How to Create a Great Translation Portfolio

Creating a great portfolio must be the first step of every translator’s career. However, not many of them are aware of this miracle that we call portfolio. A portfolio can increase your clients and give you that much needed push to jumpstart your career. When you apply for a job, the client is not going to take your word for your talent, he would need a proof that you can actually translate well and be an asset to him. This is where your portfolio comes in. Either that, or you can write him a free sample that you spend hours over to make sure that it is good enough to get you the job.

Do not get me wrong, there are plenty of translators who have made their portfolios. But only 25% of them are able to make something that impressed their clients. They had to either redo their portfolio or they are asked to provide a sample anyway. When you are making a portfolio, you need to make it right, or else it will not have the impact that you are hoping to get from it.

So how can you create a great translation portfolio that will guaranteed get you a place in a translation service providing company? Well, we have made a check list of things that you must have in your portfolio. It does not matter if it is an e-portfolio or a traditional one, it should have the below mentioned things.

Target Your Market

Your portfolio must target a specific market. This is what makes your brand. You will have to have an audience in your mind, along with a market of course, and then put your previously translated material in it. If you have multiple expert areas, it is always suggested that you create different portfolios for each industry. For example, if you offer translation services in the automotive industry and chemical industry, then you must create one portfolio for automotive clients and one for your chemical industry clients.

Be Concise, Be Smart

You do not want to make a too long portfolio. Your portfolio is meant to be short and concentrated on your best works. So choose wisely, you only need to put in your best works. Also, put your best work first.

Sort Your Portfolio

You must always mention what was the source language and the target language of your sample translations. Plus, you must also mention what type of service you provided. Was it document translation or legal translation? Remember to mention that in every sample.

The Appearance of Your Portfolio

I really shouldn’t have to mention this because we all know the importance of presentation. The way you present your portfolio will reflect on you and your services. If it is all thrown together, it will not look good. Your translation portfolio should be pleasing to the eye, but not unprofessional. I would recommend that you mention both the source and target language in the portfolio, and put everything in two columns because it will increase the readability of the portfolio. You must also limit the length of the sample. The sample should be of 250 words maximum.

Choose Relevant Samples

Make sure that the sample you choose must have something to attract the attention of the client. For example, if you did a project with a lot of technical terms or jargon, you must put that in your portfolio.

Keep Copyright in Mind

Make sure that the translation sample you put in the portfolio does not have any copyright issues. Just make sure that the sample does not have anything sensitive or company’s confidential data in it and you will be good to go.

Related Blogs

French Language Variations and Dialects: A Comprehensive Guide For Brands

When you translate to or from the French language, considering linguistic distinctions and dialects, it’s not as simple as translating

Accessing Scope of Certified Translation Services in Medical Analysis

As you know that in this age of development science is captivating in every field. In the same way medical

Certified Translation Services Help Optimizing Key Structures of Medical Claims

Medical claims are one of the insightful progresses. You can save your time and get to the treatment as soon

Certified Translation Services in Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia, and the largest metropolis of the Arab country. Boasting of a population of

Certified Translation Services in Jeddah

Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea, is a modern commercial hub of trade and commerce. Equipped

Certified Translation Services in Khobar

Khobar (also known as Al-Khobar) is a city located in the Eastern Province of the oil-rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Certified Translation Services in Bangalore

Bangalore, officially known as Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka, the southern Indian state of India. Having a huge population

Certified Translation Services in Pune

Pune, also known as Puna, is the second largest city in the west-central Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the

Certified Translation Services in Mumbai

Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) is the largest city of India and a cosmopolitan metropolis. Located on India’s west coast,

How to Create a Great Translation Portfolio

Target Your Market

Be Concise, Be Smart

Sort Your Portfolio

The Appearance of Your Portfolio

Choose Relevant Samples

Keep Copyright in Mind

Related Blogs

What We Do

Resources

Mars Translation Blog

FREE TOOLS

Support