Careers in Localization

Careers in localization

Denise Spacinsky

As a career advisor in the language industry, I works and information from one language (the source) to another (the target) in a timely manner. Linguists who work in translating spend a lot of time looking at résumés. Résumés, written text are required to interface with various tools and tech- if written correctly, can tell a lot about someone. nologies that support the translation process, such as translation Along with experience and length of service in memory (TM), translation workfow tools and other computer- A aided translation (CAT) tools. Interpreters are responsible for various roles, I am always sure to take a peek at interpreting between languages for spoken presentations, con- what education and training someone has had. versations or other verbal exchanges. They may interpret onsite, over the phone or simultaneously for conferences or events. I am a big fan of education and school in general. Taking Linguists must possess an aptitude for language and global extra courses, even while we are working, helps us keep up-to- cultures in their specialization. Sensitivity to nuance and con- date on current trends in our feld and supports better perfor- textual meaning is important. Strong communication skills, mance in our jobs. Educational programs can get us ready for attention to detail and precision are a must in translation work. advancement, or help us transition to another job altogether. If translating written text, a translator will spend every day When I coach people and see that they are planning to move in front of a computer converting text from one language to to something new, I like to be sure that they know what kind another so the translator must be comfortable with tools and of job they really want before they start to move in a particular technology as well as be able to concentrate and focus for long direction. This is doubly important to know before someone periods of time. When interpreting verbally, over the phone or invests in educational programs. A job may sound inviting, simultaneously through a service, interpreters must be highly but until it is really understood what the day-to-day tasks and fexible and knowledgeable in various subjects. They have to responsibilities will be like, we can risk going for something work to refne the skill of translating verbally on the spot, in that didn’t appeal to us much in the frst place. real time. Domain knowledge in a certain feld of expertise will To this end, here is a brief summary of the different kinds make a linguist marketable and specialized. of jobs in the language industry, and the core skill sets and responsibilities that each require. There are various educational Technical roles and training programs that can go along with each position. The language industry has a strong technical component, as information and content is developed in a wide range of digital Linguistics formats. From software to documentation to websites to devices As the core of the language industry, linguistic professionals and various other technical products and platforms, any content provide direct translation from language to language for any requiring translation needs to be managed specially in the transla- content that their clients require. Many people who start in a tion or localization process. linguistics-based role either have a natural bilingual or multilingual background and have studied for many years to make their talent in languages marketable to clients who need their services. Linguists fall into several different job categories or roles in the language industry, such as interpreters, translators, editors or proofreaders. Denise Spacinsky is principal at Localization Career Linguists may work on an independent, freelance basis or be Advisors with over 15 years of experience in the employed by either a language service provider (LSP) or client language industry. She mentors professionals and company. They are generally responsible for translating textual executives in career planning and transition.

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Technical roles require specialization patibility, design for text expansion and them, work with translation and localiza- in several, if not all, major technical soft- so on) be addressed in advance at the tion tools and help execute all necessary ware development platforms. Additionally, beginning of development. This position preparation of the fles for translation. expertise in translation-related technolo- is separate from a localization engineer, When fles are translated, they recompile gies is a must. There are several technical though a localization engineer may be the fles in any development format or roles in the language industry and each responsible for internationalization. An system for reintegration into the fnal discipline has coursework that comple- internationalization engineer is most localized product. They work with local- ments the various levels of responsibility. often a consultant, provided by an LSP ization QA to verify and fx errors. And Localization quality assurance (QA) or company specializing in this area, but they collaborate with client development professionals are responsible for quality, sometimes is a member of an LSP local- and localization teams as necessary. functionality and precision of a fnished ization engineering team or occasionally At a client company, localization engi- technical product. They craft and perform in a client company. neers work as an integrated member of a test plans before a fnal product is released Skills that successful internationaliza- development team to ensure that localiza- to fush out any errors or defaults. They tion engineers must possess include a solid tion happens seamlessly. They alert the work closely with development, engi- understanding of software and technology development teams of necessary localiza- neering and localization teams in their product development, coding and various tion requirements, receive fles and special process. These positions exist both at LSP technical development languages, and the instructions on development and get to companies as well as client companies. A ability to identify fags for international- know the product that is being developed localization QA professional must have an ization issues. They need to have a strong inside and out. They may work with an exceptional attention to detail, systematic comfort level working with technical engi- LSP company and their engineering team approach to working in a unifed fashion neers in software, technology development to answer questions and facilitate the and strong technical expertise. He or she and localization engineering. Clear com- technical aspect of the overall process. must possess the ability to concentrate for munication and the ability to teach and Both LSP and client localization engi- long periods of time. inform peer groups and management of neers must have an exceptionally high The primary role of an international- this area of expertise is important. knowledge of development technologies ization engineer, on the other hand, is to A localization engineer works directly that they are working with and how they have all technology products developed with any product, document, website play into the localization process. They in a way that facilitates and considers or device that requires translation. too must be able to integrate various localization and translation processes At an LSP, localization engineers will localization and translation tools such as and requirements. These individuals be responsible for many things. They TM, translation workfow tools and other work closely with developers on a code assess fles for quoting localization and CAT tools. level to be sure that anything that affects translation work. They dictate how fles Now let’s look at the solutions archi- the success of localization (date/time for localization be received by the cli- tect, a higher level technology profes- formats, Unicode compliance, font com- ent company. They take in fles, process sional who works with development teams, clients and sales people in an LSP to craft complex solutions for localization. His or her skill set needs to be a bal- ance of technical aptitude, client relations and people skills. Strong communication and the ability to give presentations to decision makers and groups are a must in these roles. Solutions architect positions are usually held by people who have several years of localization engineering experience and can speak and advise on a wide range of topics. A solutions architect is generally uniquely an LSP position, providing a form of technical, expert level consultation to a program or initiative requiring translation or localization. A solutions architect, at times, may also be considered similar to a localization strategist in the context of a client company. Skills that successful solutions architects must possess include a solid understanding of software and technology product development, no matter the client and what they are building. Furthermore,

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solutions architect positions require a frm Start as a… Transition to… understanding of the localization process at that particular LSP, so they can assess Linguist Project manager, localization QA (linguistic), or start a business and recommend the best path forward to and become a small business owner a client. They will also have to possess Project manager Senior project manager, operations manager, procurement excellent communication and presentation manager, solutions architect or strategist skills, a high comfort level in working with Vendor manager HR, recruitment or manager of HR/recruitment decision makers and be the go-to person to solve challenging technical puzzles. Localization QA Localization engineer, internationalization engineer Finally, a technical manager handles a Localization engineer Technical manager or solutions architect technical team consisting of localization engineers, internationalization engineers, Operations manager Executive or strategist localization QA professionals and solutions architects. This person ensures that Sales executive Senior sales executive, sales manager or executive all requirements for localization are met by assigning teams, resources, budget Table 1: There is a natural progression to job advancement. and expertise to any given project at any given time. For the purposes of this article, execu- in a global context. He or she must have Technical managers in localization tive signifes anyone who holds a high- expertise in professional business and exist both at client companies and LSPs. level management position at an LSP, technical services. Executives must know At a client company, technical managers or who holds any C-level position (CEO, just enough about the language industry may be responsible for several develop- COO or other). An executive is someone to be credible, but possess all executive ment departments, with localization as who has overarching responsibility for leadership skills to pay attention to the part of it. They will need to work with management of a language company. bottom line and fnancial proftability. the wider management organization to An executive establishes the general They must know how to optimize invest- ensure proper and adequate resourc- direction of an organization, sets the tone ment in technology, innovation, resources ing with regard to budget, headcount, and objectives that the larger organization and people to do everything that their time allowances and other management must meet to ensure success and make business requires. Strong skills in pre- responsibilities. They work to support decisions that affect the bottom line of senting, motivating and representing an that everything related to localization an organization. In the language industry, organization publicly are essential. success is in place and available for the which is a niche professional service, there An operations manager may also be teams to achieve their goals. are other skills that are especially impor- referred to as department manager, pro- Technical managers at an LSP will tant. An executive must be completely duction manager or group manager. The run the entire technical department comfortable working across cultures and operations manager is responsible for a of localization engineers, internationalization engineers, localization QA professionals and solutions architects to perform all technical functions to | SolutionS for Sdl languagee WorkerSW support client assignments. Similar to client-side technical managers, they www.quickterm.at - www.kaleidoscope.at focus on budget, resourcing and time allocations to ensure the success of their teams. Important skill sets of the technical manger include solid people management expertise coupled with technical expertise. A technical manager only has credibility from a technical team if he or she has actually been an engineer in the past and has a strong knowledge of the complexities of technology. cORpORATEAT TERM MANAGEMENTENT Business roles TAkE MULTiTERM TO ThE cOLLAbORATivE wEb 3.0 Language industry services are, of course, business oriented as well as tech- wORdS iN REcORd TiME nology oriented. It is most commonly described as a professional services indus- WEB POWER FOR YOUR CAT TOOLS try, though a tangible product is being delivered at the end of the day. To that end, there are several business functions that wORdS iN REcORd TiME AppROvALS MAdE EASY TURN QUERiES SOLUTiONS fOR help facilitate the business of language. iNTO kNOwLEdGE LANGUAGE wORkERS

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Degrees Some examples Applicable for General Localization Degree Programs Monterey Institute, project manager, operations manager (MA, MBA or other) Localization Management Programs Translation Degree Programs Kent State, Applied Linguistics Programs linguist Localization Engineering Degree University of Limerick, MS in Localization localization QA, internationalization engineer, Programs Engineering localization engineer, solutions architect Localisation Resource Centre Technical Management Degree Penn State, Master of Engineering Management localization engineer, technical manager Programs (MS) International Executive MBA Thunderbird International Programs, operations manager, executive Programs TRIUM EMBA

Certifcations Some examples Applicable for Localization Certifcation Monterey Institute, Localization Management project manager, operations manager, Programs localization engineer Localization Project Management Localization Institute Project Management project manager Certifcation Certifcation Project Management Certifcation Project Management Institute – Project project manager Management Professional (PMP) Quality Certifcation Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) by ASQ localization quality assurance (QA) Certifed Quality Technician (CQT) by ASQ Quality Management in Localization by TAUS Recruiter Certifcation AIRS Recruiter Certifcation vendor managers Executive Programs Executive Certifcate in Web Globalization operations manager, executive Management — St Louis

Practical learning - Resources Some examples Applicable for Translation tools and technology Localization Institute online workshops, localization engineer, localization QA, project Cattools.org manager, technical manager, solutions architect, strategist, linguist

Online training and seminars GALA online seminars localization engineer, localization QA, — general project manager, technical manager, solutions architect, strategist

Online training and seminars Proz.com linguist, project manager — linguists Negotiation Harvard Business School — Executive Program on procurement manager, project manager, Negotiation operations manager, executive

Sales CustomerCentric Selling, Sales Performance sales executive, solutions architect International — Solution Selling Franklin Covey — Presentation Advantage Dale Carnegie — High Impact Presentations

Table 2: Examples of educational resources for the localization industry.

team of specialists and professionals to These people assign resources, approve require translation or localization. They get work completed on time, on budget timelines and work with executive teams understand what needs to be translated or and with excellent quality. An operations to ensure that all work gets done as prom- localized, organize the appropriate vendor manager requires general people manage- ised to partners or clients. They may have and internal resources, and also create a ment and development skills, must know worked their way up through an organi- schedule, timeline and associated budget. how to recruit and retain talent, take zation from project management or were They work along the way to be sure every- ownership of budgets and other admin- trained managers from the beginning. thing is delivered on time and on budget. istrative responsibilities and keep work Project managers are in charge of the They track and resolve issues, work with fowing throughout an organization. execution of all the different projects that developers and various departments to be

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Multilingual Documentation Localization Management and E-learning DTP 2014 IMIA Conference on Medical Interpreting in 8 Languages Digiworkers is a highly effective, specialized including Portuguese multilingual and multicultural desktop publishing January 16-19, 2014 at the Royal Sonesta company with production facilities in Argentina. Hotel, Houston, Texas. What is localization? We provide a full range of business solutions: Medical interpreter education: The gateway to It is the process of modifying a text which is • Typesetting the future! Register now! Best rates are available connected to a product or service to be offered on • Website localization until December 31, 2013. You do not want to the global market. miss this opportunity! • Online education How is it different from translation? • Multimedia localization • 48 Workshops • IMIA Boot Camps Students in this program have strong linguistic We believe in responsive and personalized • Pre-Conference Workshops and translation skills, but also have an interest in service. We focus on your strategic communica- • Industry Speakers business administration and project management. tion needs and we understand that your success • Panels depends on our commitment to quality. Earn a master's degree in translation and • Networking localization management or an MBA with a Digiworkers can help you integrate your brand • Earn CEUs specialization in localization management. across platforms to help you compete in the Register now! www.imiaweb.org/ global economy. conferences/2014conference.asp Monterey Institute of Digiworkers IMIA International Studies Illinois, USA • Rosario, Argentina Boston, Massachusetts Monterey, California [email protected] • www.digiworkers.com [email protected] • www.imiaweb.org [email protected] • go.miis.edu/localization

sure that everything they are responsible and natural motivation are required here. ity in language requirements and needs for works out as planned. They usually Sales executive positions are uniquely LSP someone to focus on making that orga- report to an operations manager. positions, as LSPs — by defnition — provide nization as effcient as possible. A strate- A project manager needs to have language services to larger companies. gist is tasked with looking for the newest excellent communication skills and the Someone in a sales executive position language technologies, fnding ways to ability to work with people ranging from in the language industry would do best optimize the translation or localization those in management to linguists to engi- enhancing his or her skills in selling profes- process, and creating vendor and pricing neers to clients and others. Organizational sional services, as opposed to selling things. strategies that create effcient and effec- skill, managing complexity and being Furthermore, there will be higher success tive vendor and LSP relationships with the able to keep track of several moving parts for someone who knows how to sell tech- company. They are generally tasked with at once are essential. Financial budgeting nical professional services versus services making everything in the translation or skills are required, as well as the ability to from another industry, such as fnancial localization process go faster, cheaper and negotiate and persuade people to do what or medical services. There is a strong focus better, year over year. is needed. Project managers are at both on “relationship” selling, which means A procurement manager is a client- LSP and client companies. that sales executives must learn how to side position, and is responsible for ser- A sales executive, on the other hand, is get to know their clients, what their client vices agreements between the company responsible for fnding clients for a company challenges and needs are, and what the and its LSPs. A procurement manager and bringing in revenue. Sales executive solutions are. This is in contrast to other only really exists at large companies, as positions require excellent communication sales positions that focus on cold calling, smaller or medium sized companies that skills, possess the ability to identify new meeting numbers and closing deals — that need language services may just negotiate business opportunities, make contact with has to be done as well, but in the context of with business owners or executives. decision makers, demonstrate the abilities a larger relationship-building effort. A procurement manager must have of the company or service organization they A strategist position is somewhat like a excellent negotiation skills, be able to craft represent and land business. A big part of a solutions architect position, but at a client detailed pricing strategies and form legal sales position is being consistently proac- company. If a company has a localization agreements with legal professionals. They are tive to continually generate new business or globalization strategist, it means that generally sold to by sales executives, along and form relationships. Resiliency, focus the organization has a lot of complex- with company translation or localization

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department heads, so they require discern- that may be more specifc, and potentially Another valuable way to use educa- ment in decision making. They will likely signify a level of seniority. For example, a tion is to transition from one profes- deal with the request for proposal/request project manager as defned herein could sional discipline to another. If you like for quotation process, billing, pricing and easily have a title of senior website local- being in the language industry, and have terms negotiation over all. ization program manager or translation done a particular job for a while, it’s pos- A vendor manager is the person at an project coordinator. A sales executive sible that you may want to do something LSP who forms relationships with third could have the title of business develop- new altogether. One clear way to that party partners, like linguists and con- ment manager, life sciences or lead gener- change is to learn the specifc skills that tractor organizations. ator, inside sales. A localization QA person the target position requires. A vendor manager is responsible for could be titled Korean language QA tester Whether looking to enhance a current sourcing and recruiting various pro- or linguistic verifcation engineer. skill set for a present position, or add to fessionals and specialists, testing and what you know through training and qualifying these vendor resources, and Considering education education to apply for a new position or maintaining up-to-date contact records for career advancement career path, Table 2 is a compiled sample with these vendor individuals or compa- Many people consider education when set of educational resources in the indus- nies in order to call on them when their looking to advance to another level in try. These programs, be they degree pro- skills are required. A vendor manager is their existing career path. In the language grams, certifcations or general learning akin to a human resources recruiter, but industry, there is a general natural pro- resources, can provide information that with a specialization. gression from one role to the next, as is directly applicable to specifc roles in All these job titles and descriptions are shown in Table 1. Of course, there are no the language industry. offered with the intention to serve as a hard and fast rules on this, but there are This is by no means an exhaustive list, broad example of the kinds of roles in the trends and tendencies as I’ve seen in my but serves as a sample to provide ideas language industry. There are several titles years in recruiting and advising people in and inspiration for educational programs used for each of the various functions their careers. applicable to the work we do. M

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