JOIN THE LKTEAM
What We’re All About
All applications should be sent via e-mail to catherine.entwistle@lktranslations.co.uk
JOINING THE LKTEAM AS AN EXPERIENCED TRANSLATOR
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU
- Let’s start at the beginning. We want to know why you want to work with us and why we should want to work with you. Send us your CV along with a covering email – and if you want to get creative, introduce yourself to us in a video! Please include as much information as you can – tell us about your specialisms and experience, the CAT tools you work with, CPD you’ve undertaken and your rates.
- If we think you could be the right fit for us, we’ll ask you to complete a short unpaid test piece. All applicants will be provided with feedback on their test pieces.
WHAT YOU’LL GET FROM US
- If your test piece meets our quality requirements, we’ll assign a member of our in-house team to act as your dedicated point of contact during the initial phase of our partnership. This person will revise your first three projects or 10,000 words (whichever comes first). They will be your primary point of contact for feedback and questions, and they will provide you with detailed feedback on completion of the revision of your drafts.
- Aside from your dedicated reviser, you’ll have access to the expertise of the entire LKTeam. We work collaboratively so there’s always a wealth of knowledge to tap into and help with troubleshooting not only linguistic queries but also technical hitches, should you encounter them.
- On successful completion of the initial phase of our partnership, you’ll join our pool of freelance partners to whom we assign both translation “only” work and translation work with revision by a member of our in-house team.
FAQs
Will I be expected to undertake revision work as well as translation?
LKT is certified to ISO 17100, under the terms of which we offer our customers a full-service package which includes not only translation but also revision and review. We know that translators can benefit from revising the work of their peers, as well as adding value, so we may ask you to undertake revision work from time to time.
How much work can I expect to get from LKT?
There’s no contractual obligation on your part or ours and as in any subcontracting relationship, we can’t guarantee to be able to provide you with work. That said, our partnership is an investment, and we’ll endeavour to keep you busy!
What about payment?
You’ll be paid by bank transfer at the end of the month following submission of your monthly invoice.
How does LKT work with and support its freelance partners?
As a valued freelance partner, you’ll benefit from a unique way of working. We support all our freelance partners by providing CPD on an ongoing basis, much of which mirrors the provision from which our in-house team benefits. You’ll join our peer review system, under which a member of the in-house team will provide you with detailed feedback on a specific project once every quarter. We’ll also provide you with reviser feedback on other projects in between peer reviews as appropriate, and we’ll invite you to attend our LKTeam Days – training days that we hold free of charge every quarter. For your part, we ask freelance partners to complete and submit a CPD log/tracker every November, ahead of our annual ISO audits.
LKTRANSLATOR ACADEMY for freelance partners starting out in the profession
*Please note that we are not currently accepting applicants for our LKTranslator Academy – we’ll update this page as the situation changes. Thank you for your interest!
What does the LKTranslator Academy for freelance partners starting out in the profession look like? What can I expect and what will be expected of me?
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU
- Let’s start at the beginning. We want to know why you want to work with us and why we should want to work with you. Send us your CV along with a covering email – and if you want to get creative, introduce yourself to us in a video!
- If we think you could be the right fit for us, we’ll ask you to complete a short unpaid test piece. All applicants will be provided with feedback on their test pieces.
- If you’re successful, you’ll proceed to the induction phase of the programme. This will start with an online meeting with Louise and another member of the in-house LKTeam, who’ll be your dedicated in-house mentor for the duration of the programme.
WHAT YOU’LL GET FROM US
- We’ll assign a member of the in-house LKTeam to act as your dedicated mentor for the duration of the programme, so you’ll have a main point of contact for feedback and questions.
- You’ll get detailed feedback on all the projects you complete during the programme, covering all kinds of areas from writing style to CAT tool usage. We’ll keep a record of everything you’ve worked on to track your progress.
- You’ll also get a one-hour online business mentoring and advice session with Louise to help you with aspects of your freelance business outside of the nuts and bolts of translation.
- We’ll conduct regular online reviews with you during the course of and on completion of the programme.
- Aside from your dedicated mentor, you’ll have access to the expertise of the entire in-house LKTeam. We work collaboratively so there’s always a wealth of knowledge to tap into and help with troubleshooting not only linguistic queries but also technical hitches, should you encounter them.
FAQs
Can I work for other customers while enrolled in the LKTranslator Academy?
Of course! There’s no contractual obligation on your part or ours. We’ll endeavour to keep you busy, but as in any subcontracting relationship, we can’t guarantee to be able to provide you with work.
Will I be expected to undertake revision work as well as translation?
We know from experience that newcomers to the profession benefit hugely from revising drafts completed by more experienced colleagues – so yes, there is a possibility that you’ll be asked to undertake revision work.
What about payment?
You’ll be paid on the same terms as our regular freelance partners (at the end of the month following submission of your monthly invoice), at our academy rate.
How long does the programme last?
We’ve recognised that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, due to variable factors such as project type and size. Instead, we’ll conduct an initial review with you once you’ve completed your first three projects or 10,000 words (whichever comes first), and then decide on the next steps. We want to get you up to speed and standard as quickly as possible (and we hope you do too!).
What happens on successful completion of the programme?
You’ll join our pool of freelance partners and continue to benefit from a unique way of working. We support all our freelance partners, regardless of experience, by providing CPD on an ongoing basis. You’ll switch from the academy programme to our peer review system, under which a member of the in-house team will provide you with detailed feedback on a specific project once every quarter. We’ll also provide you with reviser feedback on other projects in between peer reviews as appropriate, and we’ll invite you to attend our LKTeam Days – training days that we hold free of charge every quarter. For your part, we ask freelance partners to complete and submit a CPD log/tracker every November, ahead of our annual ISO audits.
JOINING THE IN-HOUSE LKTEAM
What can LKT offer new entrants to the profession who’d prefer to work in-house as part of a team? What can I expect and what will be expected of me?
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU
- Let’s start at the beginning. We want to know why you want to work with us and why we should want to work with you. Send us your CV along with a covering email – and if you want to get creative, introduce yourself to us in a video!
- If we think you could be the right fit for us, we’ll ask you to complete a short unpaid test piece. All applicants will be provided with feedback on their test pieces.
- If you’re successful, we’ll invite you to our office in Manchester to meet with Louise and the in-house team to find out more about what an in-house role as a trainee/junior translator at LKT involves. Your visit will include a conventional interview as well as a PC skills/translation test.
WHAT YOU’LL GET FROM US
- When you join LKT as a new starter, you’ll be enrolled onto our initial training programme, which will acquaint you with in-house procedures and processes (including our work instructions for quality assurance). To help you feel welcome, initial training is delivered by different members of the LKTeam.
- You’ll be assigned a mentor – a more experienced colleague who is on hand to offer valuable tips and advice on anything from completing a timesheet to translating a German pun into English effectively.
- You’ll get detailed feedback on all the translations you produce, covering all kinds of areas from writing style to CAT tool usage. We’ll keep a record of everything you’ve worked on to track your progress.
- Aside from your dedicated mentor, you’ll have access to the expertise of the entire LKTeam. We work collaboratively so there’s always a wealth of knowledge to tap into and help with troubleshooting not only linguistic queries but also technical hitches, should you encounter them.
FAQs
Will I be expected to undertake revision work as well as translation?
We know from experience that newcomers to the profession benefit hugely from revising drafts completed by more experienced colleagues – so yes, you’ll be asked to undertake revision work.
How many words will I be expected to translate or revise per day or per hour?
We have standard production rates per hour for both translation and revision. New starters initially work at 50% of those rates. Their target output is gradually increased during the first three months of their employment, with the aim of being “up to speed” at the end of that period.
How long does initial training last?
Our initial training/probationary period lasts for three months.
What happens at the end of the initial training period?
You’ll move from trainee translator to junior translator status. You’ll continue to receive dedicated support for a period of at least 12 months, at which point you’ll meet the criteria to apply for Associate Membership of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (AITI).
How does LKT support the continuing professional development of its employees?
LKT is committed to raising not only standards in the translation industry but also the profile of the human translation professionals who play such a key role in oiling the wheels of our global economy. Investing in in high-quality CPD provision for our employees from both internal and external sources is a key factor in helping us to achieve this. All CPD undertaken is tracked and logged. Our aim is for every in-house employee to complete 30 hours of CPD annually (the ITI’s requirement for “CPD achieved” status); in reality, they complete at least double that.
What about terms and conditions, and payment?
You’ll be paid a competitive salary monthly which includes a company pension. Employees also benefit from a generous holiday allowance of 25 days per year plus the eight statutory UK bank holidays. The company closes between Christmas and New Year. LKT operates a flexible working policy with in-house employees able to work from home 1 day a week should they wish to do so.
OUR STORIES
Through our model, we equip translators with the skills they will need as their career progresses, whether they remain a part of our in-house team or choose to strike out on their own. Helen is one example of a translator who successfully trained in-house through the Translator Academy model and now works as a freelance translator:
I started at LKT straight after finishing my MA at the University of Westminster. I was excited to finally be in the world of work after five years at university. However, in all honesty, it was a complete shock to the system. While my MA course had taught me a lot about translation technique, the pace was a real struggle. I realised that there was still a lot to learn.
Luckily, with the Translator Academy model, I received a great deal of training and support, which not only improved my style and accuracy but also my speed and efficiency. Junior translators can only progress through the ranks when the team is confident that they can work reliably and consistently at the required speed. Reaching this level gave me confidence in my ability, which was something I needed before I could even consider taking the plunge and going it alone.
I worked for LKT for 3 years before making the decision to go freelance. Without the training and support I received from the start, I think I would have struggled to up my pace to a reasonable level without comprising the quality of my work. Through the feedback provided by more senior members of the team, I quickly learned the types of mistakes I was making and was able make a conscious effort to rectify these. Feedback was always kind and constructive – all of the more senior team members started as trainees so they knew what I was going through.
The transition from university to the real world can often be a steep one in all kinds of jobs. While working freelance is often the ultimate goal for wannabe translators, I believe that it is vitally important to participate in proper training and learn from your peers, which is where companies like LKT come in. University can teach you so much, but some things you need to learn first-hand.
As well as providing experience, the LKTeam has proven to be an important contact for me in my move to freelancing. I have continued to work with the company as a subcontractor, and being able to work with a familiar team and with familiar end customers has really eased the transition. I hope our working relationship will continue for many years to come.
Siobhan has been part of the in-house team since its early days and now has the role of Lead Translator:
I joined LK Tr
anslations in 2006, having moved straight from a languages undergraduate degree into a postgraduate MA in translation. In-house positions with a focus on translation were rare then and still are today, so I realised just how fortunate I was to be given the opportunity of a placement and then a full-time post at LKT.
What I hadn’t anticipated was quite how steep the learning curve would be. Working as a translator in the real world means considering so much more than just dealing with the linguistic side – it’s about communicating with clients, being aware of costs and timings, and following the right procedures for project administration. Fortunately, I had the support network of the Translator Academy around me – despite being in its early days back then, it still had all the features of what continues to make it a successful model nowadays. I was assigned a trainer who examined all of my work and gave me useful, in-depth feedback, ensuring that my translations were at a consistently good standard before I was allowed to progress within the team. Additionally, the LKTeam environment and the exposure to various types of project helped me to become more commercially minded.
For me, it’s the perfect environment in which to focus on what I love to do – translating – while also having a hand in other aspects of the business. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to pass the knowledge I gained through my own training on to many more staff members, and I firmly believe that acting as a trainer has improved my own work. Even among the more experienced members of the team, the LKTeam model ensures that there is still a strong support network available at all times, as it encourages team members to reach out to one another for feedback and advice on linguistic matters as well as other issues. It’s a great feeling to reflect back on the history of the team’s development and see how far our model has helped our translators to come.
Siân joined the LKTeam as an experienced translator: after going through the initial phase of having her projects reviewed by a mentor, she became part of the team’s pool of translators and now completes translate-only and TEP projects on a regular basis.
I started working with the team at LKT in 2016, soon after venturing into the world of freelance translating in 2015. Having previously worked only in in-house translation roles and being new to freelance life, I appreciated that the team’s approach was collaborative and supportive from the outset.
After returning two short test pieces tailored to my areas of specialism, I began working with the team regularly on live projects. Project instructions are clear, and Louise and other team members are always on hand to help with any queries that arise during a project. You never feel like you’re on your own with LKT, as all the in-house translators are always happy to help – which is a huge plus side of working with the company.
LKT’s processes for working with freelancers are very efficient. Once a project has been agreed (which is usually a very quick process of a few emails replied to in record time!), handovers and POs are sent swiftly so you can get started as soon as you’re able to. The invoicing process is straightforward and payment is always made on time.
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of working with the LKT team for me is the commitment to feedback. Each quarter, one of my projects is peer-reviewed by an experienced member of the in-house team. The reviewer sends a detailed document with comments on my work, pointing out specific things they liked about my translation alongside constructive feedback and tips that I can apply on future jobs. In my experience, getting this kind of feedback as a freelancer is very rare, but LKT recognises how helpful and important it is for in-house staff and freelancers alike!
LKT also runs regular team days for the in-house team and subcontractors, with topics ranging from robotics and automation to query processes and specific CAT tools. I’ve been able to attend both in-person and online events and I’ve found the content to be incredibly useful in my day-to-day work for LKT. Like the peer review scheme, I appreciate that LKT includes freelancers in these events – the company really does view its subcontractors as part of the team.