Is it true that anyone who speaks a second language has the necessary qualities to work in translation or interpreting? Certainly not! Translation and interpreting are very demanding skills, which require extensive training and practice before they can be mastered. At Veritas, we hand pick the best translators around the world to work for us, and we have a very strict recruitment process to make sure that our translators can supply a service of the highest quality.

First of all, experience plays a key role in choosing people for translation or interpreting roles. We believe it is important to use only trained professionals, who have developed skills within a specialist field. They should also have experience in translation software and be conscious of deadlines.

Referees play a key role in assessing the actual skills of a translator or interpreter. We request at least two referees from past employers who are active in the translation industry, to prove that the person is as exceptional as they claim to be on their CV. This step of the process assesses whether what freelancers say on their CV is true.

As we want to assess all aspects of prospective sub-contractors, it is necessary for translators to submit at least one translation sample for every language combination they work in. This is done so that experienced staff within our translation company are able to review and assess the quality and accuracy of those translations. Price is not the most important consideration. What is cheap is often not good quality, and the same applies to the translation market.

We also know that our pool of linguists needs to be constantly reviewed and updated. We keep track of our linguists’ development and make sure that they continue to provide services of the highest possible quality.

Translators and interpreters’ CVs are also reviewed by our in-house HR manager, who has over 40 years’ experience and is aware of the best qualifications and education on offer, judging applicants accordingly. We make sure that all our freelancers are treated as people, not just names on a list. This is important for ensuring that we build a stable and professional relationship with them. Good people are vital for a successful translation and interpreting company.

What do you think? Are there any other qualities that help make a good translator or interpreter? View our ‘About Us’ page to find out more about what our staff think makes a good transation or interpreting service.