| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Do you typically have to explain your work when people ask what you do? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Ricki Farn
Germany
Local time: 02:07
English to German
My typical conversation goes like this:
- I'm a technical translator.
- What languages do you translate?
- Bad English into bad German.
- ???
- It's all about IT.
- Oh!
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First, because "I am a translator" is enough of an answer. Either they know what it is, or they don't. I haven't actually encountered anyone who doesn't. Also, since I live in Canada's capital, the usual response is "Oh - my cousin / uncle / wife / neighbour is a translator / I'm a translator too!" Often the next question is "Do you work for the government?", because many do.
| | | | Mario Freitas 
Brazil
Local time: 21:07
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Not the work per se | Dec 24, 2017 |
I don't recall many people who didn't quite understand what my job is. Saying I'm a translator is usually good enough.
However, I do have a hard time explaining that I'm not unemployed, I'm not some kind of tramp, I don't stay at home eating and watching TV, I do pay lots of taxes, I will retire, I have a health plan for my kids, etc, etc. In my country, people have a really hard time understanding that someone can work at home and make four times more money than they make in their traditi... See more I don't recall many people who didn't quite understand what my job is. Saying I'm a translator is usually good enough.
However, I do have a hard time explaining that I'm not unemployed, I'm not some kind of tramp, I don't stay at home eating and watching TV, I do pay lots of taxes, I will retire, I have a health plan for my kids, etc, etc. In my country, people have a really hard time understanding that someone can work at home and make four times more money than they make in their traditional jobs. But well, who gives a sht anyway?
[Edited at 2017-12-24 05:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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