By Brigita Pudjodarminto
 
A Journey to Professionalism as a Freelance Translator and Entrepreneur
 
The talk given by Prof. Ioanna K. Daskalopoulou-Stamopoulou and other related videos provided by Modlingua sparked the flame that was almost dead inside me. Why is it so? Well, when I am looking back to my own long journey working as a freelance translator and later on being a professional and marking the step on entrepreneurship, in the early phase especially, I did not really prepare and armed myself with any sufficient knowledge, skill, technique, and ability. It was just as if going with the flows, a typical learning by doing freewill soul I was. So, let’s take a look back on my journey then!
 
I embarked on professional English to Indonesian/Javanese translation services in 1994 while I was working as an Indonesian Language Teacher at a language institution course in Yogyakarta. In the early stage, I generally translated from English into Indonesian or vice versa. The source texts mainly consisted of politics, international relationships, laws, social science, Oil and Gas, business, economics, history, academic papers, Questionnaires for Ph.D. Candidates and transcript, marketing, promotion and others, education, religions, languages, poetry, literature, arts and cultures to cooking.
 
The next phase was when I run my exporting business; I had to translate many international business contracts and agreements, international business letters and correspondence, marketing research, promotional materials, and trades. Then when I was working as an Executive Secretary at a shipping company in Jakarta as well as working for an American big company as an Indonesian Language and Culture trainer; I had expanded my translation skills into different areas of secretarial, shipping industries, and pharmaceutical industries as most of my students worked in the multinational pharmaceutical companies. I also had fast experiences while working with the UN as hired translator and interpreter in the area of fisheries and aquamarines, organic farming, and animal husbandry plus health and child welfare.
 
My job as a freelance translator for fiction and nonfiction at the biggest local Publishing Company has sharpened my skilled in translating historical novels. Then my other job at several different multinational organizations has equipped me with more advance and wider knowledge of translation and interpreting work.  At a humanitarian organization from the UK, I had trained to work as a translator and interpreter related to human trafficking and child abuse, domestic and international laws, women and child protection and health, and multinational networking (INP, FBI, AFP, Interpol, etc.). My most recent post was as an alternative and renewable energy company from The Netherland. As a Project Coordinator, translating and interpreting was part of my day to day duties, as I had to write all the reports in English and bridged the communication between the local and expats staffs and all stakeholders.
 
From all my working experiences, not only did I seize the opportunity to deepen my understanding of various working knowledge, networking, international and multinational working environment, as well as language and linguistics, but I was also able to enhance my translation knowledge and skills. In a nutshell, being a translator and interpreter-cum-Indonesian and English teacher has constantly nurtured my sheer love for translation, fed my creative drive, and ignited my passion for people development.
 
Later on, only when I decided to start my full time working as a freelancer, it was just the perfect time when I heard about the Indonesian Association of Translators (HPI) and I applied for the membership. Through this association, I begin to gain my deeper knowledge about the translation and interpreting world. It was for the first time ever I heard about the CAT Tools and foreign and local agencies to work with. I took some training with HPI (the Association) and beginning networking with fellow translators and interpreters.
 
Only then I realized how lack, I am with sufficient translation knowledge, skill, technique, and ability in which every translator should have. I realized how I need to train and empower myself through proper education and training. I know that even though I already working in this translation world in many, many years, however, I did not really build a good portfolio and marking my steps in the localization world where the wider opportunity lies ahead.
 
With this new enlightenment in mind, starting last year, I kicked myself off by taking several MOOC online courses related to linguistic and localization. Then, I updated my Linkedin profile where I found many valuable clients to be. I also built my very own blog, although, to tell the truth, I have not done as much as I wish I would. However, slowly but surely, I am beginning to move on the right path.
 
Becoming Modlingua-Summer Intern 2017 is definitely helping me build a new good rapport and empowered me with all the necessities which supporting my endeavor journey to the entrepreneur world as a professional freelance translator. Modlingua is not only giving me new knowledge and skill, it has also widened my networking. The videos and links to important issues have helped me have bigger pictures and decide what next steps I must take.
 
More importantly, all the important steps discussed by Prof. Ioanna in her video talk; how to build a strong brand as a freelance translator with good service, providing the right rate for the right clients, meeting the deadline, having a translator blog, and many more has strengthen my will to walk into the localization world of a professional translator with optimism. I believe that I am on the right path now. I am more than ready to give all my heart, with all passion, and wholeheartedly to my loving profession, a professional freelance translator, and entrepreneur.
 
Jakarta, July 13, 2017

http://www.modlingua.com/interns/437-brigita-pudjodarminto-english-indonesian-javanese-translator-interpreter.html