How to Become a French Translator

Do you feel that you have a decent grasp of the French language? Thinking about how you can become a French translator? We want to share with you a few ideas on this page. Hopefully, these ideas will help give you a nudge in the right direction and you can determine whether this is going to be the right career path for you.

Becoming a Translator Isn't Easy

First and foremost, becoming a French translator is not going to be easy. French is one of the most spoken languages in the world. This means that the translation market is incredibly competitive. Unless you have a solid grasp of French, we mean that you are virtually fluent, then you won't find success.

Offer Freelance Translation Services

Perhaps the simplest way to break into the translation industry is to start offering freelance French translation services. There are plenty of websites out there that you can use to find jobs. You can even drop emails to companies that you feel may need translation services. For example, if they are running a website that is supposed to cater to the French market but doesn't have a proper translation in place.

Look For Government or NGO Jobs

French is widely spoken in the UN. It is the main language of the EU. This means that there are plenty of jobs in the government looking for recruits who can speak French. You may not be translating all day. However, you may find that your French skills will set you apart from the pack, and you may be called in for translation services every so often.

International Companies

You may have to spend a small amount of time hunting down these jobs. However, many international companies desire French translators due to the prevalence of the French language.

With international companies, though, you are probably going to need to show some sort of French translation qualification. If you do not have that, you probably won't score yourself a job. This is because these companies want to hire the absolute best of the best. The same would apply if you are looking for those government jobs.

Look For Translation Agencies

If you are new to translating but do not feel as if freelance is good for you, then seek out translation agencies. These agencies may be able to help you find shorter-term jobs e.g. working in customer service, teaching jobs, and brief translation positions in companies.

It is a great way for you to start getting some translation experience under your belt. It can also be a decent income. Although you may struggle to find stable enough translation jobs to make this full-time work unless you are in a major town or city.

Final Word

If you are planning on becoming a French translator, you need to be aware that it will be an uphill battle. It can be exceedingly tough to find work due to how competitive the industry is. However, if you keep working on improving your French skills, we are confident that it won't be long before you can find some work.