There’s a recession? What recession?

I know, the title is not exactly fair to all those who have lost jobs over the last twelve months or so, or those whose jobs are on the line right now. But this recession has provided me with proof of something I’ve been saying all along: if there’s a recession-proof profession or line of work, it’s translation.

It seems that translators are especially busy during times of economic crisis. I’m currently booked solid straight into June, handling a 25,000-word project, a 15,000-word project as well as several “smallish” ones.

In my recent and current projects, I’ve also identified several that probably wouldn’t have materialized if it hadn’t been for the recession.

Let me give you a few examples:

Exhibit A:

A company in Canada that produces audio and hi-fi equipment determines that the Canadian market isn’t big or strong enough anymore. So, the company decides to start selling its products in a number of international markets, which requires the user manuals of its products to be translated into several languages. I’m currently translating some of their manuals from English to German, and more are coming in all the time.

Exhibit B:

A company in Canada that produces equipment and installations for playground and park facilities has felt a need to expand. I’ve just translated their main brochure from English to German, and I’m quite sure there’ll be follow-up work.

Exhibit C:

An investment company in Europe wants to expand. It’s been active in two European countries as well as in some areas of the United States. Now it wants to make inroads into Britain, trying to attract British investors for a new series of investment funds. I’m currently translating their main prospectus into English.

In short, this is, indeed, how things work. When the economy takes a nosedive, local or national markets aren’t strong enough to sustain all the existing businesses. The only way for many of them to avoid disaster is to seek out new markets in other countries – and for that, of course, they will have to avail themselves of the services of professional translators.

Added bonus for translators: once the recession has subsided, many of these companies will become permanent clients for many years to come.

Comments

[One Hour Translation]

I totally agree. Many companies try to find new markets for their products and hence many of them translate more. It's the translator job to help them doing that: only translators understand the real cultural differences between the two markets. In many cases those companies do not hire local marketing professionals to market their products, and do most of the marketing themselves from abroad. The translator success is their success. If the translator does lousy job - it might ends up as failure.

[Maxim]

Some companies can no longer afford $.30/word that translation agencies used to charge them, so they start to contact freelancers directly and get the same quality for considerably smaller sums.

[Judy Jenner]

Unfortunately, I have seen some slowing down in our business, which I hope is temporary. Obviously, this is the time for companies to look into new markets or continue expanding into new markets, where translation is, of course, a vital component. However, some companies might choose to forego those efforts and focus on cutting costs, which of course we can't influence. Luckily, we still have enough business, and if we, as translators, can collectively make it in this economy, then we are certainly in a great position post-recession.

[metin çevir]

I wonder when recession ends

[Werner Patels]

What "recession"? LOL