Ways college students can earn money: translating
You just got into the college of your dreams. But the acceptance letter didn’t mention any kind of scholarship. So what now?
It’s time you start thinking about the financial aspect – unpleasant as it might be. As a fresh student you should immediately start searching for scholarships, and apply to as many as possible too. But you should also consider the option of putting your personal set of skills to work and make some money.
For example, do you speak a foreign language? If you do, then you could earn money for college by applying to a translating job. To get started as a freelance translator you don’t need any magic tricks or a fancy degree.
What you need is to be fluent in both the language you are translating from and preferably a native speaker of the language you are translating into. This means everything from formal dialogue to casual conversations, and more technical terms.
If you are confident in your abilities, you will need to sign-up with one of the websites offering translating jobs such as Upwork or Translators Cafe and start applying to free job postings. You will need to build a portfolio at first and as a beginner you might find it a bit hard to get started. But if you persevere, you will be rewarded in the end.
Also keep in mind that some of the jobs you get at first might be paid too low, but keep in mind that they will help you create your portfolio. Once you’ll have a sufficient number of articles under your belt, you’ll be able to request bigger fees.
Another ingredient to succeeding as a freelance translator is to market yourself as best as you can. Post adds around campus, create an online presence and tell friends and family about the services you’re offering. You never know where the next job will come from.
Last but not least, always remember to be professional and decline any assignment that go beyond your competency. Apply and accept any assignments which you know you can complete and deliver on time. You need a good reputation!