The document provides tips for how to become a successful translator, including identifying who can be a translator, how to start, pricing expectations, necessary tools and skills, and realities of working as a translator in practice. It recommends freelancers look for translation work by contacting 100 offices and publishers, complete test translations, and work to build references over time. Success requires meeting deadlines with precise, correct translations while managing a large workload. While offering flexibility, the job requires sitting at a computer and following clients' schedules with potentially irregular pay on 30-60 day cycles after completing translations.

1. How to be a translator? Practical tips By Monokné Müller Andrea

2. My office

3. Let’s balance! Who are you? How to start? How to be successful? How is it in practice? Stand out from the crowd

4. Who can be a translator? Possible: A freelancer Manager type Home-sitting type Talented in writing Feel calling Excellent computer knowledge Fast typing Saved money for months Impossible: Without invoice Employer type Outgoing type No interest in writing No calling Basic computer knowledge Slow typing Without saved money

5. How to start? Look for 100 translation offices, publishers or direct potentials. Send letters or e-mails to all of them. Do not give up if only 10 answer and you get only 2 orders. Do a lot of short test translations to be accepted. Look for other 100 offices, later go back to the previous ones with references.

6. Price? Ideal 10-12 Ft/word or 2 Ft/letter In practice it is its half. 2000 words pro day is ideal, in practice it is its triple or more. – Work all day, from morning till night. Danger of not being paid. Deadline is above all. Never accept a work without having looked at it.

7. Help? Translator memory programs – a must Trados SDLX (800 €) Transit (800 €) Translation Office 3000 A lot of types of dictionaries on PC A good monitor, a comfortable armchair A work-mate, who can always help

8. How to be successful? Only with correct, precise work Deadline must be kept Good self-management Huge workload in short time (min. 15-20 pages a day)

9. In practice Advantages: You think you are free Various work themes Good payment Creative job More and more need to translation More possibilities abroad Disadvantages: You are said when to work You always sit in front of a PC Not regular payment, 30-60 days after fulfilment Serve an aim, according to rules You need a certificate for translation

10. Scary? If not, welcome to the company of translators.