Poll: Do translators tend to make good project managers? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do translators tend to make good project managers?".
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| | | | | I wouldn't know about translators in general | Oct 26, 2022 |
Project management requires a skill set that has a certain overlap with the things you need to know and do as an independent business owner, as most of us are. But not all translators are good at this, and not all of them like it. On the other hand, if you are a translator yourself, this would be useful when becoming a project manager at a translation agency because you know what your vendors need.
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I’m not sure, as these are two completely different jobs but it might be helpful if the PM understands what translators struggle with.
| | | | | 101% Positive | Oct 26, 2022 |
I am highly convinced that Project Managers possessing good linguistic skills, strong business acumen, and tech-savvy could deliver more satisfying results than their non-linguist counterparts. Change my mind.
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Liena Vijupe 
Latvia
Local time: 02:13
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
| Probably not | Oct 26, 2022 |
While some may be good at it, my answer to whether they tend would be No. Entirely different jobs, just like translation and interpreting.
I was a PM years ago (not in translation business) and enjoyed that kind of work, but now I would find it too stressful. I believe most colleagues would agree.
[Edited at 2022-10-26 10:01 GMT]
| | | | | You're right, but ... | Oct 26, 2022 |
Ricardo Sandy Aries wrote:
I am highly convinced that Project Managers possessing good linguistic skills, strong business acumen, and tech-savvy could deliver more satisfying results than their non-linguist counterparts. Change my mind.
I entirely agree. However, a lot of translators don´t have much business acumen, and they are not always particularly tech savvy.
I once thanked a favourite PM for doing all the boring work I don´t like doing myself and dealing with difficult clients, so I could get on with translating. `Ah,´ she said, ´but I feel just the same!´ She enjoyed the challenge of finding the right translator for each job, and persuading clients they were getting value for money. She had the language skills to deal with queries and the diplomacy to solve disagreements.
She was good at sorting Trados glitches, too - there were more in those days!
I just roll my eyes and get stroppy - I would be a hopeless PM!
[Edited at 2022-10-26 10:04 GMT]
| | | | jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 19:13
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
I think a freelance translator is managing his or her projects everyday. Sometimes they do so in a way not much different to what a full time project manager's job entails.
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