Andrea Goethals (MATI 2021) and I shared a good laugh when she told me recently what was going through her mind in our first meeting: During New Student Orientation, someone suggested that she should meet her Career Advisor, so she made an appointment with me. After the initial exchange of pleasantries, I asked her what her career goals were after graduation. Neither of us can remember what her reply was, but what was going through her mind was: “Uh, I haven’t thought that far. I just want to pass my classes.”
Fast forward to 2022, she is working as a part time Localization Project Manager while building her translation and interpretation freelance career. How she has navigated her career path is admirable – resourceful, focused plus a healthy portion of good humor.
What do you like most about working as a project manager and freelance translator/interpreter respectively?
As a project manager, I get to see all the behind-the-scenes things that go into setting up a job/project, reviewing linguist resumes and rates, assigning a linguist etc. It’s interesting to see both sides of the project, and it has helped me better understand and appreciate the hard work that project managers do! Since I’m also a freelancer, I can relate to questions from the linguists and learn from the experienced translators and interpreters I assign.
I pick up small things like how different people format their resumes and email signatures, how they write their emails, the questions they ask before accepting a job, and the way they handle themselves in difficult situations.
As a freelancer, I love that I can pick my own projects and my own hours. I’ve worked (remotely) with people from all over the world on a variety of different topics. I love using my language skills and working with other people who have the same passion.
I think the mix of translation and interpretation is nice because they complement each other well. Sometimes, I get a little worn out from several interpreting jobs in a row, so, I may want to sit quietly and translate for a while. Other times, if I’ve been doing a lot of translation projects, I get an itch to interpret and flex my oral language skills. It’s a nice balance.
I understand that you were offered a full-time position as a project manager, but you decided to stay part time and continue to build your freelance career. Why?
Yes, that was a hard choice! But at the end of the day, my heart really lies with translation and interpretation. I really enjoy project management as well, but I also wanted to give interpretation, especially, a try. Interpreting and second languages in general, are skills that need to be practiced regularly. If you don’t use it, you lose it. And I still have a lot to learn!
I’ve also come to realize that building a freelance career is a long, slow process. I didn’t want to lose the momentum and progress I’ve already made by working full time, because realistically, I didn’t know if I’d still be motivated to keep taking on side work. I wanted to be able to say “yes” to interpretation jobs that come my way and be able to offer competitive turnaround times for translation projects. Sometimes, it seems like the most important thing for getting a job is simply being available for an urgent, last-minute request. I wanted to be able to be that go-to person for potential new clients.
One of the complaints I hear often from freelancers is: “I am on many LSPs’ rosters, but I don’t get work from them.” Now that you have the PM’s perspective, how would freelancers get to the top of your “go-to list”?
I’ve had that same question, myself! Being on the project management side has taught me that it’s really about the little things. I think one of the biggest things is simply being responsive and professional via email. Usually, the person who responds first to a request gets the job. Responding quickly in a professional way huge, it makes the PM’s job so much easier. Even just a short message confirming receipt is very useful to the PM.
Another big one is responding to a project manager even if you’re not available to take on the job. As a PM, I appreciate that just as much as the people who respond accepting the job, because I know they’ve seen my message and I can move on with my search. I’m much more likely to send another request for a future assignment to the person who responding saying they’re not available than to the person who didn’t respond at all.
What role has your network (professional associations, colleagues, alumni) play in your career thus far? Any tips for newbies?
My network has been crucial! All my first freelance projects came from colleagues who recommended me. I went to the ATA conference the October after I graduated, and I highly recommend it! For me, it was encouraging to simply meet other professionals who actually had a fruitful freelance career in my language pair (which felt impossible when I first started, and often still does). It showed me that there is enough work to go around, and if these 1000+ are all doing it, maybe I can, too.
It was really interesting to hear the different paths people had taken to get to where they are and gave me some good ideas for my business. I ended up getting a few awesome jobs from the connections I made at that first conference, too.
I went again this year and ended up sharing a cab with you, Winnie, which is what brought me to this blog! So, you just never know who you’re going to talk to and where it will lead. J
Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were a student?
I would let myself relax a little bit more. During school and right after graduation, I was very anxious about starting a career in translation and interpretation because I didn’t understand how I was going to start freelancing once I graduated. I really wanted the satisfaction of having a stable job with a regular income and being “done”. Or I at least wanted some kind of clear-cut process I could follow to get started. I’m a hard worker and a faster learner, so I was craving structure to pour my anxious energy into.
But I realized that freelancing is much more fluid than that. I didn’t really start getting semi-regular work until around November after I graduated (in May). I spent the summer scouring job boards, cold calling LSPs and stressing out about not working. I felt like I was never doing enough but I also wasn’t getting any “results.” Once I started accepting that freelancing was going to be a much slower, gradual process, I felt like things started to happen more naturally. I still looked for work and practiced my skills, but I also got a side job to pay the bills and let myself off the hook every now and then.
I wish I could have enjoyed that downtime in the beginning a little more and not stressed so much, because it didn’t help. But if someone had told me that back then, I don’t think I would have listened. (Actually, in hindsight, ALL of my professors did tell me that, and I didn’t believe them. I guess you just have to learn some things for yourself!)
Linh Nguyen (MATLM 2023) interned at PayPal during summer of 2022 and has accepted a return offer to start as Localization Program Manager in July 2023. Transitioning from a student’s identity to a professional’s is always challenging. She recently shared with me how she managed the process.
Tell us about your background prior to attending MIIS.
Before attending MIIS, I spent 2 years in the workforce as an English tutor, teacher, copywriter, and marketing partner. Getting work experience before going to graduate school opened me to the world of business and entrepreneurship and also grounded my sense of accountability and responsibility. As a teacher, I learned how to lead a team of rambunctious students and get out of my introverted shell to focus on what mattered the most: teaching my students. As a freelance copywriter, I not only learned how to communicate better in writing, but also learned the ins and outs of starting your own business and managing clients. As a marketing partner at a boutique website marketing agency, I learned how to manage accounts, people, and my own self-doubt. These various experiences in the workforce prepared me mentally to be professional, accountable, and laser focused on what it was I wanted to do, which has always been to bridge connections between people using language.
You did not have localization work experience prior to MIIS. When you saw the internship posting from PayPal, did you have any self-doubts about your qualifications? How did you decide that you wanted to apply for it?
The only localization work experience I had prior to MIIS was volunteering as a translator for Viki. When I saw the internship posting from PayPal, I had major self-doubts about whether I would be able to live up to the job description. I was only a month into my first classes in TLM and had just learned how to use Trados and what the localization process was like. Yet, I knew I had to take the leap.
The position was a combination of all my passions: finance and tech, localization and people. Not to mention, I had prior experience using PayPal products like Venmo and PayPal Business. While I knew I didn’t have all the experience listed in the job description right then and there, I knew I had a passion for the company, and that I would still have an entire school year to bring myself up to the standards of the PayPal localization team.
How did you prepare for the application process and interviews?
During the application process, I knew I had to be fast. After seeing the job posting, I immediately started fixing up my resume and my LinkedIn basing my examples on the criteria set out in the job description.
I had two close mentors who were not in the localization field, although one was a tech recruiter, proofread my resume. I then set up a meeting with Winnie to get insights on how to conduct myself during the interview. What questions should I be asking? What questions should I prepare for? I then did two rounds of mock interviews with my mentor who was a tech recruiter. She told me to practice my interview answers using the STAR method, which proved to be super useful in showcasing my skills.
On top of this, I also researched PayPal’s website and learned about their company mission, values, culture, and current news. From conversations with my mentors and from my interviews, I learned that willingness to upskill and learn, adaptability, focus on collaboration were three key points that people were looking for in an intern candidate.
What are the key lessons you have learned during your internship that you feel you can leverage moving forward?
Just ask. People are willing to help, you just have to ask.
Learn to pivot. Learn to adapt to changes. Instead of complaining, start problem-solving.
Be responsive. People like people they can trust. A part of building trust is being responsive and accountable for your communication.
Any words of wisdom for 1styear students who are about to embark on internship search?
Be confident in yourself and your ability to learn and adapt. Those skills carry you far in any job. Showcasing during the interview that you are willing to learn what you don’t know and that you’re flexible to changes will be to your benefit.
Remember that at the end of the day, an internship is just another type of stepping stone into the career you want. I always had a backup plan. Perhaps your stepping stone is a summer-long project to localize a website for a small business or conducting research in the localization industry, or interviewing professionals on your podcast (ahem shameless plug: https://anchor.fm/localizetheworld). These are all ways to upskill, increase your knowledge, and also increase your visibility as a localization professional. You can learn a lot in an internship, but you might learn more surprising things when you forge your own path forward.
Every year, the Center for Advising and Career Services brings together a TILM Career Fair that hosts a wide range of translation, interpretation, and localization management employers.
The 2020 TILM Career Fair will be held on February 28, 2020, at the Monterey Conference Center.
2020 TILM Career Fair Exhibitors
We publish this partial list to facilitate early research by students. Employers are still signing up and we will continue to regularly update this list until the Career Fair.
Acclaro is a translation service and platform that helps the world’s leading brands succeed across cultures. Through a fine-tuned process, top industry talent and leading technologies, they make a long-term investment in our clients’ global brands.
Working in over 100 languages and with offices around the globe, Acclaro helps clients open new markets and gain a competitive edge by expertly adapting their brands and products with fast, high-quality translations.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Freelance translation and language lead positions, Project managers, MT specialists Specialization: Translation, Localization, Localization Management
Ad Astra Inc. is a woman-owned language services agency located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. They have recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary and are preparing for another burst of growth. They offer a comprehensive suite of spoken language and ASL interpretation, translation, transcription, and localization services in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and across the US for government, healthcare, educational, and commercial clients. Within the company, they offer a stimulating environment with plenty of growth opportunities for talented and forward-thinking professionals.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Freelance Translators, Freelance Interpreters, Staff ASL Interpreters, other staff positions available Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization
BorderX Lab is the creator of the Beyond Fashion and Beauty Discovery Marketplace launched in 2014. We connect Chinese shoppers to official websites of brands and merchants like Saks, Bloomingdales, Harrods, Finish Line and Alexander Wang, etc. Through our direct partnerships with major US and European fashion & beauty brands, we guarantee our users receive authentic products at authentic prices. For brands, we provide a turn-key solution to China’s localization and logistics. BorderX Lab has offices in Silicon Valley and Shanghai.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, English Current Opportunities: Marketing Intern, Logistics Intern, Marketplace Partnership Expert, Business Development Intern, Business Development Associate Specialization: Localization, Localization Management
CLI stands at the forefront of world-class interpreting services, and has since its inception in 1996. Thousands of organizations across the country rely on CLI to help them communicate with a growing demographic of Limited English Proficient (LEP) speakers. They provide OPI & VRI services and are seeking interpreters for all languages who are interested in working from home as remote interpreters, meaning you set your own schedule.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Seeking remote interpreters for all languages (they provide OPI & VRI Services) Specialization: Interpretation
The CIA is the US Government agency responsible for collecting foreign human intelligence, providing objective, all-source analytic assessments on critical national security issues for the President and other senior policymakers.
The ability to speak, read, and translate foreign languages, in addition to understanding cultural differences, is vital to the mission of the CIA. Because intelligence priorities can shift, and countries and languages can increase in importance rapidly, the CIA must have employees with foreign language skills to handle both current national security requirements and potentially new missions.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Hiring for more than 100 occupations across all majors. Specialization: Translation, Interpretation
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution consisting of two separate entities which provide linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies, and numerous customers around the world. Their mission is to provide the highest quality culturally based foreign language education, training, and evaluation to enhance the national security of the United States.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Hiring for 148 teaching positions Specialization: Translation, Interpretation
Honda Kaihatsu Americas, Inc. offers translation and interpretation services between Japanese and English for Honda group companies in the United States.Since its establishment in 1989, Honda Kaihatsu Americas, Inc. has been sending highly skilled and experienced Japanese-English translators and interpreters to Honda group companies in the United States.
Most of their translators/interpreters obtain master’s degrees of translation/interpretation studies, or have professional experiences in the field.
Recruiting for (languages): Japanese Current Opportunities: In-house/freelance interpreter/translator (Japanese and English) Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization, Localization Management
Founded in 1983, Idem Translations, Inc. is a full-service provider of translation and localization services. Idem specializes in certified translations for medical device, biomedical, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as other organizations and entities working in the life sciences sector, such as contract research organizations (CROs), healthcare research centers, and institutional review boards (IRBs). The company is a WBENC-certified woman-owned business and holds certifications to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2003, and ISO 17100:2015.
Recruiting for (languages): None specified Current Opportunities: Life Sciences Localization Project Manager, Project Management Intern, Quality Control Specialist Specialization: Translation, Localization, Localization Management
Intuitive, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, is a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery. At Intuitive, they believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, they expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. Intuitive brings more than two decades of leadership in robotic-assisted surgical technology and solutions to its offerings, and develops, manufactures, and markets the da Vinci surgical system and the Ion endoluminal system.
Recruiting for (languages): English Current Opportunities: Localization Specialist Specialization: Localization, Localization Management
The Japan Association of Conference Interpreters, established on April 1, 2015, is a non-profit organization operated by conference interpreters for the benefit of conference interpreters—the first and only kind in existence in Japan.
The Association’s activities include exchange of professional and industry information among members, collection and dissemination of interpreting-related information, events, outreach and other social initiatives, and creation of text and video content, in order to educate interpreters and raise their social status.
Recruiting for (languages): English, Japanese Current Opportunities: Conference Interpreters Specialization: Interpretation
LAI Global Game Services is a full solution game localization, marketing and publishing firm providing a range of services to help developers publish their games and achieve success in global markets. LAI is headquartered in Silicon Valley with local offices in Beijing and Tokyo.
Recruiting for (languages): Japanese Current Opportunities: Summer TLM-related internship (Japanese preferred but students with other language combinations are also encouraged to apply), freelance opportunities Specialization: Translation, Localization, Localization Management
MediaLocate is a vibrant full-service localization company that provides creative multilingual solutions to businesses large and small. From Fortune 500 companies to start-ups positioned to enter the global marketplace, they offer scalable language services to their growing list of corporate clients in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Recruiting for (languages): None specified Current Opportunities: None specified Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization, Localization Management
Menlo Technologies is a global computer technology services company specializing in cloud integration, data analytics, and mobile technology. They have built strategic partnerships with top-tier pioneers in the tech industry including Microsoft, Dell Boomi, and Looker. Their global delivery model for IT solutions provides a framework for exceeding customer expectations in all dimensions – quantity, time and cost.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, English, French, German ,Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Localization Editors, Multi-Lingual Linguists, Marketing Writers Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization, Localization Management
Monterey Language Services is committed to bridging the world’s languages by providing quality, professional and efficient translation & interpretation services in over 175 languages. Their expertise includes translation quality, translation processes, project management, and multilingual computing technology. Based on many years of experience in managing translation projects, they have developed new methods, and proprietary technologies to streamline their processes and make life easier for their customers. With Monterey Language Services customers can count on getting high-quality results with minimal effort on their part.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Freelance Translator, Freelance Interpreter, Office and Project Assistant Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization, Localization Management
Morningside Translations is a leading provider of Foreign Language Solutions, such as translation, interpreting, and IP Services. Morningside Translations is the fastest growing major language service provider in North America and one of the largest intellectual property translation companies in the world. Specializing in patent, life sciences, and legal translations where accuracy and subject matter expertise are paramount, Morningside provides ISO 9001 and 13485-certified translations into more than 150 languages and offers end-to-end technology-enabled translation, localization, and multimedia solutions.
Morningside is the trusted partner to thousands of organizations including Fortune 500 companies, Am Law 200 firms, and international regulatory bodies. Headquartered in New York City, Morningside has offices across the globe in San Francisco, Hamburg, London, and Jerusalem.
Recruiting for (languages): French, German, Japanese Current Opportunities: Two English into French in-house linguists, two English into German in-house linguists, one Japanese Team Lead Specialization: Translation
Mother Tongue helps global brands speak their customers’ language. They operate from hubs in London, Los Angeles and Singapore, with an international project management team that’s united by a love of language and a can-do attitude. With a global network of in-market talent, they provide round-the-clock access to expert trans-creation, translation, insight and content origination services.
Recruiting for (languages): None specified Current Opportunities: Summer 2020 Intern and a full-time localization account manager to start Summer 2020 Specialization: Localization Management
The Mount Sinai Health System provides compassionate patient care with seamless coordination and advanced medicine through unrivaled education, research, and outreach in the many diverse communities we serve. When you join us, you become part of Mount Sinai’s unrivaled record of achievement, education, and advancement as we revolutionize medicine together.
Recruiting for (languages): None specified Current Opportunities: None specified Specialization: Localization Management
Established in 2000, Netmarble has thrived as one of the top mobile game companies on the global scene with the sole purpose of providing players with an epic gaming experience. More than 3,500 Netmarble employees at the main office located in Seoul, Korea and 7 overseas offices have dedicated their passion and love for games into each and every Netmarble title.
Recruiting for (languages): English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Korean Localization Management, Korean Translator, Korean-English Proofreader, German/French/Portuguese/Russian/Castilian Spanish Translators /Proofreaders Specialization: Translation, Localization, Localization Management
Nimdzi Insights is a market research and international consulting company made up of analysts, consultants, LSP experts, and researchers, all connected with one united goal: helping their clients succeed. They provide partners with insights for the language services industry through rigorous market research, expert consulting, and all levels of training. Clients are buyers, suppliers, governments, universities, and all others interested in promoting international growth.
Recruiting for (languages): None specified Current Opportunities: WordPress Content Coordinator Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization, Localization Management
SDL is the global leader and innovator in language and content management solutions. For over 25 years, SDL has helped companies communicate with confidence and deliver transformative business results by enabling powerful experiences that engage customers across multiple touchpoints, all strengthened by their human expertise and machine learning technology.
Today SDL is enabling companies to create, translate and deliver relevant and personalized content to support meaningful customer journeys and form important emotional connections by making understanding possible. The world’s biggest brands trust SDL’s expertise in digital content management and language translation.
Recruiting for (languages): None specified Current Opportunities: Project Management Interns for Summer 2020 Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization, Localization Management
SOSi was founded as a language company, and it is one of the largest providers of cleared and professional linguists across the federal government. Since 1989, they have successfully performed language interpretation and translation projects in over 250 languages and dialects at locations in every state and around the world.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Immigrant Court Interpreter, Refugee and Asylum Applicant Interpretation Services, Cultural Advisor and Linguist, Linguistic Manager, and more Specialization: Translation, Localization
At Stanford Children’s Health, they know world-renowned care begins with world-class caring. That’s why they combine advanced technologies and breakthrough discoveries with family-centered care. It’s why they provide their caregivers with continuing education and state-of-the-art facilities, like the newly remodeled Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. And it’s why they need caring, committed people on our team – like you. Join them on our mission to heal humanity, one child and family at a time.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, Spanish Current Opportunities: Full-time and Part-time Mandarin and Spanish medical interpreter/translator positions Specialization: Translation, Interpretation
Stanford Health Care in the Stanford University Medical Center is ranked by US News among the top 10 Hospitals nationally and is well known for having one of the best programs in medical interpretation and translation in the world.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Chinese, Russian, Spanish: Regular (set schedule with benefits) and Relief (per diem) Specialization: Translation, Interpretation
Founded in 2005, Supertext ranked among the top 100 European technology start-ups as early as 2008. More than 3,300 companies use their online services. Not only can they order and manage their copywriting and translation projects online, they also benefit from the company’s technical expertise and intelligent use of translation memories, termbases, and online workflow integration. Today, over 70 full-time members of staff coordinate the work of more than 1,500 copywriters, proofreaders and translators for national and international clients from all industries. Supertext takes care of more than 3,000 projects every month and is one of the most innovative global language service providers.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Current Opportunities: Linguists (freelance, all languages), Project Manager (Berlin), Language Manager (Berlin/Zurich) Specialization: Translation, Localization, Localization Management
Translation By Design was founded in 2005 by their president, Sandra DeLay, with the goal of providing expert language translation support to legal professionals. From the most significant international litigations, to pro bono matters that might otherwise not be heard, they are humbled every day to have the opportunity to serve those who ensure justice is done.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, Japanese, Spanish Current Opportunities: Freelance translation and interpretation professionals Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization ,Localization Management
For more than 25 years, TransPerfect has provided comprehensive language and technology solutions to help our clients communicate and conduct business more effectively in a global marketplace. Equipped with a quality management system certified to both the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17100:2015 standards, TransPerfect provides a full array of language and business support services, including translation, interpretation, multicultural marketing, website globalization, subtitling, voiceovers, staffing services, e-learning and training, and legal support services.
TransPerfect also offers a suite of next-generation technologies that significantly reduce costs and improve consistency throughout the translation process, making TransPerfect the vendor of choice for the world’s leading multinationals.
The U.S. Department of State is the Federal government’s leading foreign affairs agency that works to shape and sustain a peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic world and fosters conditions for stability and progress for the benefit of the American people and people everywhere. Their employees have diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, global perspectives, depth of knowledge, and technical skills, along with exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities. They are champions of American diplomacy, using their knowledge and experience in everything from architecture to engineering and technology to medicine to achieve success as they serve with integrity and professionalism.
Recruiting for (languages): Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish Current Opportunities: Consular Fellows Program Specialization: Translation, Interpretation, Localization, Localization Management
The PCT Translation Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) organizes a Fellowship Program for assistant terminologists, translators, technical specialists, and translation technologists, with the aim of providing on-the-job experience at an international organization. WIPO is now accepting applications for the 2020 edition of the Program.
This is my article that was published in January 2019 by China Bridge and Language Services China 40, two China-based think tanks focusing on the future of foreign language education and language services.
我在拿到会议口译硕士学位以后进入语言服务界，工作了25年以后于三年前回到位于加州蒙特雷的母校Middlebury Institute of International Studies担任职业生涯规划老师。我所著手的第一件工作就是和每位学生面谈，了解他们职业生涯的目标。我很快的就发现到80%以上的学生都说他们要到联合国做口译，而且这是不分语种、中外皆同。这让我既纳闷又担心。能够为联合国服务当然是值得推崇的目标，但是不应是唯一的选择。联合国不是每年都招人，即使招人，所需的人数也少，另外并不是每个学生都适合做口译，最重要的是外面的世界这么大，语言服务业的机会这么多，怎么这些学生口径一致的全要到联合国？更让我哭笑不得的是：就连自己语种并非联合国官方语言的学生也认为自己最好的出路就是进联合国。
我意识到外语学生对于自己职业生涯的定义似乎过度狭隘，凡是和理工或商业沾上边的工作不是认为自己力有未逮就是不屑一顾，过犹不及非常可惜。我于是开始去探究美国大学对语言教学及学生职业出路的过去、现在及未来。现代语言协会（Modern Language Association) 在2007年的一份报告中指出，美国大学外语教学多是透过语言教育建立学生进入核心课程的基础，核心课程则是偏重于文学和研究。语言能力是进入人文殿堂的工具。我接下来所反省的是：
人文教育对社会的贡献是无庸置疑的。正如朱振武教授所说的：「有技术不等于有知识，有知识不等于有文化，有文化不等于有思想。」我认为教育和技术训练在本质上是不同的。对于思想的提升是教育殿堂以内和以外都应该致力去推广的。现代语言协会指出，美国的外语学生之中只有6.1%继续深造取得博士学位，跟随着教授的典范继续开发新的知识领域和作育英才。我要问：其他93.9%的学生前途在那里？我们在辩论外语是否应保留其人文性或是市场化和工具化时，我们针对的是学生还是教授？如果是针对学生的话那么我们针对的是那6.1%的学生还是那93.9%的学生？我们是不是能够在教育（正如朱振武教授所说的）「有思想的人、有理论建树的人、解决人类重大基础问题的人」的同时也帮助热爱外语但选择其他职业生涯的年轻人为社会做出最大的贡献？我认为是可以的。 此外，我们希望大学毕业生能够成为独立的个体，独立性应是全方位的，应该包括思想、行为、及经济独立。如果我们接受这种思维方式的话，那么教育界对毕业生经济独立的能力责无旁贷。以美国为例，从1989年到2016年，平均的工资增长了10%，但是大学四年教育的费用却增长了98%，大学生很多是靠贷款完成学业的，平均负债额是USD$25,000。如果再念硕士学位，毕业时身上背负的是超过十万美元的债务，他们的就业和出路是十分迫切的问题。 根据Common Sense Advisory的报告，2017年全球语言服务外包的市场达四百五十亿美元（USD$45 Billion), 而且预测会继续增长，其中一半的市场会在美国。外语人才就业的机会是很丰富且多元的，但是有两个难点：
Amy Liu (MATLM 2019) is going to intern at Linguitronics in Shanghai this summer. She shares what she has learned from her job search process in this posting.
*How did you find your job/internship?
That is a long story, but I will try my best to keep it short. Last year, I went to LocWorld 35 in Santa Clara as a volunteer. I met the manager from Linguitronics, an LSP from Shanghai and Taiwan. When I started to look fora summer internship, I contacted them and asked for an internship opportunity. It turned out they would not only offer me this internship as Localization Project Manager, but also sponsor me for round-trip air tickets and accommodations in Shanghai.
*What experiences at MIIS helped?
I have to say that I have benefited so much from MIIS. For instances, MIIS’ good reputation, career advertising, professional training, and so on. My first year’s immersive learning experience has piqued my interests and my curiosity drives me to ask questions in each information session, both on and off campus. Those conferences that were recommended by our professors are well-worth going. As for career advising, I think the Career Map that I completed during the New Student Orientation has definitely helped to crystalize my goals and approaches. I had several coaching sessions with my Advisor, Winnie Heh, about how to become confident in interviews and how to negotiate with interviewers. And this eventually led me to taking the course, The Art of Negotiation. Thanks to the techniques and skills I learned from that class, I got such a good deal for my internship in Shanghai.
*What advice would you share with MIIS students?
My experience here is just that I announced out loud that I needed a summer internship when I started looking. I reached out to everyone that I knew and asked for any possible opportunity. Not many classmates get what they wanted in the beginning, but so many have landed an internship before this semester ended. Maybe the advice I want to share with my fellow students is: keep trying. After all, if you never try, you will never know.
CatherineRose Mountain (MATLM ‘18) interned at Salesforce in summer of 2017. In this post, she shares how she landed her internship. I am pleased to share that she is going to start working for Pinterest after graduation. Congratulations, CatherineRose for your accomplishments. Thank you for paying it forward by sharing your learnings.
*How did you find your job/internship?
An email about the position was sent to all TLM students and the hiring manager also came to MIIS to do a presentation about the internship and Salesforce. I applied online and went through several rounds of interviews.
*What experiences at MIIS helped?
My Career Advisor did a mock interview with me to help me prepare and gave me specific feedback on where I could improve, which made a big difference. I also felt well-prepared to hit the ground running after the first year in the TLM program – I understood the logic behind the workflows and knew how to anticipate potential problems thanks to my training at MIIS. I was glad that I had some experience with InDesign from Multilingual Desktop Publishing (taught by Max Troyer), and since I was working in the marketing department at Salesforce, I found what we learned in Marketing for Localizers (taught by Adam Wooten) very relevant. The International SEO workshop in that class (taught by Chris Raulf) even prompted me to learn more about SEO and related digital marketing topics as part of my internship.
*What advice would you share with MIIS students?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is to be open – there is always something new to learn.
Johnathan Sokol interned at Donnelley Language Solutions’ new office in Montreal, Canada in summer of 2017. As we approach the 2018 TILM Career Fair, his story may give you some inspiration.
*How did you find your job/internship?
– I spoke with career advisor Winnie Heh about the upcoming career fair for tips about which companies would be present and looking to hire summer interns. Winnie provided me with some company names and I did some basic research on the ones that looked the most promising. In my research, I noticed that Donnelley Financial Solutions had a new office in Montéal, Canada, which is an intriguing destination for a French>English Translation student such as myself! At the career fair, I gave my résumé to the Donnelley recruiter and inquired about a possible opportunity in Montréal. The Donnelley recruiter said that she was only recruiting for the New York office, but would like to speak with me in an interview. In the interview, she said that the Montréal office was brand new and never had an intern before, but that it was a very interesting idea! A couple months later, I received an e-mail from Donnelley’s Canadian HR department offering me the “Project Coordinator Intern” position for the summer.
*What experiences at MIIS helped (career management course, career fair, individual career advice, the MIIS network, coursework, class project, immersive learning experiences)?
– Several MIIS resources led to the realization of this opportunity. First, my discussion with career advisor Winnie Heh led me to the research that enabled me to impress the recruiter with the idea to bring an intern to the Montréal office. Then, the MIIS career fair led to a discussion with a Donnelley recruiter that led to an in-person interview later that afternoon. Finally, in the interview, a short discussion pertaining to my TLM coursework convinced the recruiter that I had the proper background for this internship.
*What advice would you share with MIIS students?
– If possible, schedule a quick meeting with Winnie/your career advisor before big events such as a career fair or conference for tips. Do some basic research on companies before contacting them so you can impress them with knowledge of a new office or changes in the company. Also, don’t be afraid to inquire about possibilities that don’t exist (yet!). If you can connect the company with something that you’re looking for in an internship, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they can make something new.
Alex Alyakrinskiy graduated from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) with an MA degree in Translation and Localization Management (English-Russian) in spring of 2017. Prior to coming to MIIS, he worked as Localization Project Manager at a small LSP in Palo Alto. Alex is currently a Localization Program Manager at Fitbit in San Francisco.
*How did you find your job?
I started looking for a job four months prior to graduation. After several interviews, I landed a part-time job at a startup which allowed me the flexibility to work remotely and finish graduate school. That experience gave me an understanding of localization stakeholders which in turn helped with my full-time job search. I always wanted to combine my passion for sports, healthcare and foreign languages. As soon as I saw a job opening at Fitbit on LinkedIn I applied right away. I was hired after four rounds of interviews.
*What experiences at MIIS helped?
It goes without saying that understanding the industry plays a key role in successful employment. The localization industry is very dynamic and multi-faceted—there is something in it for everyone. Working with my MIIS career advisors Winnie Heh and Lee Desser helped to shape my resume and highlight my professional goals. Attending localization meetups and networking events such as IMUG and SF Globalization helped me to understand the versatility of our industry and align my interests and skills with opportunities in the field.
The TLM program provided a solid foundation in the latest localization tools and technical skills so valued today. I didn’t realize how closely marketing is connected to localization until I took Adam Wooten’s Marketing for Localization course. The skills I gained in that class furthered my understanding of international markets, establishing liaisons with marketing stakeholders and addressing global product launches. The Localization Practicum was a detailed hands-on class that showed the value of team work and provided the latest industry best practices which I use on daily basis at Fitbit.
*What advice would you share with MIIS students?
“There is always room for improvement. Keep networking, update your resume religiously and constantly work on yourself.” I heard that advice from a MIIS career advisor. It turned out to be the best advice I received. Looking for a job is a full-time job. Study hard, absorb new skills and try to get as much practical experience as possible. We all have different personalities and temperaments, which brings diversity and enriches every workplace. Stay true to yourself, network and establish genuine connections that will lead you to your perfect career.
Riddhi Desai is a Certified Public Accountant from the State of New York. She worked for top consulting firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP and Deloitte, LLP prior to coming to MIIS to pursue a degree in Translation (English – Japanese). She landed translation projects on equity research with Shared Research Inc. in summer 2017. According to the company’s website, they “offer corporate clients comprehensive report coverage, a service that allows them to better inform investors and other stakeholders by presenting a continuously updated third-party view of business fundamentals, independent of investment biases.” This offered a great opportunity for Riddhi to leverage her financial and language training. Here is her path to this opportunity.
*How did you find your job/internship?
After several rounds of lengthy translation tests with a certain company from the career fair, communication fizzled out. By that point, my other classmates had secured wonderful internships and I was feeling like a failure in comparison. In a moment of utter desperation, I remembered a company I’d heard about that specialized in equity research translation, the field in which I’m most interested. Unfortunately, like most companies in this field, they weren’t advertising anywhere about recruiting, nor did they have any job postings. I found their general recruiting address online, and cold-emailed them explaining my background asking if they were in need of freelancers. I hadn’t expected anyone to reply, but they did!
*What experiences at MIIS helped (career management course, career fair, individual career advice, the MIIS network, coursework, class project, immersive learning experiences)?
When I was feeling down after the fiasco with the previous company, talking with Winnie Heh, my Career Adviser, really helped. She reminded me that I could choose to either mope about things, or pick myself up and start again. I’d also first heard about Shared Research from a couple of MIIS professors who knew I had an interest in equity research.
*What advice would you share with MIIS students?
The job search isn’t over until you stop searching. If a path to an internship doesn’t present itself to you, carve your own. Even when the situation is dire, don’t give up!
Prior to coming to MIIS, Francis obtained a B.A. in Russian Language and Literature from the National Chengchi University in Taiwan and an MBA from Warsaw University in Poland. She had worked at a Taiwanese-based multinational company for 5 years as a Project Coordinator and Cost Manager before returning to school to pursue her passion for languages.
*How did you find your job?
I found my internship opportunity at the MIIS Career Fair in February of 2016 and became a summer intern at the Star Group office in Thailand for two months in the summer of 2016.
In February, 2017, I received the offer from the same office and moved to Bangkok in July, 2017.
*What experiences at MIIS helped?
With a career management course, career advising sessions, and two major Career Fairs, I was pushed to think about my career early on and prepare for it. Along with the challenging academic programs and strong support network (great people!), I became more confident in job-hunting, which would have otherwise been a daunting task.
*What advice would you share with MIIS students?
Think about a career early on, explore the resources available at MIIS (and beyond) and strive for what really interests you. Do not be discouraged if you make mistakes because these two years of study, in such an encouraging environment, are supposed to be a great time to get to know yourself and make friends for life.
