The Next Generation of Translators

I teach in an MA program in literary translation. Every year, students come in, expecting that once they have their MAs, they will be able to work full-time as translators of poetry or plays or whatever else. Every year, a number of students come in, sneering at people who translate users’ manuals or cookbooks or financial reports and vowing never to be one of them.

I suppose I see part of my job as informing students about the market for literary translation and about being realistic with them. An MA in literary translation will help them, of course, but it will not automatically enable them to support themselves by translating novels. Very few people – even well established, highly talented translators – can live off their literary translation work.

I also point out to my students that many people combine literary translation with other kinds of translation or with teaching or editing or research or work in the charity sector or work at banks and so on. I tell them how stimulating I personally find it to combine different types of translation and how it helps improve my language skills and my translation skills and also teaches me about new topics.

Most of the time, the students are definitely not convinced. Maybe it’s because they’re young (for the most part) and idealistic and think that everything can and will just be handed to them. Maybe they genuinely think they are too good for anything but translating song lyrics and memoirs. Maybe they don’t want to think about the fact that they will have to work hard in order to have a career in translation. Maybe they don’t have any money worries and have relatives who will support them as they translate short stories. Maybe there’s something else going on.

Of course I feel a bit hurt and shocked at the way they mock anything other than literary translation (one student actually said, “I would never lower myself to translate cookbooks!” even after I had mentioned how many cookbooks I have translated). But more importantly, I worry about what will happen when these students go out into the “real world”, armed with their MAs in literary translation, expecting to be able to support themselves on such work. I try to give them hints about how to improve their chances, and I organize talks with the Careers Centre on campus, and I talk to the students about practical matters such as writing a CV, networking, building a website, signing up with agencies, getting mentoring, and so on. So I try to do the best I can as a teacher and fellow translator.

But some students are resistant and only want to talk about translation theory. Some yawn as I suggest book fairs they might want to attend and how they can exchange business cards with editors and publishers. Some even criticize me, saying that I am negative and make them worry about what will happen next. So it’s a matter of trying to gently be realistic with them, to the best of my ability, hoping something that will sink in, while also continuing to encourage them.

What tips do you have for working with the next generation of translators?

Interview Tips, Part 3

This is the final post in my series of interview tips. This one focuses on the interview itself along with some general final advice.

Interview tips

--I have been surprised at the way some candidates interrupt interviewers and start answering questions before they’ve completely heard the questions. Sometimes that leads to interviewees offering different information than was asked for. It’s also downright rude to interrupt.

--Take notes while people are asking questions. Sometimes you get double or even triple questions disguised as one and it’s easy to lose track. A candidate might start answering one question and then forget what the others were. Write brief notes to yourself about what you are being asked and also about what you might like to say in response. That’s much preferred to having the candidate say, “I’m sorry, but I forgot what your other question was.”

--Prepare answers to typical questions. Don’t look shocked when you’re asked questions such as “Why have you applied to this job?” or “Where do you see yourself in 5 (or 10 or 20) years?” or “What classes or programs do we teach that you might like to be part of?” or “How does your writing/translation work fit into our department?” You should expect questions along those lines and be prepared to answer them fairly smoothly, without sounding unsure of yourself. Look at books on interview techniques and ready yourself to answer the most common interview questions.

--Look at each panel member as you talk, making eye contact with each one in turn. Do not focus on one or two members and ignore the rest. Although that can happen when someone’s nervous, it can be disconcerting to be stared at by the speaker.

--Pay attention to the subtle signals the panel members are giving you when interviewing you. They may be nodding to show you’ve said enough and that they’re ready to move on, or they may look bored or distracted. Don’t keep rambling on if you suspect that they’ve heard enough; finish your statement and silence yourself, awaiting the next question. I’ve been in a number of interviews where the candidates talk on and on, repeating themselves, giving more or different information than requested, and boring the panel, even though a panel member might have tried to signal to the candidate that we were ready to go to the next topic. Displaying a lack of attention to people’s body language says something about how you might behave in the classroom.

--Don’t talk about things other than what you were asked. Candidates understandably try to get a lot of details into their answers and to subtly show off, but try not to do too much of it or to go too off track. Especially don’t discuss personal details such as your recent holiday, your partner/spouse and/or children, your maternity/paternity leave, your health, how much money you spent to come to the interview, your political views, or other such things; those topics are usually irrelevant to the question at hand. Again, panel members might worry about your conduct in the classroom if you appear to be an “over-sharer”.

--Don’t sound frustrated if you are asked something in more than one way or if you have to repeat information you included in your covering letter or CV or presentation. Not everyone has read or seen everything you’ve provided and also some questions are standards and must be asked of every candidate regardless of whether the candidate also gave the information elsewhere. Don’t say, “Well, as I already told you...” or “As you will have seen from my CV...” Simply give the information requested.

--Show you’ve done research about the place. Mention what you’ve learned from perusing the website or other publications. Name people you’ve had contact with. Show that you haven’t just applied to any old job at any old employer – you want this job with these people at this place. Prove it. Some of the best candidates have said things such as, “I noticed that you offer a course on X. That’s something that I’d really like to be part of because...” or “I first learned about your university when I met Dr. X at a conference. She told me...” or “You don’t yet offer an MA-level course in X, but I thought I could develop that because...” This shows initiative.

--On the other hand, don’t show off any negative research you’ve done. I was interviewing possible interns for our translation center and I was shocked by how many of the interns criticized us, sometimes by mentioning a typo in one of our publications (typos happen to the best of us, I’m afraid), or by saying they would do something better than they thought we did at the moment, or by quoting someone they knew who didn’t like an event we ran. None of this is appropriate. It’s great to offer suggestions for activities you might like to be involved in and for contributions you’d plan to make, but don’t make your potential employer look or feel stupid. It’s just common sense.

--Have some questions for us in turn. Prepare a few questions about the university as a whole, the specific department, the students, and/or the research/writing/translation work done there. Don’t ask for information that is available on the website, such as how many students there are or what classes we teach. Also, don’t ask about when you might receive a sabbatical or tenure, because that makes you seem as though you feel entitled to the job and to various perquisites already. Show an interest, but don’t overdo it.

--When you are thanked and dismissed, thank the panel in return for their time, and immediately leave. I’ve seen candidates stay on, awkwardly making small talk or asking more questions. The panel most likely has a very strict schedule that they need to keep to and once your interview is over, they don’t have more time to chat.

Final notes

Many of these tips might seem very obvious, but over and over again I’ve seen candidates do the complete opposite of what would actually serve them best. After their interviews, the panel has exchanged looks that meant, “That was awful. Let’s hope the next one is better.” That’s not the impression you want to leave the interview panel with.

The tips offered here can be boiled down to: be clean and neat, polite, well-organized, and well-prepared. That won’t guarantee that you get the job, but it will help you stay in the running. And since many of us who write and translate want or need another job as well, anything you can do to make yourself more appealing as a candidate can help.

Interview Tips, Part 2

This post continues on from the last one, with more interview tips. This one focuses on the presentation, which is your opportunity to describe your writing/translation work/research to a captive audience.

Presentation tips

--Make sure your presentation reflects the brief you’ve been given. If you were asked to discuss your research or publications, as is common in academic interviews, do that. Don’t simply recite a list of your publications or grants and don’t talk about your teaching or administrative experience. If we have things we want to ask you about those topics, we will do that during the interview. The presentation is a chance for you show your enthusiasm for your subjects and to teach us about them; in other words, we learn about your writing/research and your teaching style by listening to you. Make the most of the opportunity.

--Do not give a handout and then just read from it, or put words on your PowerPoint and then read from them. The screen or handout should be adding to your presentation rather than being a useless extra. It’s also really boring to sit there, listening to someone read aloud from a sheet of paper. Use the handout or the screen for key points or quotes, not for the entire thing.

--Practice your presentation in advance. It’s very awkward to sit while someone struggles for words or appears not to have any idea what to say. Be very well prepared; just as you might prepare for a reading from your work, prepare for your presentation.

--Along the same lines, time yourself. If you’ve been given 15 minutes to talk, that doesn’t mean 10 and it doesn’t mean 20. It means 15. Use your time well and fully.

--If you have books or other items you want to bring as props to illustrate your talk, that is fine, as long as they don’t take away from what you are saying. Pass them around during the question session, not during the presentation itself, or they will distract your audience.

--Listen to questions and comments from the audience completely and respectfully before answering them. I’ve seen candidates get annoyed when someone has misunderstood or questioned an aspect of their presentation. They then interrupt, sigh, roll their eyes, or otherwise show their irritation. This behavior tells us how you might treat a confused student or colleague.

--Don’t be afraid to admit to ignorance when responding to a question. Many people try to bluff their way through difficult questions, but it actually is much more professional to say, “Thank you for mentioning that author. I haven’t heard of her book, but I’ll look for it...” or “Actually, I never thought about the topic from the perspective you’re proposing. Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll have to think more about it...”

--Thank your listeners for their time and their questions and comments.

Interview Tips, Part 1

As spring is approaching, that means interview season is closing in (at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere). Even if many writers, editors, translators, and teachers work freelance or work with “parallel careers” (i.e. they have a number of part-time jobs), interviews are still a part of what we do, especially in regard to teaching. And yet they are not something we often think about or prepare correctly for.

I’ve had the pleasure of being on a number of interview panels since starting work at the University of East Anglia in England and one of the things I’ve learned most from this experience is what to do – or not to do – at interviews and presentations. It’s amazing how a candidate’s behavior, appearance, and level of preparedness can completely change the minds of the panel; someone who sounds really appropriate on paper can come across as arrogant and hard to work with in person, while someone who sounds possible but not like the best choice can blow us away with his/her intelligence and enthusiasm. Since I have participated in interviews for jobs related to literature, writing, and translation, here I will offer tips that are particularly appropriate for people working in those fields, but the general ideas can be applied to many interview and presentation situations.

Since I have so many tips, I am going to divide them into three posts.

General tips

--Wear clothes that actually fit you. Too often I’ve seen people come in wearing shirts that gap, showing off their bellies or breasts, or trousers that are too tight, offering a view of a camel toe or the outline of underpants, or that otherwise don’t fit. Don’t just trudge out your interview outfit the night before the interview; try it on days in advance and go purchase something new if necessary. People get an impression of you right away and you don’t want to make your interviewers embarrassed by the sight of too much flesh. It’s just unprofessional.

--Similarly, wear clothes that are clean and neat. I’ve been astonished to see people come in wearing stained or hole-ridden sweaters or trousers; it just suggests that they don’t care too much about their appearance, which makes the panel wonder what else they don’t care about. You may wear those clothes when writing at home, but don’t wear them to the interview. Also, if you have a presentation one day and the interview the next, don’t wear the same outfit. It gives people the impression that you aren’t particularly clean.

--Jeans generally aren’t appropriate interview wear. You don’t have to come in a business suit if that’s not your style, but don’t wear sloppy, wrinkled, overly casual clothes either. If possible, spend a day on the campus/grounds before your interview and see what the staff members seem to wear, and then dress slightly better than that.

--Also, don’t wear any heavy colognes or perfumes. I work with several people with severe allergies and you don’t want to make the interview panel gasp for breath. You also don’t want to walk out of the room and leave the panel wishing for fresh air rather than wishing for you to join their department.

--In general, try to look like you take care of yourself. While we aren’t judging you on your looks, it can put us off if you have messy hair, an unshaven face (not that you have to be cleanly shaven, just that you shouldn’t have a day or two’s worth of shadow), bad breath, or too much make-up. Your look should reflect who you are, obviously, but also remember that you’re in a professional setting and should look fairly, well, professional.

--Be aware of any nervous habits you have – biting your nails, picking your nose, jiggling your foot, playing with your hair, and so on – and avoid doing them. It’s very distracting to people who are trying to listen to you. We sympathize with you because we know interviews are nerve-racking, but a key for you is to appear calm and confident.

Job at UEA

We are looking for a new lecturer in literature and translation at UEA. See this website for more details. Apply to come work with us!

Social Networking for Translators

Has anyone tried out social networking site for translators and translation agencies? Is it any better than facebook or other such sites?

For example, I’ve heard about Langmates, which describes itself as a “community of freelance and in-house translators, translation project managers, human resource managers, and other industry experts.” Is this useful at all?

Personally, I rely on repeat customers and word-of-mouth, so I don’t do much in the way of advertising or networking, but this could be helpful for translators who are just starting out.

Job in Translation

There is a one-semester vacancy in my department for a lecturer in literature and translation. It would be a great opportunity for a recent PhD graduate or for someone looking for more experience teaching literature and translation at the BA and MA levels.

Here is the info:

University of East Anglia
School of Literature and Creative Writing

LECTURER IN LITERATURE AND TRANSLATION
Ref: ATS420

£29,853 to £35,646 per annum

The School of Literature and Creative writing is hoping to recruit a Lecturer to cover for a colleague's study leave during the Spring Semester 2011 and the following summer period.

The Lectureship will involve teaching in the areas of Literature and Literary Translation, and will also include administrative and enterprise and engagement work relating to these areas.

This is a full time, fixed-term appointment available from 1 January 2011 to 31 August 2011.

Closing date: 12 noon on 15 October 2010

Further particulars and an application form can be obtained by calling (+44) 01603 593493.

Translation Jobs

Here is a site called Get Translation Jobs. Pretty self-explanatory!

Job in Translation

I thought some of you might be interested in applying for this job. I teach at the University of East Anglia, which is where the British Centre for Literary Translation is based, and part of my job involves working with the BCLT as well. The BCLT is currently looking for an interim director. Here are the details:

INTERIM DIRECTOR, BRITISH CENTRE FOR LITERARY TRANSLATION
Ref: ALC173

£37,839 to £43,840 per annum

The School of Literature and Creative Writing is looking to recruit an Interim Director to oversee and manage implementation of the Centre's 2010-11 plan, and to liaise with members of the School, especially those working in Literature and Translation, and with a number of external bodies. You should have a relevant postgraduate degree and experience of funding applications, arts administration and events management, as well as knowledge of the literary translation community in the UK and beyond.

This full-time, fixed term post is available from 1 October 2010 until 31 August 2011.

Closing date: 12 noon on 6 August 2010

Some Job Announcements

Here are a couple of interesting job announcements.

1. TWO LINES SENIOR EDITOR & LITERARY PROGRAMS MANAGER

The Center for the Art of Translation is a San Francisco-based non profit
promoting international literature and translation through programs in
publishing, education, and public events. The Center is currently seeking an
experienced Senior Editor & Literary Programs Manager for our Two Lines
publications program, which includes the annual Two Lines World Writing in
Translation anthology and the World Library series of regional anthologies.

The Two Lines Senior Editor & Literary Programs Manager will provide the
editorial and artistic vision for Two Lines publications and curate the
Center¹s Lit&Lunch event series, manage Two Lines staff and volunteers, and
will represent Two Lines externally and in strategic internal discussions
and decisions. This position reports to the Executive Director. The ideal
candidate will have at least five years experience of publishing/editorial
work, familiarity with international literature and literature in
translation, will have significant management and arts administration
experience, and will share enthusiasm and passion for the Center¹s mission.

The Senior Editor & Literary Programs Manager must be able to manage staff
and multiple projects from inception to completion with minimal direction or
oversight. This position will also coordinate shifting priorities, provide
regular reports to the Executive Director, and work effectively both leading
and working on a team.

Responsibilities include the following:

EDITORIAL: Oversee artistic vision, editorial planning and production of all
publications, including selecting guest editors, regions and/or languages
for World Library, soliciting and evaluating monographs for publication,
cultivating contacts within the publishing and translation fields,
evaluating annual anthology submissions, and editing and proofreading
introductions and translations. Provide editorial support on periodic grant
writing and fundraising materials.

LITERARY PROGRAMMING: Curate Lit&Lunch series and other events, including
event programming and annual publication party planning, act as artistic
spokesperson at all Center events, coordinate translation workshops and
other collaborative events and pursue partnerships and collaborations with
publishers, translators, and cultural institutions.

MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION: Manage Two Lines staff, volunteers, guest
editors, translators, language readers, and copyeditors and act as program
representative in staff and management meetings. Ensure tasks are
coordinated, schedules and budgets are maintained, and provide biweekly
reports. The Senior Editor & Literary Programs Manager will also develop a
process to build Two Lines supporters in the literary and translation
communities. Assist with research to identify potential grants and donors.

PRODUCTION: Oversee the production of all Two Lines titles, including the
production timeline, submissions guidelines and production procedures,
submission processing, copyright permissions, final proofreading and
editing, and book design.

DISTRIBUTION, MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS: Oversee distribution of all
publications and provide feedback and support to marketing staff to develop
and implement marketing and public relations plans for publications. Inform
Development Director of any potential funding leads or creative fundraising
ideas. Seek opportunities to raise awareness of and interest in Two Lines
publications, promote the Center and build connections with other
translation and literary organizations, act as a representative of the
Center and lead discussions and/or presentations at literary events, forums
and conferences (3-5 per year).

Qualifications

• Strong background (5+ years) in book publishing, particularly in a
management role

• Experience as a literary translator, editor of translation, or
director of a literary center

• Able to offer contacts within the publishing and translation
industries

• Enthusiasm and passion for the Center¹s mission

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills,
including editing and proofreading

• Strong organizational sense with a sharp eye for detail

• Ability to prioritize and follow up on activities in a timely manner

• Energetic, flexible and willing to learn

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, familiarity with the Mac environment
and excellent analytical skills

• Experience with FileMaker Pro a plus

This is a full-time position with an initial probationary period. The Center
is an equal opportunity employer and offers generous vacation package,
retirement plan and benefit stipend. Our office is located South of Market
in San Francisco near public transportation. To apply, please email
twolinesresume@yahoo.com with a resume and cover letter addressed to:

Erin Branagan
Acting Executive Director
Center for the Art of Translation
35 Stillman St., Suite 201
San Francisco, CA 94107
Web: www.catranslation.org

--
Olivia E. Sears, President
Center for the Art of Translation
e-mail: osears@catranslation.org
web: www.catranslation.org

The Center for the Art of Translation is a non-profit organization that
promotes international literature and translation through programs in the
arts, education, and community outreach.


2. I write as a member of the Education Committee for the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution (HLSI). We are looking for a tutor in contemporary literature in translation for the academic year 2010 to 2011 and I wondered if you would know anyone who might be interested in applying.

HLSI is a charity and apart from a professional librarian and office staff, it is run by volunteers. Among our many activities we run 26 classes for adults, mainly in the daytime. Our membership is mostly retired and highly educated, with a good general knowledge of literature. We would want someone for the complete academic year and fees are subject to negotiation. We find most people enjoy teaching here. At the moment we are running a course around the theme of ‘Writers on Writers’. We are aware that literature in translation, even narrowed down to the contemporary (postwar) period, is a huge subject and we would of course be flexible about specific themes or areas of the world in the interests of finding an excellent tutor.

HLSI is situated in the middle of Highgate village in North London, website www.hlsi.net. Apart from classes, we run art exhibitions, concerts and a programme of lectures. Our literature courses, which have a good following, take place on Wednesday afternoons between 2.30 and 4.30 in one of the Institution’s purpose-built classrooms. As we are a charity we have to work to limited budgets - our fees are around £35 per hour for each two hour session. There are two ten week terms in Autumn and Spring and a seven week term in the Summer.

Any interested applicant can simply email me (km.butler@yahoo.co.uk) with a CV which I can then forward to our Committee.

Mary Butler
km.butler@yahoo.co.uk