| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: If you could go back in time, would you still be a language professional? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 22:45
French to English
Yes, although I'd do it differently. I would have studied another language so that I could offer a second source language, and apply to work at a UN agency.
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The best choice of my life.
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 21:45
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Being a translator is one the best things that happened to me in all my life, and I do not regret my days as a working student!
I say "happened" because my background was journalism, but circumstances led me to translation.
If I could go back in time I would probably change other things, but not my profession... but that's another story
Anyway, as long as I am healthy enough to continue working on what I love, I ... See more Being a translator is one the best things that happened to me in all my life, and I do not regret my days as a working student!
I say "happened" because my background was journalism, but circumstances led me to translation.
If I could go back in time I would probably change other things, but not my profession... but that's another story
Anyway, as long as I am healthy enough to continue working on what I love, I can consider myself lucky and happy. Many people cannot say the same. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kimberly Wastler
United States
Local time: 16:45
Member (2005)
Italian to English
+ ...
| At times I wish . . . but yet . . . | Apr 10, 2023 |
Sometimes I wish I had taken everyone's advice and studied languages in college instead of Engineering.
Yet I am where I am thanks to my engineering degree - personally and professionally.
I would not have traveled the world on someone else's dollar - the USA, Europe, India, Asia, South America, etc.
My language skills allowed me to meet my husband, have two wonderful children, and move from one country to another without worrying about finding another job.
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Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:45
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| Not a bad second (or third?) career choice | Apr 10, 2023 |
Translation has been good for me so far, but it's a second or possibly third career and I began late. I would not have considered translation as a long-term vocation as a young man.
Dan
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I would’ve gone into medicine if I failed as a rock star.
But there’s no denying the freedom translation has given me to look after my family and pursue my hobbies while still making plenty of money would not have happened in most other jobs.
| | | | Michael Beijer
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:45
Member (2009)
Dutch to English
+ ...
| Yes, definitely. | Apr 10, 2023 |
I still really enjoy my work as a translator and have made more money every year since I started. And all this without ever having to leave home.
Also, very few of my friends seem to enjoy their work as much as I do, and many don't even earn more than I do, even if they have so-called great jobs.
| | | | | I as a true child... | Apr 10, 2023 |
...of the north now would better had started a career as a fisherman in my younger days. Imagine all the scrapping allowances they get now today, compared to the poor translators who have to scrap all their licences of SDL Studio these days for nothing!
[Bearbeitet am 2023-04-10 20:49 GMT]
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Gitte Hovedskov (X)
Denmark
Local time: 22:45
English to Danish
+ ...
| Yes, and I would still regret it | Apr 11, 2023 |
As nobody knows what the future holds, even if I went back in time, I would probably make the same choices, and I would follow the same path.
If I had known when I started my studies how the language industry would develop, I might have chosen a different direction. But at the time, it seemed the best choice for me.
I think it is more important now to take stock and consider whether I want to continue as a translator for the rest of my life, and what opportunities there... See more As nobody knows what the future holds, even if I went back in time, I would probably make the same choices, and I would follow the same path.
If I had known when I started my studies how the language industry would develop, I might have chosen a different direction. But at the time, it seemed the best choice for me.
I think it is more important now to take stock and consider whether I want to continue as a translator for the rest of my life, and what opportunities there might be for a more fulfilling life outside the language industry. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anna A. K.
Germany
Local time: 22:45
Member (2020)
English to German
Doing what I love, getting paid for it, and being able to work from everywhere? This profession is a dream come true. Other than that I can't think of any profession that is so interesting and multifaceted and lets me learn new things every day.
So as long as it exists, I will always be enthusiastic about it.
| | | | Victor Hew
Singapore
Local time: 04:45
Mandarin Chinese to English
| Better transitioning or not needing. | Apr 11, 2023 |
I regret only focusing on the sciences and not working harder on my mother tongue for the O Levels. If I had discovered my passion for languages and hence decided earlier to want to be in the industry, it would have made transitioning easier or maybe even not need to transition at all. With that said, it is what it is and I'll make use of my existing skills to assist me in this transition of industries 💪
[Edited at 2023-04-11 09:53 GMT]
| | | | | not teaching | Apr 11, 2023 |
I come from a family of teachers and more or less automatically followed the family tradition, only I found I didn't really like teaching. I ended up as a translator because the language school where I was working also provided translation services.
If I could go back in time I'd probably choose something in medicine or science, or at least a job with a good pension!
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| I don't know! | Apr 11, 2023 |
I think it is amazing how sure you all are about this! My road to being a language professional has been long and full of twists and turns, because I can't seem to decide what I want to do with my life. Still, I have enjoyed getting my degrees, living in a new country and trying out all sorts of different jobs, including translation... I really don't know where I would go if I were to start over. All I know is I need variety and a healthy amount of uncertainty ... See more I think it is amazing how sure you all are about this! My road to being a language professional has been long and full of twists and turns, because I can't seem to decide what I want to do with my life. Still, I have enjoyed getting my degrees, living in a new country and trying out all sorts of different jobs, including translation... I really don't know where I would go if I were to start over. All I know is I need variety and a healthy amount of uncertainty
[Edited at 2023-04-11 12:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Roberto Nogueira
Brazil
Local time: 17:45
Member (2021)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Yes, I would... | Apr 11, 2023 |
And I would have become a translator 20 years earlier.
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 15:45
English to Russian
+ ...
| No sentiments, all practical | Apr 12, 2023 |
After moving to the US in the last century, there was no way I could have started making that much money so soon, all for speaking my own language
I was looking into a couple more options but got swept by the tornado of work and demand. Just thinking about the subjects I've learned (nearly a decade of blood, sweat and tears 24/7 but the invoices looked sooo pretty:-) ), the people I've met, the world I've seen on a co... See more After moving to the US in the last century, there was no way I could have started making that much money so soon, all for speaking my own language
I was looking into a couple more options but got swept by the tornado of work and demand. Just thinking about the subjects I've learned (nearly a decade of blood, sweat and tears 24/7 but the invoices looked sooo pretty:-) ), the people I've met, the world I've seen on a company dime... this makes me feel eternally grateful and breathtakingly lucky; nothing I could have chosen within my range of skills and interests can come even close, especially coupled with such incredible freedom.
I was in the right place at the right time to start, and the same goes for ending it today. I don't miss a bit about translation. Yes, I enjoyed it, mostly because I enjoy writing first and translation - second. I mean "writing" as a fascinating part of translation, not writing books or papers. Some clients claimed that I wasn't too bad:-) but words as money-makers had always come first. I don't want to have anything to do with today's translation market but my beloved interpretation is still with me. So is my full retirement supplement. Perfect timing.
Work to live, not vice versa. ▲ Collapse
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