Where to find polish/english translation work in london or surrounding area?

my friend is mother-tongue bilingual in english and polish. he is a US citizen but also has a polish passport. if he was to move to london on a short-term basis, how easy would it be for him to find work as a translator or interpreter? what's the average pay for this kind of work? are there any suggested agencies to visit? do you need to be qualified as a translator? he has a masters degree in english and is studying for a phd. all advice appreciated, thanks.

Where to find polish/english translation work in london or surrounding area?
Only about 5% of the translation market is inhouse these days. The only realistic option for translators these days is to go freelance. With the advent of the Internet and email, your location as a translator is no longer important; I work for people in various parts of the world without walking out of the door. Rates range from £0.04 to 0.07 per word if working through agencies, but starting out without qualifications you should look at the lower range of pay.





Interpreting is rather different. It obviously helps to be nearby (interpreters often charge per mile travelled too). You can find agencies on Proz.com, GoTranslators.com, and even yellow pages. Prices range from £50 to £150 per hour. Also try police stations and social services in the area; they often need interpreters. Language Line are also a large-scale agency that are a quick but expensive option for clients.





You don't have to be qualified but it helps. Contrary to popular belief, translation is not as simple as being bilingual. Speakers of more than one language work in completely separate language systems, translation is a different skill that involves converting one to the other and still making it sound natural and retaining the original meaning, with the prevalent problem of non-equivalence of terms and syntax; which is why machine translators will never replace human translators.
Reply:It is rather diffiicult to find any interpreting/translation Polish/English jobs here in UK. The usual requirements are a degree in the above profession and additional skills like admin/PA/secretary etc...


I have been searching for months for such opportunities as am bilingual as well....still no luck. Obviously, it does not mean you won't succeed, but I wanted to emphasise it is not an easy job.


Try browsing web for such jobs and may be you will come across something.





There is a website, which gathers freelancers :


http://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/PopS...





have a look. maybe you will consider doing your profile there.


All the best.
Reply:Try contacting local government agencies, especially Social Services and Job Seekers as they often employ bi-lingual speakers to act as translators. You could also register with a reputable agency, one I know of outside London is Choice-Group.com who specialise in placing translators. You may also want to try contacting local volunteer groups as they may be able to put you in touch with people that want to employ an interpreter/translator on an adhoc basis.
Reply:town halls often have a translation unit also police and hospitals. find out the council contacts, the divisional police address and the primary care trusts for your area online
Reply:Any building site!!
Reply:Have you tried Ealing Broadway? Every other shop is run by Polish people, and there's a few language schools knocking about the place!
Reply:Do on broadway. cheap and quick. also if u no anyone who does it 1 to 1 is good.