| Pages in topic: [1 2 3 4] > | Career change healthcare to translation Thread poster: Emma MacNab
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Emma MacNab
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:21
French to English
I work as an Occupational Therapist in the UK National Health Service. I have a lot of (20+ years) experience in healthcare, specifically mental health and even more specifically in eating disorders. In addition to my professional experience, I also have a Masters in Clinical Research.
I am interested in a career change and have just completed the first year of the University of Portsmouth distance learning Masters in Translation Studies, language pair French to English. I think m... See more I work as an Occupational Therapist in the UK National Health Service. I have a lot of (20+ years) experience in healthcare, specifically mental health and even more specifically in eating disorders. In addition to my professional experience, I also have a Masters in Clinical Research.
I am interested in a career change and have just completed the first year of the University of Portsmouth distance learning Masters in Translation Studies, language pair French to English. I think my background gives me a fairly solid area to specialise in ie clinical healthcare, practice and research.
I'm interested in learning from anyone else who has made the transition from the healthcare sector to becoming a language professional. How did you find it? Is it possible to do both - say work 3 days a week in healthcare (NHS is pretty flexible) and 2 days as a freelance translator? Any particular pitfalls I should watch out for? ▲ Collapse
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Emma MacNab wrote:
How did you find it? Is it possible to do both - say work 3 days a week in healthcare (NHS is pretty flexible) and 2 days as a freelance translator? Any particular pitfalls I should watch out for?
Healthcare and Translation are two different skillsets. You need to become proficient in skills needed to be a good translator (writing skills, performing a good QA, consistent use of key terminology etc.). Once you have this under your belt, you will find your healthcare background is an advantage especially with content relating to a series of actions (i.e. manual for healthcare devices) etc. (in my experience). It’s easier to “visualize” what’s described in written word when you have hands-on healthcare background as opposed to only learning the terminology. You'll see how that relates to your skillset as occupational therapist; it may be beneficial in a different manner.
It is possible to do both as long as it doesn’t hurt quality of care or translation.
Have fun!
[Edited at 2022-06-21 11:37 GMT]
| | | | | Some thoughts | Jun 21, 2022 |
Your professional experience will stand you in very good stead if you want to specialise in medical translation.
However....
Emma MacNab wrote:
Is it possible to do both - say work 3 days a week in healthcare (NHS is pretty flexible) and 2 days as a freelance translator?
Honestly I would say no, not at the start. You may be able to make it work - everyone is different, but often agencies have quite tight deadlines. You say the NHS is flexible, but it may not be in the way you want it to - you risk having translation work coming in when you find you've agreed to work an NHS shift.
Also, translation is not something you can really "dip into" - it takes a lot of effort at the beginning to gain experience.
On the other hand, having another source of income is good. Try it out and see how you get on.
Hope this helps.
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Though I have no healthcare experience at all, my experience might be of interest to you. I translated part-time for a few years (many moons ago) while also having another day job. Believe me it was very hard but I managed to do it, as the proverb goes ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’…
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Becca Resnik 
United States
Local time: 09:21
Member
German to English
+ ...
| Matter of personality/tolerance | Jun 21, 2022 |
I can't speak to your exact situation, but I can get pretty close, so I hope my input is welcome. I think your proposal is more than possible, although it certainly depends on your personality and stress/schedule tolerance.
I was a full-time engineer until two years ago. I loved being an engineer and was very successful and well respected, but the corporate world is just not at all for me. I knew at 15 that I wanted to be a translator but, as I often explain it, I "accidentally" bec... See more I can't speak to your exact situation, but I can get pretty close, so I hope my input is welcome. I think your proposal is more than possible, although it certainly depends on your personality and stress/schedule tolerance.
I was a full-time engineer until two years ago. I loved being an engineer and was very successful and well respected, but the corporate world is just not at all for me. I knew at 15 that I wanted to be a translator but, as I often explain it, I "accidentally" became an engineer. Hence, I went back to school and got my MA in Translation Studies in 2016 (online from the University of Birmingham, while working). Fast forward to 2020: I had maybe 2-4 months of overlap during which I was a full-time engineer and either working to set my translation business up or actively taking work, in either case amounting to essentially full-time work for that alone. It was very difficult but worth every moment, because I'd set myself up for success even better than I realized at the time.
I have six words of advice for you (and this covers the "any pitfalls" question): savings, savings, savings, research, research, research. Between savings, research (how to get clients, scams to watch out for, etc.), and overlap with my engineering salary (thus, no panic about cash flow), I was not only getting a lot of work right out the gate, but I was also able to avoid low rates and unreasonable deadlines, as I never had to count on those orders to make ends meet.
Now to tie in another similarity to add more encouragement that you can make it work: With my background as a technician and engineer, I mostly take on technical texts. There's been plenty of work for me this whole time, but my impression from what more experienced freelancers have said is that this field does see dry spells to a greater degree than medical. As such, I've actually been in nursing school for the past year for the sole purpose of adding in medical as a specialty. I have two days of in-person lecture a week and one of on-site clinical practice (and of course all the assignments, reading, etc. that come with nursing school), and I still take enough translation work to amount to nearly full-time. I turn down the occasional order, particularly in the days before an exam, but that's all.
Do I pull bonkers hours to make it work? Yup. Do I have to be exceptionally efficient with my time? Yup (e.g., I use lecture break periods to handle invoicing). Has any of my work suffered in terms of quality? Nope – compliments from clients abound. And I've maintained a 4.0 GPA (maximum grade point average in the US system) – and certainly not because it's easy, as about 1/4 of my class has failed out of the program. And while this might just seem like I'm bragging, believe me, that's not the intention. I'm simply saying that it is certainly doable and that it's all about your tolerance. I stress this part because even now, I have many people in my life trying to tell me that I'm doing too much, but at the end of the day, it's not about what they could handle. It's only about what I can handle. And I can, and indeed happily, so why not?
TLDR: Full-time work + starting a translation business w/specialization and degree + savings + research + crazy hours + personal tolerance = success + happiness.
[Edited at 2022-06-21 19:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:21
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Becca Resnik wrote:
It's only about what I can handle. And I can, and indeed happily, so why not?
Emma, if you haven't already noticed you should know that these forums contains thousands of posts by people bewailing their own lack of success in translation and concluding that the industry is therefore a terrible place to work. They are partially right: because there are no barriers to entry anybody can set up a translation agency, and many of these are terrible companies to work with. They are not the whole industry.
Becca's experience is important because it suggests that you can still make a decent income, today, as a new entrant to the translation industry, provided that you have something to offer clients. Typically this "something" is highly specialized knowledge of a particular industry or field. Again, lots of posts about that.
On the other hand, while I love to hear success stories like hers, I would point out that - as she happily admits - this is very much her own approach and that your own path to success does not necessarily have to involve crazy hours. For one thing, you have already accumulated in organic fashion the specialist knowledge she is working to acquire.
Personally, I had a bit of an overlap with my other work before I shifted to full-time translation in 2015, but I was in effect self-employed so I had the flexibility to take on translation and build it up slowly. I do have family working shifts in the NHS and like Fiona I suspect that you'd struggle to do anything other than sleep if you're on nights, for example. But if you work 9 to 5 or thereabouts on the medical side then I'd say you have a good chance of building up your translation business.
Regards,
Dan
| | | | Emma MacNab
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:21
French to English
TOPIC STARTER | Thank you for your replies | Jun 21, 2022 |
Thank you all for taking the time to reply
@Philippe - you're right, they are different skill sets which I guess might be part of the attraction - to have an opportunity to do something new. I'm thinking that translation might be less emotionally demanding than working in mental health services, but not too sure about that having spent a bit of time reading these forums!
@Fiona - I think that's a very good point, and this is one of the things which it is really helpful... See more Thank you all for taking the time to reply
@Philippe - you're right, they are different skill sets which I guess might be part of the attraction - to have an opportunity to do something new. I'm thinking that translation might be less emotionally demanding than working in mental health services, but not too sure about that having spent a bit of time reading these forums!
@Fiona - I think that's a very good point, and this is one of the things which it is really helpful to hear a bit about - the real life demands of getting started as a freelancer.
@Teresa - thanks, good to hear that it is not totally out of the question!
@Becca - wow, that certainly does sound very demanding. That's a good point about personality/tolerance. It's certainly made me think about the challenges of giving up a solid, dependable public sector job for something much more uncertain and more demanding.
@Dan - yes doing research on here was one of the reasons why I asked the question - because there do seem to be a lot of posts about difficulties in the industry etc. Maybe that's the nature of forums. That is a good point about shifts but thankfully those days are behind me, as I mainly work 9 to 5 now. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Becca Resnik
United States
Local time: 09:21
Member
German to English
+ ...
Emma MacNab wrote:
@Becca - wow, that certainly does sound very demanding. That's a good point about personality/tolerance. It's certainly made me think about the challenges of giving up a solid, dependable public sector job for something much more uncertain and more demanding.
Happy to help for sure! For what it's worth, it's definitely the balance of school and the business (managing both to the utmost of my ability) that's the big stressor in terms of time and energy for me. I actually don't find the translation business itself to be incredibly demanding, particularly now that I'm at cruising speed. While certainly just conjecture based on my own life experiences, I anticipate that you will find it much less demanding than what you're doing now, particularly if you set yourself up with savings and research.
What you're getting at – giving up a secure, salaried job – I can validate from experience is absolutely daunting. I got my first job when I was 14 but had been on a salary since I joined the military at 17, so leaving the corporate world felt like jumping into the abyss. But it has been so worth it. So definitely don't take my warnings to heart in long-term thinking, because once you're established in your business, I believe that you will find what you're looking for. I was very nervous about making the big life change that I did, worrying that I was in a "grass is greener on the other side" situation. But after two years, even with the faults here and there of freelance translation, I can confidently say that the grass is MUCH greener on this side for me. Like...neon green.
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Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 15:21
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| Both not possible. | Jun 21, 2022 |
We had many newbies who thought this could be an additional side income etc. It’s not possible due to how deadlines are structured. Say you get a 10k order today, to be sent back in 3 days, but on your 3rd day you are working in the hospital, and 2 days will not be enough to complete the job. These kinds of things happen constantly. What do you do then?
| | | | | How old are you? | Jun 22, 2022 |
I'm sticking my Eeyore oar in again, but I'm going to repeat my belief that the translation industry is dying. I am by no means bewailing a lack of work - in fact, I'd say I'm very successful (it's not that I'm a good translator; it's just there are so few of us in my neck of the woods) and I am fortunate that I will be among the last of the gaggle still standing in my language pairs. What I am worried about, however, is making it through the next 15 years until retirement. Having said that, bac... See more I'm sticking my Eeyore oar in again, but I'm going to repeat my belief that the translation industry is dying. I am by no means bewailing a lack of work - in fact, I'd say I'm very successful (it's not that I'm a good translator; it's just there are so few of us in my neck of the woods) and I am fortunate that I will be among the last of the gaggle still standing in my language pairs. What I am worried about, however, is making it through the next 15 years until retirement. Having said that, back in 2012 I gave the industry another 10 years and yet here we still all are, so there's that. The landscape has, nevertheless, undeniably changed in that time. If I were, say, fortyish and had stable full-time employment, I would think very carefully about plunging head first into the ever shallower reservoir of translation. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Blind men and the elephant | Jun 22, 2022 |
The replies in this thread make me think of the tale of the blind men and the elephant. No translator is the world can tell you the "state" of "the translation business" because there is no ONE translation market. So much depends on geographical location, language combination, specialisation, personality, personal baggage, experience, aspirations.... the list goes on and on.
Don't let anyone tell you you can or can't do something.
My advice would be to find yourself a m... See more The replies in this thread make me think of the tale of the blind men and the elephant. No translator is the world can tell you the "state" of "the translation business" because there is no ONE translation market. So much depends on geographical location, language combination, specialisation, personality, personal baggage, experience, aspirations.... the list goes on and on.
Don't let anyone tell you you can or can't do something.
My advice would be to find yourself a mentor, I know the ITI in the UK has a scheme, as does the CIOL. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
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Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 15:21
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
| Don't get distracted. | Jun 22, 2022 |
Don't get distracted by the negative attitude on Proz. Where there is a will, there is a way. After all the translation industry is open to all, which means, by definition, that many translators simply turn out not to be right for the job but do it anyway. Being self-employed (in general) requires discipline, commitment, nerves of steel, an open mind, perseverance and flexibility. I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't have those qualities, but go into self-employment anyway. Conclusion: it large... See more Don't get distracted by the negative attitude on Proz. Where there is a will, there is a way. After all the translation industry is open to all, which means, by definition, that many translators simply turn out not to be right for the job but do it anyway. Being self-employed (in general) requires discipline, commitment, nerves of steel, an open mind, perseverance and flexibility. I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't have those qualities, but go into self-employment anyway. Conclusion: it largely depends on you and if you don't dare, you don't win.
Furthermore, the translation industry is far from dead and there are still plenty of opportunities to earn a living. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:21
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| Predictions are usually worthless | Jun 22, 2022 |
Stuart Hoskins wrote:
Having said that, back in 2012 I gave the industry another 10 years and yet here we still all are, so there's that. The landscape has, nevertheless, undeniably changed in that time.
I appreciate your honesty, but this is precisely why I don't listen to the nay-sayers. It doesn't matter whether the subject of the prediction is translation industry pricing, global population, or earnings two years' hence for a specific company: if somebody cannot demonstrate a track record of accurate forecasting nobody should be paying the would-be forecaster any attention. And yet it happens.
If you go right back to the beginning of ProZ.com forums you will find plenty of negativity and yet, as you say, here we still all are - 20 years later! Yes, the industry has changed. Can you name an industry that has not over the past decade? Yes, technology has had an impact on translation. Again, can you name another industry that has not been affected by technological progress? (Not aimed at you Stuart - these are general rhetorical questions.)
I agree heartily with Fiona's point: there is no monolithic translation market. Just a few weeks ago an email list of which I am a member used the same metaphor of the blind men and the elephant. Funny thing is, that was a JA-EN list and even in such a "small" pair our recent experiences were so diverse that we were unable to come to any firm conclusions about overall demand.
All I would be prepared to forecast is this: the role of translator will not disappear for many decades yet, if it ever does; the industry will continue to change; those who adapt to new requirements and new tools will have the best chance of survival.
Emma, you sound sensible, focused and methodical. Approach it like the business that it is and give it a go.
Regards,
Dan
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 15:21
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| From the oursoucer’s perspective | Jun 22, 2022 |
I used to/ocasioonally outsource, and sometimes I hired vendors who had full-time or part-time jobs. It was always pretty obvious they had a job, but using my best judgment and deadline allowing, I would hire them if they fit.
I can remembef one particular ocassion, Brazilian engineer working on oil rigs or something like that. He was not late with the deadline but failed to send his invoicing details. I followed up with him at least a dozen times, I work alone, and then I stoppee. ... See more I used to/ocasioonally outsource, and sometimes I hired vendors who had full-time or part-time jobs. It was always pretty obvious they had a job, but using my best judgment and deadline allowing, I would hire them if they fit.
I can remembef one particular ocassion, Brazilian engineer working on oil rigs or something like that. He was not late with the deadline but failed to send his invoicing details. I followed up with him at least a dozen times, I work alone, and then I stoppee. One year later, he contacts me to ask me why he was not paid. Basically, he was too busy with his job to femember he had to follow up, send invoice or even checking his emails. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2 3 4] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Career change healthcare to translation | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
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