Master 30 Translator interview questions covering language proficiency, cultural nuance, and accuracy standards.
Question 4 of 30
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Clara is a career coaching expert and has supported individuals landing positions in education, non-profit, corporate, and beyond.
Responding to this question can take you down any number of paths. You could reference a text early in your career, one that is very culturally specific and unfamiliar, or one with complex content and jargon. Whichever you choose, be sure to explain why it was difficult at the time, what you did to successfully complete the translation, and what you've learned from it and done since. The interviewers are looking for a growth-oriented mindset in response to this question, so be sure to include those steps.
Clara is a career coaching expert and has supported individuals landing positions in education, non-profit, corporate, and beyond.
"The most challenging text I've translated was an excerpt from Land Girls by Angela Huth. It was one of my first ever translations, and it was from English to French - native to non-native. Even though the Source Text was in English, I had no familiarity with the content, the region, or the time period. I felt like I was in completely uncharted territory. I had to begin the process of learning how to immerse myself in research to make meaning of the unfamiliar. At the time, feeling like I had to invent the wheel for myself was very challenging. As a result of this experience and several more since, I now feel far more comfort and ease translating similarly unfamiliar texts."
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Written by Clara Canon
30 Questions & Answers • Translator
By Clara
By Clara