Opportunities abound for translators

As the global economy shrinks, the demand for translation - written communication - and interpretation - spoken communication - jobs is exploding. (Istockphoto.com)

Q. I've spent a lot of time on the Net looking for a job as an interpreter in America. I'm an English graduate, I've been a journalist for 23 years in radio, TV, and print journalism. Would you please help me?

A. This is a great question about a fast-growing industry. As the global economy shrinks, the demand for language services is exploding. There are opportunities in translation, which is written communication, and interpretation, which is spoken. It is important to note the differences in these two services when you look at your job options. Fortunately, no matter where you are located, you can find work as a linguist.

To better understand the opportunities, I consulted Wendy Pease of Rapport International, a language services firm based in Sudbury that offers translation and interpretation services.

"There are many ways to provide linguistic services in either full-time employment or contract work through agencies, global companies, and providers of community services," she said.

"Full-time jobs are found via regular job-search avenues like networking and using online job boards. If you're looking for contract work, it takes effort on the individual's part to connect with the organizations that hire and market themselves. By sending an e-mail blast or telephoning the targeted agencies, you may have luck. Make sure to explain your language pair (fluent knowledge in your native language) and the specific languages and areas where you have expertise. Rarely will we hire anyone who says that they 'translate anything.' "

Even if you are monolingual, there are a number of other positions available in this industry, such as sales and project management. Detail-oriented project managers with an understanding of translation management software such as SDL Trados are in demand now. As the industry grows, support positions in finance and IT will see an increase in demand, too. To work in this industry, you must be passionate about working with people from a variety of backgrounds.

The language services industry is highly fragmented, and experts expect to see consolidation over the next decade. There are a few large companies and thousands of small agencies just in the United States. Many firms were started by translators or interpreters who started offering services in languages other than the original one that they provided. This is a great time to tap into a budding industry.

A. This is actually a complicated question for managers and employees because the options presented to you include alternate internal opportunities or reemployment with the new company managing the account. Severance is not guaranteed by law, and to get the complete story, I consulted Josiah M. Black, managing partner of Bello Black & Welsh LLP, a Boston management-side labor- and employment-law firm.

He said, "In Massachusetts and most other states, an employee only has a right to severance if it is guaranteed in a job offer, employment agreement, or written severance policy or plan. Generally speaking, only high-level executives receive severance guarantees in their job offers or employment agreements, and the severance obligation is usually tied to the executive's being terminated involuntarily without 'cause' as defined by the contract."

Well-drafted severance plans spell out the conditions under which severance is available. It is very common for them to state that an employee who refuses a "comparable position" is not eligible to receive severance. Most often, "comparable" means an offer of a position with similar compensation and benefits, an equivalent title, and a commute that is not farther than a certain distance.

In union situations, Black explained, "one must also consider the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, as well as the employer's past practice with regard to severance pay. Even where a collective bargaining agreement is silent on the subject of severance, the employer's past practice can become an implicit term of the contract, and a deviation from that practice could be a breach of the contract."

Accepting a position with the company taking over the account can be seen as going to work for a competitor, and as Black pointed out, "It is not uncommon for an employer to state that an offer of severance is contingent upon an employee's not accepting employment with a competitor, and an employer is free to impose this condition, unless a contract, plan, policy, or collective bargaining agreement guarantees severance without this condition."

In your situation, you have several options. Your employment opportunities include an internal offer (comparable to your current situation), a comparable position with the new organization, or a severance package if neither of these becomes available.

It's great to see your confidence high (some lucky company will value your contributions!). You are also positioning yourself as skilled, flexible, and resourceful, which is a good start. If you haven't already, try the big sites first (Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, Hotjobs.com) for a broad overview of opportunities. Careerbuilder.com has a part-time professional section on its website.

If you decide to go back into human resources, try sites such as hrjobs.com, workforcehr.com, or jobs4hr.com. Many HR professional associations also have career centers with posted openings. Try the Society for Human Resources (jobs.shrm.org), the Northeast Human Resources Association (nehra.com/careercenter), or World at Work (worldatwork.org).

You can also use an online tool to get your resume updated. But to avoid the isolation which often slows down job seekers, reach out for some human contact. Ask friends currently working, a career counselor from your alma mater, or one of your former colleagues to look at your resume and discuss your job search options. There are also many community organizations that offer networking support groups. I see the strongest way for you to make your mark as a job seeker by connecting to other professionals who have returned to work after a number of years. This network can offer you ties to others who are doing the research needed to find these very specific kinds of openings.

Elaine Varelas has over 20 years of career development and consulting experience and is currently managing partner at Keystone Partners, a career management firm headquartered in Boston.

E-mail questions to jobdoc@globe.com or mail to Job Doc, Boston Globe, Box 55819, Boston, 02205-5819.