Episode 31: Google+ tips for translators – Interview with Sebastian Haselbeck
10/27/2014Episode 32: The latest SEO tips for translator websites – Interview with Anne Diamantidis
11/10/2014
Tips to get the most out of a conference
Do you recognize yourself with the following scenario? You are quite a busy translator. You might even have a family and lots of bills to pay. In fact, some months it is hard to make ends meet, both when it comes to money and time. Attending an industry conference only seems like a dream.
This person was me about ten years ago when I had been a freelance translator for a bit more than a year. But I decided to attend the national translation conference that year, despite the huge investment it was for me. I was hungry for more information and to meet other people doing what I was doing. I am so glad I went! The investment paid off within a few months, and I have been going to this conference ever since. Now when I hear other translators saying they cannot afford to attend a translator conference, or do not have time to attend, I try to make them see how valuable conferences for translators are.
Why you should attend a translation conference
- Attending a conference in your field can bring back the passion you have for your job.
- Being a freelance translator can be quite a lonely job but at a conference you meet so many people that do exactly what you do and understand what you do.
- You will find out what the trends in the industry are and where there is room for improvement.
- You will attend sessions that will stimulate your personal and professional growth and improve your chances for success.
- You will meet the gurus in your field, perhaps even talk to them and gain valuable insight on their journey to the top.
- You will meet potential clients. I remember coming home from my first conference with five new clients, which in itself paid for the conference.
- You will get to know colleagues that you can collaborate with.
Attending a conference is one of the most fun and accessible opportunities to breathe new life into your job, to develop new skills and move toward a more successful future. So how can you afford not to attend? That is my question!
In this month’s Marketing Tips for Translators newsletter you get a checklist for how to make the most out of attending a translation conference and I hope to see you at a translation conference soon, perhaps even next week? I am in conference mood since I am leaving for the annual American Translators Associations annual conference in Chicago, where I will meet more than 1,500 other people just like you and me.
5 Comments
Hi Tess,
I agree with you 100%. Though I have attended various conferences and trade shows in my specialist fields, I had never gone to a translators’ conference until I was invited to speak to one such conference last year in Germany.
It is also true that I decided to go because by discussing with other colleagues, some of them planned to attend the conference too. Therefore it was less daunting and intimidating because we went there together. I appreciated the event because there were approximately 200 translators to attend only. It was therefore easier to get to know each other.
And in the end I have experienced the following points you mentioned above: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7.
Now I’m looking forward to attending the second edition of this conference in October 2015.
Eric
[…] can sometimes be distilled into a single word 10 Unusual Nature Words We Should Use More Often Can you afford not to attend a translation conference? 10th Mediterranean Editors & Translators Meeting The introvert’s guide to translator […]
I find it frustrating that there are so many good conferences across the globe that I am forced to miss many of them. Indeed, in a 5-week period from mid March to the end of April, there are at least 3 major conferences, including the ITI one in Newcastle (England), which I am going to attend.
I warmly encourage conference organisers to stream their sessions (or at least record them live), so that more colleagues can tune in. That way, the conference, the speakers and the sponsors can extend their reach, and the event can make more money (I would gladly pay to watch sessions from home – it would save me a packet on flights, accommodation and disruption to work).
I’m sure that brains like Marta, Valeria, Attila, Rose, Aurora et al. can do it. Let’s make it happen!
Hi Oliver,
I feel the same way. So many conferences, so little time and resources. I could literally attend conferences 4 months a year. However, for me it is an advantage when many of them are clustered together in the spring, especially the ones in Europe, since I can attend several of them when I come over. Looking forward to meeting you in Newcastle Oliver.
Hi Tess, yes it’ll be a pleasure to meet you, too :). It looks like a very promising event.