Bilingual jobs from home

theMD_2

Hello, everyone

I'm quite new on the boards so not "in" on all the best mse deals/places etc. I was wondering, if anyone could think of any opportunities for a bilingual person (me) to earn extra income.

I am fluent in 2 languages (know a 3rd but not as well). I have done academic and general translating work before (still help friends out, everyone has been very happy with the quality of my work) but have no degree in the field. All the translating jobs obviously want that.

I will be grateful for any ideas.

mizzbiz

theMD wrote: »

Hello, everyone

I'm quite new on the boards so not "in" on all the best mse deals/places etc. I was wondering, if anyone could think of any opportunities for a bilingual person (me) to earn extra income.

I am fluent in 2 languages (know a 3rd but not as well). I have done academic and general translating work before (still help friends out, everyone has been very happy with the quality of my work) but have no degree in the field. All the translating jobs obviously want that.

I will be grateful for any ideas.

Have you tried people per hour? There are translation jobs posted every day on there - things like translating websites, ebooks etc. What languages do you speak?

theMD_2

mizzbiz,
Thank you for responding. I am registered on people per hour (a few days ago) and the first couple of jobs I saw required a degree, maybe I was just put off by that I speak/read/write in Latvian, Russian and English.

paulofessex

Have you looked at 'Language Line' not sure if they need degree's etc. It is also phone service you can do from home. Also l wonder if getting some cards printed and leave them with Doctor surgeries Health Centres around your area. Also try your local social services offices as they are always looking for ways to save money. Language Line can charge anything from £20-25 per A4 written translation. the Housing department at your local council is also a good one to try.
Perhaps get some A5 leaflets printed advertising your services written in both English and the lanaguages you speak and put them on notice boards in libraries, GP surgies as you may get lativan/Russian speaking people willing to pay you to translate for them. You could enquire at your local police station

A tip for you from one who knows...if you start translating for Lativan/Russian people l would make it a clear ground rule that you keep it strictly business otherwise they will start phoning you on your mobile getting/expecting you to do translations ad hoc for free.

I think its just getting yourself known, once you do that you hopefully will find yourself really busy.

theMD_2

Thank you, lots of good information there!

Just wondering (because of what you said about setting boundaries) if you've had any bad experiences with these 2 nationalities?

paulofessex

Sorry, my post didn't mean to sound as it reads, the same applies to any non english speakers. If boundaires are not set they see you as a friend and will phone when they are at the chemist for example trying to get the staff to understand what it is they want and before you know it the phone rings non-stop and you end up translating for free.

vax2002

Funny how they only speak English in the post office where they cash giro's...

theMD_2

vax2002 - surely, no conversation required there!

yolandaz

Hi,

I've been using proz.com for some years now for getting some additional income. You can create a free profile and bid for translation work, it's worth trying.

Yolandaz