Language is a still a huge barrier in business, education and socially. There are over 200 countries around the world and most of them have dozens of tribes that speak different languages. If you are based in Australia and want to do business with a Chinese national, you will need professional translation services. The ideal translator should be able to translate Mandarin to English and vice versa fluently. Similarly, if you want to do business with Norwegian entrepreneurs, you should look for a suitable translator. Since there are many translators in the industry, below are factors to consider to narrow down your search:
i) Accreditation
Just because someone understands a given language it doesn’t mean they can work as a translator. You want a professionally-trained translator that has met all the minimum professional requirements. The ideal translator should be accredited by the authorities to offer professional translation services. When making your list, therefore, you have to check whether or not a translator has been properly accredited to offer translation services. If not, you should avoid them.
ii) Experience
Once you have made a list of accredited translators, you need to compare the type and amount of experience they have. The ideal translator should have years of experience in the industry. They should also have a lot of previous experience offering the type of translation service you need, whether business, academic or document translation services. Experienced translators know mistakes to avoid. Therefore, they can offer a higher quality of service than inexperienced translators. That is why they deserve to get special consideration.
iii) Guarantees
You have to check the types of assurances and guarantees offered by different translators. The ideal translator should offer a customer satisfaction guarantee. They should also guarantee error-free work. Therefore, it is imperative you spend time comparing the assurances provided by different service providers before making a decision.
iv) Cost
The fees charged by different translators for their translation services must be compared. This is because you are looking for professional translation services at pocket-friendly prices. By obtaining quotes from the shortlisted translators, you should be able to compare their affordability.
v) Reputation
You can learn a lot about the quality of service offered by a given translator by checking their reputation. For instance, you should read a number of customer reviews and testimonials before making a decision. This will enable you to identify the most trusted and most reliable translators in the industry. The ratings of different translators can also tell you everything you may need to know about the customer experience they normally offer.