The most obvious advantage of the proverbial day job is the greater financial security that comes with it.
In October of 2011, after working as a U.S.-based freelance German>English translator for 14 years, I accepted an 18-month contract as an in-house translator at the parent production plant of a large chemical company in Burghausen, Germany. I decided to take this position for multiple reasons. Though I had a very successful business, after many years of freelancing I felt the need for a change, a bit more financial security, and a bit of adventure. My husband and I also wanted our eightyear-old son to have an international living experience and to learn a foreign language. So, my family and I packed up our house and moved to Germany.
When I first started this job, I was asked frequently why I gave up a successful business as a freelancer to work for a company again, or, as I like to paraphrase, why go from freelancer to factory girl? Now that my tenure at the plant is coming to an end faster than I would like, I have had some time to reflect on the answer to this question and the benefits of such a career move.
Professional Benefits
The most obvious advantage of the proverbial day job is the greater financial security that comes with it. The health insurance here in Germany is far more extensive than any coverage I could find or afford as a freelancer in the U.S. I no longer have to worry about how much a visit to the doctor or a minor medical incident is going to cost, and instead focus on my health or my family’s health. Though I never had trouble collecting payment from my clients, the regular paycheck is nice, and so is the six weeks of paid vacation, performance bonuses, and the other regular perks that come with a full-time job in Germany. There are, however, several additional professional benefits that I had not really thought about when I decided to return to the “office.”
After 14 years of working in my isolated home office, it has been a nice change to work as part of a team.
Working in a Team: After 14 years of working in my isolated home office, it has been a nice change to work as part of a team. I am one of five translators that the chemical plant hired to translate the technical documentation involved in a special two-year project. Three of us are native English speakers (two Americans and one Brit) and two are native German speakers. This has been invaluable for all of us because the English speakers have been able to consult with the German speakers concerning source text comprehension, and the German speakers have consulted with the English speakers regarding style and terminology use. This type of collaboration has been a real confidence booster. When working as a freelancer, I would naturally do my best to verify my understanding of the text by consulting colleagues online or leaving comments for my clients, but it is nothing compared to being able to ask my colleagues immediately whether I have correctly understood a sentence written in “Ingenieur Deutsch.”* It has also led to some lively discussions about translation style and approach (e.g., whether to favor an accurate, yet close-to-the-original style, or accurate, yet easier-to-read style).
Learning New Skills:Working inhouse has also greatly improved my skills with computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools. As a freelancer, I had very little experience working with tools such as MultiTerm. Clients usually just send the translation memory and a glossary, but almost never a MultiTerm database file. However, I have since learned the value of working with the MultiTerm component of Trados, which enables you to select the appropriate term for a specific context more accurately, rather than just using the concordance feature in Studio. The particular benefit is that not only can you add terms, but also term definitions, categories, and comments on usage. When I return to freelance work, I intend to create my own MultiTerm database where I can set up client terminology databases, create client glossaries, and use filters for mini databases for individual customers. Most language services providers probably do this, but I think it might be to my benefit on a freelance level as well.
Working in a different environment can create a host of new networking opportunities and contacts.
Working Onsite: The biggest advantage of my job here has been the fact that our office is located directly in the middle of the production plant. There are American and German engineers working in offices next door to us, and the production hall is in the building across the street. When we first started, we were given a tour of the various production areas, machines, and equipment, which has enabled us to visualize the equipment descriptions and instructions we translate more accurately. When confronted with particularly complex technical texts, we are able to consult with the engineers. They explain the process and often just take us over to the production hall to show us the piece of equipment or the machine in question. As freelance translators, we often work in a vacuum and can only dream of this kind of access. In my job here, the engineers review our translations and verify terminology. This feedback gives me the confidence that I am doing my job correctly.
Broader Networking Opportunities: Working in a different environment can also create a host of new networking opportunities and contacts. I now have a broader range of colleagues not only in translation, but also from a wide range of engineering fields. I hope to leverage my expanded network using LinkedIn and other social media sites when I return to freelance work.
Personal Benefits
There have been a few personal benefits garnered from this experience. For example, working in an office has meant having to improve and update my wardrobe to include professional business attire. I have also enjoyed more free time as a company employee than I did running my own business. The established nine-to-five workday means I can (usually leave my work at the office. I do not work evenings or weekends the way I did as a freelancer, giving me more time to spend with my family, to pursue hobbies, and to travel. This experience has also made me rethink how I want to manage my time when I return to the freelance world.
A Rewarding Experience
Overall, working as an in-house translator has been a positive experience. I have come away with a lot of ideas on how to improve my freelance business and better manage my time. My CAT tool skills have improved, and I have extended my professional network. But most importantly, my son now speaks better German than I do, but do not tell him I said that. While I am enjoying my in-house job and my time in Germany, I am looking forward to returning to the States with my family, and to my home office and clients. In the meantime, you can read more about my family’s adventures in Germany on our blog, From Bellingham to Burghausen and Back (bellinghamtoburghausen.blogspot.com). Also, for those who are thinking about working abroad, please check out the tips listed in the box on page 24.
Note
*Poorly written technical German that can give translators a real headache.
Hilary Fayen Higgins has worked as a German>English freelance translator for 14 years, specializing in marketing, manufacturing, corporate communications, business, and information technology. She has worked in-house for several German companies, both in Germany and the U.S. In 2000, she launched her freelance business, Higgins German Translations, Inc., which she officially reopened in April. She is relocating back to Washington State in August and can be reached under: higginstranslations@gmail.com.
This article was originally published in the March 2013 issue of The ATA Chronicle and reprinted here with kind permission from the ATA.