For some reason, I am good at imitating people.

I remember as a child driving with my family to go see great-uncle Plácido who lived in the cute little town of Orocovis, Puerto Rico. His wife, Panchita, had a very peculiar way of speech. Her intonation was squeaky and very memorable–at least to me–and it was always a treat for my family to hear me talk like her.  To this day, they still ask me to talk like aunt Panchita when I go down to visit! My kids and husband get a kick out of my observant nature; even one of my daughters has become a mini-me. You can’t deny those genes!

Even though my keen abilities to observe and imitate people may seem null and inconsequential, I believe they have greatly helped me in the translation field. For example, it’s been almost a year since I decided to become a professional translator, and during this time I have followed and learned from many successful and highly recognized translation professionals. I have closely watched how these renowned translators operate and connect with their audience, and have also observed how they have placed themselves in a position of respect and value.  And even though the thought of watching people so closely may seem creepy for some, it is by far one of my favorite ways to stay on track and keep moving uphill.

So, after much observing and following, I’ve found there are four core skills well-established translators seem to evenly excel on: language(s), writing, specialization(s), and business skills.   

When it comes to language skills, many people feel bilingualism is the key to a successful career in translation. But there is a problem with this statement. There are many different definitions and perceptions of what a bilingual person is, and this fact makes it difficult to trust that a person who is bilingual can also be good at translating.  But one thing I have learned for sure–successful translators have a strong command of both their source and target language(s). This statement is very important as this is a core skill that sometimes is not given the importance that it deserves. Having a balanced, native-like understanding of the language(s) you work with is crucial. For example, if your language skills are strong in your target language, but are not so great in your source language, such an imbalance will have an impact in your productivity and motivation. Likewise, if your target language skills are weak and you are not lucky enough to live in the country where your target language is spoken, that could present a problem and create stress and frustration.

Writing skills go hand in hand with language skills; it is the one core skill that can be improved with practice, but cannot be acquired from scratch. In other words, many translators are great writers by nature, and although I do believe writing skills can be enhanced through study and practice, our individual natural abilities play a role in the extent of our improvement. If they didn’t, anyone could become a pro and turn into an amazing writer (or the next Messi!) at anything he/she wants through study and practice. I think it is safe to say that if you are an excellent writer in your native language, those skills will easily carry over to your target or source language. But if you struggle with your writing in your native language, you will most likely struggle in your other languages as well. But, as I mentioned, it is a skill that can be greatly improved through much practice and dedication.

One of the things that was hard for me to establish from the get-go was my specialization. I enjoyed a variety of topics and didn’t have a preference for any—until recently. I had an opportunity to bid on a project for an advertising agency, and was fortunate to get the job.  From this experience, I learned that charging on a per project basis can be more lucrative than traditional pay-per-word translations. I also discovered that I was good at translating highly creative material, which inspired me to learn more about transcreation and offer a new specialty.  So, picking a specialty will always work in your favor. It is a way to set learning boundaries that will eventually make translation within the specialty more familiar and easier, increasing your productivity.

Now, let’s talk about business skills. I know, I know…who knew that this one would be one of the four core skills, but there is no way to go around it. Business skills entail many things—listening and speaking abilities, setting up your own business website, developing a marketing plan for contacting potential clients, being consistent with follow-up methods, contracts and invoicing, dealing with difficult clients, staying active in social media, and the list can go on.

To make it as a translator, you must learn to function in the business world, and for many translators, this is not an easy task. Most translators are good with words, but not so great in the business and marketing department. If you are a translator who wants nothing to do with the business aspect of translation, then working for agencies would be your best bet. But if your goal is to be more than just the average translator, you should do a bit more than just wishing for the best. You must put yourself out there for people to know about you.

I love to follow Corinne McKay and her blog, Thoughts on Translation. I treasure her dedication and the wisdom she is always willing to share. Through her posts I have become acquainted with her language skills, her writing style, and her business etiquette. But most importantly, I have seen how, through hard work and dedication, she continues to implement these four core skills daily, becoming one of the most well-known and recognized translators in the industry. And like her, there are many translators out there who can be our inspiration to continue to try a little harder, and to reach a little higher.

So, what’s the conclusion? When it comes to these core skills, we are all at different levels of development. But the key is to be true to ourselves and recognize which areas are in major need of improvement. If your language skills are a bit rusty in your target language, establishing a rescue plan to solidify your target language skills is vital. Likewise, if your writing skills are not at their best, signing up for a writing course, starting a blog and writing regularly, or having another translator proofread your blog posts are excellent ideas for improvement. The key is to have a plan and to be focused enough to act upon it.

Think about a translator who you truly admire. What do you like about him/her? What are his/her strengths? What are some strategies he/she implements that you have not tried yet? There is nothing wrong with being a little creepy and closely observing those we look up to. It may just be the inspiration that we need to shake us a little and get us to try harder.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to become an observer, just like me?