring interpreters for the biggest company providing over-the-phone interpretation. We are looking for the best talent in Poland and many other places around the globe.

Which are the most demanded languages on the market? Is English still dominant?

M.J.B.: In the globalization era ability to speak in more than one language is becoming a necessity. People who possess this skill find it easier to communicate while traveling, browsing the internet, or in business. Many employers are looking for foreign language proficiency, and English is required in almost every global corporation nowadays. Mastery in the niche foreign language may be beneficial during the job search. In my career, I have been working with people using popular languages such as Brazilian-Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, and some less usual: Uzbek, Urdu, or Finnish. Of course, the demand depends on multiple factors and changes over time, but currently, knowledge of Asian and Scandinavian languages is advantageous in the job market.

Thank you for the interview.

This article comes from magazine:
FOCUS ON Business #2 January-February (1/2022)