Your Starter for Ten

Here is a little list of the 10 best things I’ve done since I decided to launch a freelance career in the UK, more or less in order of importance. You might find it useful (then again, you might not):

1. An MA in translating - it answered a lot of the questions I had asked myself about how translation works, (amazingly enough I wasn't the only person to have wondered about these things…) and improved my chances of getting decently paid jobs

2. Become an Associate of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, ITI, - a professional association working toward due recognition of our line of work and even Chartered Status - offers sound information and support

3. Go to the Association of Translation Companies conference in London this year – some excellent presentations and up to date info on what the Translation industry is up to (more about that later)

4. Join the ITI Peer Support Group – where experienced translation professionals help advise new freelancers on how to launch their careers

5. Do the free local Income Tax Office (HMCR) course on “becoming self-employed” – provides all the info you need on record keeping, tax obligations, National Insurance payments and the other dull but necessary stuff

6. Go to a free Business Start Up event at the Excel Centre, London, lots of hype and unnecessary tripe, but also some sound advice on launching your own business

7. I’ve been sat here for half an hour and I just can’t think of a number seven

8. Join ProZ (with some reservations) – has a lot of good elements, a questionable bid for jobs system, but a vibrant and active community of translators and interpreters

9. Make a website – looks professional to potential new employers, holds more information than any CV (you can look at it if you like on www.griffin-mason.co.uk)

10. Do this blog – I’m enjoying this!