I'd rather turn down a job than give a bad service.

But how many of our kind think the same way?  Should a translator accept assignments in which he/she has no experience whatsoever? Is it better to reject sometimes? And more importantly, does the employer appreciate your attitude?  I am pretty sure that every person has its own opinions and justifications on these questions just mentioned. And they are probably all true from a certain point of view. However, I would like to give you an insight view of my translation procedure and the way I think of such matters.

But first this is how my day starts: I get up pretty early each day, around 6.00 AM. Not because I am a dedicated masochist but just because I don't like the idea of missing hours when life is too short. And then there is the fact that my dog doesn't let me sleep as well.  But I also believe in proverbs, believe me they weren't said without any reason. The Germans say ‘Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund', which would correspond to ‘It's the early bird that catches the worm'. Of course, I do not catch any worms. Instead I enjoy my café con leche.

There is a ritual-like behaviour before I start the day as a translator and that I follow every morning, come rain or shine! Go to the kitchen, boil some water and have a coffee, read some newspapers, turn on the Spanish-radio, check my e-mails and then start to translate. I had adopted this ritual-like behaviour in my cosy apartment in Barcelona and I do not change it doesn't matter where I am.

One of the good things about being a freelance translator is that you are really your own boss. I choose what I want to translate and what not. Of course, you have to have a certain background and security to pick your customers otherwise if you're in dire need of the money you wouldn't reject any translation, no matter how difficult they are. However I prefer to reject translations that are not my specialty even if I do need the translation fee to pay my rent. That is simply explained: I would like to deliver a good translation in order to have a good reputation, which helps me to get more jobs. But if I deliver some lame translation where I don't have the slightest idea what I am writing of, then in 99% of the cases the employer won't assign you a second time or worse, word spreads and you get a bad reputation for being a miserable translator. That is why I explain my standpoint to companies and agencies that are pushing because they urgently need a translator and they do not care for your reputation.

In most cases the employer understands it perfectly but let me tell you there were also ones who did not say so nice things. Actually agencies should understand you better since they wouldn't want to get a bad reputation either. But if you really can't pay the rent, and your dog is fed up of eating the same food, and your girlfriend complaints that you wouldn't take her out for dinner, well then make absolutely sure that you have enough time to research and investigate thoroughly before starting a translation that is difficult and not your specialty. You wouldn't want to end up in an office doing a brainless nine-to-five job just because you needed the money.