[popprincess]

Hi! I have recently graduated from a Russell University with a 2.1 hons degree in French, German and Italian. I am also currently doing a masters (also language related) I have always loved languages, and thats why i chose to study them at uni, and i always felt that speaking several langs would be an advantage when it comes to applying for jobs. Soooo... i am now thinking about job applications and i'm finding it difficult to know what career would suit me best. Whilst i think languages is the best degree out there (lol) if there is one negative point i would make about doing a language degree, it would be that i don't feel i have enough background knowledge in anything! I feel like i have to find my niche all over again! Everything seems so competetive! Atm I am considering finance/banking (I understand that you do not necessarily need a degree in finance/economics to enter into this field) I have also considered law (for this i would need to do a conversion course and i dont think i can study anymore after finishing my masters lol-plus im not sure how well i would do at it, it would be expensive and even if i got it, i still might not actually manage to secure a training contract etc) If anyone has any ideas/advice/suggestions/input i would rly appreciate it!

[PinkMobilePhone]

translator

[popprincess]

sorry, i forget to mention- other than teacher, translator or interpreter!

[PinkMobilePhone]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask why did you take a language degree if you have ruled out the three main language careers?

[popprincess]

i chose langs because thats what i was good at in school and i wanted to study something i rly enjoy at university. Also, i might not have done as well if i had studied something else. BUT, i dont want to be a teacher, translator or interpreter. I want to use my ability in languages to find another career. Apparently, languages are supposed to be a huge advantage when it comes to applying for jobs. But the prob is deciding what i want to do!!

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by PinkMobilePhone)
translator

I really don't know why everyone says this. In my experience you often need a degree in translation nowadays as well although it's not always the case.

[popprincess]

My masters is actually in translation and interpreting but i dont want to do translation as a career i just did it to get a masters in something!

[.Scout.]

(Original post by PinkMobilePhone)
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask why did you take a language degree if you have ruled out the three main language careers?

I study languages as part of my degree and I've never had the intention of becoming a teacher, translator or interpreter...there are plenty of other career options for us, you know.

[PinkMobilePhone]

(Original post by .Scout.)
I study languages as part of my degree and I've never had the intention of becoming a teacher, translator or interpreter...there are plenty of other career options for us, you know.

okay...so maybe suggest some for the OP then

[jonnythemoose]

(Original post by PinkMobilePhone)
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask why did you take a language degree if you have ruled out the three main language careers?

I take it you haven't met many language graduates...

[jonnythemoose]

(Original post by popprincess)
My masters is actually in translation and interpreting but i dont want to do translation as a career i just did it to get a masters in something!

bloody hell - how do you have the money to? You're doing the exam same Master's I want to do but I don't have the money!

[The Polymath]

(Original post by hannah_dru)
I really don't know why everyone says this. In my experience you often need a degree in translation nowadays as well although it's not always the case.

Do you mean a postgrad in translation or do bachelor's in translation exist too? Can't you work your way up? There must be places in the EU/UN where you can start as a junior translator or something

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by Junaid96)
Do you mean a postgrad in translation or do bachelor's in translation exist too? Can't you work your way up? There must be places in the EU/UN where you can start as a junior translator or something

I mean any form of degree involving Translation Studies. I did a Bsc which isn't much different. I guess it depends on whether you work for a company or go freelance. Most companies seem to have requirements in terms of qualifications and experience and from what I hear from my freelance friends, even that is difficult in terms of building a clientele base.

[The Polymath]

(Original post by hannah_dru)
I mean any form of degree involving Translation Studies. I did a Bsc which isn't much different. I guess it depends on whether you work for a company or go freelance. Most companies seem to have requirements in terms of qualifications and experience and from what I hear from my freelance friends, even that is difficult in terms of building a clientele base.

Oh right, so if a Cambridge degree (which is what I'm applying for, fingers crossed xD) has modules like "Translation into and from German" etc. that'll be fine? All Oxbridge degrees are BAs by the way

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by Junaid96)
Oh right, so if a Cambridge degree (which is what I'm applying for, fingers crossed xD) has modules like "Translation into and from German" etc. that'll be fine? All Oxbridge degrees are BAs by the way

That depends on company policy again. Some are quite strict and say they want a degree in TS only and some just say modern foreign languages. Both places I've been have stated they wanted a degree in TS and the company I'm at now said they would only take people who had experience in the industry.

[The Polymath]

(Original post by hannah_dru)
That depends on company policy again. Some are quite strict and say they want a degree in TS only and some just say modern foreign languages. Both places I've been have stated they wanted a degree in TS and the company I'm at now said they would only take people who had experience in the industry.

Danke

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by Junaid96)
Danke

No problem

[The Polymath]

(Original post by hannah_dru)
No problem

*kein Problem

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by Junaid96)
*kein Problem

You can't post in a foreign language outside of specific places
I'm off duty anyway

[The Polymath]

(Original post by hannah_dru)
You can't post in a foreign language outside of specific places
I'm off duty anyway

You know when you're translating, do you cover all areas?
Like, would you be able to translate assembly instructions (like "place the screw on top of the bolt, twist twice, place horizontally underneath main chassis" etc.)
Or plumbing ("the radiator needs to be placed next to the conductor coil") etc.

It seems like if you grow up with a language, you cover so much in 18 years of everyday life - more than you'll ever cover as an adult, because you just don't experience that kind of breadth again unless you raise a child and go to school with them