CVs and Freelancers

1. Terminology

In this publication, all professional/occupational/job title terms (like interpreter, translator, linguistic expert, etc.) are used as generic terms.

The book’s title contains two terms, CV and freelancer, with polysemantic meanings in many fields.

To avoid misunderstandings, a brief overview of the terms will be given prior to the corresponding definition.

Most English postings on the web seeking linguistic freelancers ask, inter alia, for a CV as the reader can see in the following specimen for public viewing:

The following points are not as innocent as they may look:

Capacity for translating in words per day and per week: This means the freelancer is giving stand-by time free of charge to the vendor.

Rate per source word: Most freelancers do calculate with different rates for target words. The rate always depends on the language pair and direction. The language pair EN/DE means EN>DE has one rate X and DE>EN has a different rate Y. To make it clear: For translations from EN into DE, agency A shouldn’t believe that the rate is the same as for translations from DE into EN. In this case, the calculation never works (see point 5).

A free test is mandatory: Why? This is like asking a surgeon for a free operation as a test.

Candidate must sign our NDA: This is a dictate and not good at all for freelancers. Payment term: 45 days end of month: This is a violation of the Directive 2000/35 EC.

And some linguistic platforms offer mass mail distribution to their members for the purpose of making a deal with the freelancers (see below!). This shows a lack of knowledge and reflects perfectly the meaning of the Spanish idiom , as the reader will discover at the end of the book.

All mass mail distribution offers on the web are essentially quite similar.

1.1 CV

CV = abbreviation for Curriculum Vitae (GB), Resume (misspelled, USA) and Résumé (correct writing, USA). The difference to German (DIN 5008) is also briefly specified (see last column, Table 1).

Hereinafter CV is used as a generic name for Curriculum Vitae, Resume and Résumé.

Webster’s defines Curriculum Vitae as the course of one’s life. A brief account of one’s life. A brief statement including biographical data (for applications). And Résumé/Resume as a brief account of one’s education and professional experience. Webster’s New World Dictionary also as a summary of employment experience.

Oxford Advanced Dictionary: A written record of a candidate’s education and the jobs the candidate has done, that a candidate sends when applying for a job.

That means, the candidate applies for a job as an employee, no matter if as part-time or full-time employee. In this case only the quality of the matters.

Considering that in the linguistic market some translators and interpreters without corresponding university degrees are active, it is easy to understand the demand of agencies for quality evidences. On the one hand, the stated requirements very often don’t in any way prove that the agencies do indeed offer the necessary quality, and on the other hand must offend qualified linguistics with a university degree. Nobody asks a lawyer, architect or surgeon for a CV before engaging him for a service. Besides, agencies try to pay the same (lowest) rates to any subcontractor, and this doesn’t make the situation any better. Some agencies let non-professionals do the work or service required just because they offer best rates.

1.1.1 Elements of a CV

Single elements of a CV (chronology starting always with latest element at the top) in English speaking countries:

Contact data

Personal Profile

Career objective

Work experience

Education

Skills

Interests

References.

A cover letter that stands out can be added.

The single elements of a CV in English-speaking countries in detail:

1.1.1.1 Contact data

Candidate’s name on first line, address, phone, e-mail below. Special letters should be transcribed (for instance ü = ue, ñ = n) and diacritical signs (for instance accents) can be excluded.

This is critical if the last name of a linguistic experts is because according to the guideline it should be written , and should be written , would change to , and change to . The problem is, this can be construed as a falsification/forgery of the document. The penalty for falsifying documents in the UK (see sections 1-4 and section 5(1) and 5(3) Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981) is a maximum of 10 years imprisonment or fine or both. For other countries look on the web.

1.1.1.2 Personal profile

Also called Personal Statement or Creer Profile. Optional plus point describing the candidate and position he is seeking/applying