Learn from our panel how they have established their networks and their top tips for successful networking.
Networking is a powerful tool, but whether it’s due to fear, shyness or imposter syndrome, it can be one of the hardest things a freelancer has to do.
There are many different types of networking too – among peers, with clients and potential clients and through outreach work. So where should you start and what should you focus on?
Our four panellists are all at different stages in their careers and they will share with you their experiences of networking, lessons they have learned along the way and the rewards they have reaped.
There will be time at the end of the webinar to put your own questions about networking to the panel.
Click on the panellists’ pictures to find out more about them and their experience of networking.
Dot Roberts
The pandemic hit when I was quite early on in my career, so the first bit of networking that really impacted me was through LinkedIn. I made some really strong connections with other translators and we had lots of virtual meetings. Clients started to find me on LinkedIn too, and other translators would refer me work. It was an amazing feeling when I was later able to meet friends and colleagues in real life.
I joined my local network, the North West Translators’ Network, and started attending coworking sessions and social events. I attended my first conference, the ITI conference 2022 in Brighton, where I gave a talk and met so many lovely people, and in the past year, I also attended the Cardiff Translation Unconference, I spent a week in Sicily with translators I met through LinkedIn, and I’ve even invited translator colleagues to my upcoming wedding. For me, networking isn’t just about finding clients and getting work, it’s about having a support network of friends who really understand the highs and lows of my job.
Bio
Dot Roberts is a freelance audiovisual translator who runs her own business called Dot Roberts Translation. She creates English subtitles for German, Dutch, and English movies and TV shows and hosts her own podcast called Meet the Translator in which she chats to a different translator each episode about a topic relating to translation. Dot also speaks at translation conferences and does talks and workshops for translation students.
How to connect with Dot
Sarah Cutts
I have always found networking to be quite daunting and my initial attempts were very tentative, going only to the odd event locally. Since the pandemic, I have made more of an effort to meet people and have now joined Shout Network, a North West networking organisation with several groups throughout the region. Although I joined as a member of the Preston group, as the only translator in the entire network, I can attend any of the other groups, increasing the scope and opportunities available to me. It has enabled me to meet other local and regional business owners, and I have also had mentoring sessions and tips on networking and presentation skills, which have proved invaluable.
As a result, my confidence has now grown, and not only do I feel more comfortable and less daunted going to these events, but I have also perfected my elevator pitch, having even delivered it in Spanish and French! I have been able to promote my business locally and help others requiring assistance with translation work (and recommend colleagues if I personally wasn’t able to help). Although I haven’t yet had much new business as a result of my networking efforts, I realise that the nature of my work is specialised and means that my target clients (for example solicitors) may only require translation services sporadically when the need arises, and when the need does arise, I will be there and happy to help!
Bio
Sarah Cutts MITI has over 16 years’ experience in translation. She has a BA (Hons) degree in Modern Languages (Spanish with French) from the University of Central Lancashire and spent 10 years working in-house as a Project Manager & Translator before setting up her own freelance business Sarah Cutts Translation in 2016.
Sarah is based in Preston and translates from Spanish and French into English, specialising in certified translations of birth/ death/ marriage certificates, academic transcripts, family law and commercial documents for private individuals and corporate clients.
She is also Coordinator of the ITI Spanish Network.
How to connect with Sarah
Lloyd Bingham
I owe my entire livelihood to engaging with my colleagues in the translation sector. It’s always fascinating to meet other professionals and learn about their business, their USPs and their markets, and in turn to tell them about mine. That creates the foundation for working together to fulfil needs for our clients that we can’t cover alone. I’m looking forward to discussing how exactly I’ve got to know other translators and how we’ve helped each other’s businesses.
Bio
Lloyd Bingham runs Capital Translations in Cardiff, Wales. He works from Dutch, German, French and Spanish into English, specialising in business, marketing, technology and education. Lloyd is a board member of ITI, the coordinator of ITI Cymru Wales and a member of SENSE and MET.
Connect with Lloyd via his website, on LinkedIn or Twitter @Capital_Trans.
Paul Appleyard
Without networking, I might as well have spent my career in a vacuum and I’m convinced that I would be much poorer (personally and professionally) without the contacts that I’ve made with those around me. My network is built up of people who, in some cases, I’ve known for decades, and each time I make contact with somebody new, through somebody else, I can feel the power that comes from being part of a global network of translators and interpreters.
Bio
Apart from a brief foray into pre-sales, Paul Appleyard’s entire career (so far) has been in the translation and interpreting sector, including a time in the last century managing the translation process for a number of software companies. Paul was a member of the ITI Board for six years, and Chair from 2019 to 2022. He has contributed to ITI in a number of ways over many years, including as past coordinator of the French Network, working with the Networks & Regional Groups, and writing articles for the ITI Bulletin.
He is a fellow of ITI, qualified in both translation and interpreting (and he won the ITI Interpreting Assessment Award in 2019), as well as being a member of the American Translators Association, the SFT in France, and the British Computer Society.
For most of this century, Paul has been a director of a language services provider with his French wife, who is also a member of ITI. He lives in Surrey, within easy reach of London and well placed for escapes to the continent when circumstances permit.
How to connect with Paul
Via his websites: www.manzana.co.uk and www.appleyard.eu
Email: [email protected]
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Mastadon:@[email protected]