Comments on: Translation-targeted resumes: pitfalls and best practices http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/05/05/translation-targeted-resumes-pitfalls-and-best-practices/ ...the translation industry and becoming a translator Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:24:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Kevin Lossner http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/05/05/translation-targeted-resumes-pitfalls-and-best-practices/#comment-311 Kevin Lossner Thu, 29 May 2008 10:18:06 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-311 Some months ago I attended a seminar offered by the local chapter of the German National Association of Translators (BDÜ) on the topic of the "perfect profile" for marketing, and the presenter offered a very interesting piece of advice which probably has some value for marketing to direct customers. She was utterly opposed to the idea of using a resumé for marketing translation services and insisted that the best approach is a one page "profile" much as one might read for senior executives on a company web site. Obviously, this will not work if one's strategy is to market services to agencies, which often request a fairly traditional CV. I should probably mention for the sake of context that the typical German resume usually contains useless information like the grade schools attended, age, number of children and other things that horrify US personnel departments that receive these documents. A professionally focused, American-style resume is in many ways closer to the "ideal" described, but I do think that the additional streamlining and restructuring as a half- to one-page profile could be useful in some markets. Some months ago I attended a seminar offered by the local chapter of the German National Association of Translators (BDÜ) on the topic of the “perfect profile” for marketing, and the presenter offered a very interesting piece of advice which probably has some value for marketing to direct customers. She was utterly opposed to the idea of using a resumé for marketing translation services and insisted that the best approach is a one page “profile” much as one might read for senior executives on a company web site. Obviously, this will not work if one’s strategy is to market services to agencies, which often request a fairly traditional CV.

I should probably mention for the sake of context that the typical German resume usually contains useless information like the grade schools attended, age, number of children and other things that horrify US personnel departments that receive these documents. A professionally focused, American-style resume is in many ways closer to the “ideal” described, but I do think that the additional streamlining and restructuring as a half- to one-page profile could be useful in some markets.

]]> By: Corinne McKay http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/05/05/translation-targeted-resumes-pitfalls-and-best-practices/#comment-254 Corinne McKay Tue, 13 May 2008 16:01:55 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-254 Thanks very much for your comment. It's great to have some hard evidence that agencies immediately reject application materials with errors in them, because I'm always trying to drive this point home to beginning translators! I think it's true that most people have an easier time improving their comprehension skills in their source language(s) than they do improving their expression in their own language. Thanks for visiting! Thanks very much for your comment. It’s great to have some hard evidence that agencies immediately reject application materials with errors in them, because I’m always trying to drive this point home to beginning translators! I think it’s true that most people have an easier time improving their comprehension skills in their source language(s) than they do improving their expression in their own language. Thanks for visiting!

]]> By: Durf http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/05/05/translation-targeted-resumes-pitfalls-and-best-practices/#comment-250 Durf Mon, 12 May 2008 08:54:28 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-250 I hear you on the "don't make mistakes" advice . . . The first step I take when I receive a stack of applications for a translator position at my company is to go through them and discard the ones with grammar or spelling errors. These are people looking for an entry-level translation spot, and I am ready to teach them how to get better at translating, but if they haven't learned how to write properly in their native language by this point I'm not going to spend any time on them. Very nice blog you have going here. I saw it linked on the SWET blog and have added you to my subscriptions. Cheers! http://swet.jp/ I hear you on the “don’t make mistakes” advice . . . The first step I take when I receive a stack of applications for a translator position at my company is to go through them and discard the ones with grammar or spelling errors. These are people looking for an entry-level translation spot, and I am ready to teach them how to get better at translating, but if they haven’t learned how to write properly in their native language by this point I’m not going to spend any time on them.

Very nice blog you have going here. I saw it linked on the SWET blog and have added you to my subscriptions. Cheers!

http://swet.jp/

]]> By: Jill http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/05/05/translation-targeted-resumes-pitfalls-and-best-practices/#comment-226 Jill Tue, 06 May 2008 04:15:21 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-226 I also told my translation students not to bother with an Objective. The objective of a resume is to get work. Period. Everyone knows it. I tell them to save the space and use a Summary of Qualifications with bullet points highlighting the most important information at a glance instead. I also told my translation students not to bother with an Objective. The objective of a resume is to get work. Period. Everyone knows it. I tell them to save the space and use a Summary of Qualifications with bullet points highlighting the most important information at a glance instead.

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