Translation as a career? It’s right up there!

Well, well, well. Guess which profession in the top 20 jobs for 2013? Translation and interpreting!

The list was complied by US News, which ranks the top 100 jobs on the basis of their

mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance, and job security.

To which I would add: job satisfaction. Which, notwithstanding the occasional grumble, you get a lot of in the translation business.

Here, in short, is what they say about translation and interpreting:

Whether it’s sign language, spoken language, or written language, interpreters and translators are utilizing an invaluable skill. If you are fluent in a second language, you could find yourself working in a lucrative, secure, and growing position. The Labor Department predicts more than 42 percent employment growth in this profession over the coming decade.

And here’s the longer report on the translation and interpreting professions.

What do you think, folks? Is your job in the list? And if it isn’t, should it be?

See also: The Jobs of the future… include translating

By Marian Dougan

Published by Marian Dougan

Marian is a translator and editor (specialising in web content) currently based in Glasgow, Scotland. Marian previously lived in Italy for over 20 years, working as a language teacher, translator and policy analyst with the British Embassy in Rome. A qualified member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and its Italian-language and ITI Scotnet networks, she is currently Scotnet's Convenor and Deputy Webmaster. From 2003 to 2006 Marian taught translation skills at the Italian Department of Glasgow University and now gives Master Classes as part of the new Masters in Translation Studies course. She also conducts web-writing and usability workshops to help people improve their websites and communicate more effectively with their readers, users and customers. In September 2014 Marian obtained User Experience Certification, with specialisation in Web Design, from the Nielsen Norman Group. She loves language, especially English, and is convinced that learning languages opens up people’s minds and horizons (and increases their brainpower!). To share her enthusiasm, she advises schools and educational authorities on language skills and enterprise. She gives talks to pupils on how to combine language studies with other subjects and so enhance their potential and increase their career options. Marian is an active member of organisations such as: Scottish Council Development and Industry (SCDI); Association of Scottish Businesswomen; Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Scotland. She also loves architecture, design, fashion (British Vogue!), cities and chocolate. She’s a great fan of Twitter and you can also find her on Linkedin.

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8 Comments

  1. Buono a sapersi 😉
    Buon Natale a te, a Vito e ai vostri figli, spero stiate tutti bene.
    Martina
    PS: love the snow here!

    1. Yes, it’s good to know!

      Thanks for commenting, and have a lovely Christmas! (Where are you now – in London?)http://wordstogoodeffect.wordpress.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?p=6221&approved=1#comments-form

      1. Thank you. Yep, still in London, but I’m going home tomorrow. I’d better start packing soon 🙂

  2. Thanks for flagging that, Marian. It’s nice to see translation (and interpreting) up there on the media radar screen. However the US News compiler/reporter seems a little confused: surely translation as performed by many (most?) professionals is a business service — and here s/he’s got it under “Best Social Services Jobs”. Or maybe s/he’s just been hitting the eggnog early.

    1. Thanks for commenting, Chris. Yes, the classification is a bit odd. Unless we’re doing a social, as well as business, service to our customers by saving them – and their reputations – from the cowboys. Or, as you say, just the eggnog taking effect.
      I must say, I just find it so refreshing to see translation and interpreting mentioned at all – most business classifications don’t give us a mention. I wonder how many other professions always end up under “Other”…

  3. It’s interesting to see translation in a list like that. When people ask me about my profession and I tell them I’m a translator, I can see clearly that they have no idea of what I do
    I think it’s funny and actually I like that, since it becomes a topic of conversation.

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