How to Become a Translator Online and Make Money

Translators are in high demand, now more than ever before. If you are fluent in two or more languages, you can find translation work online. You can work from your own home, completing and delivering your finished work over the Internet.

What Qualifications do I Need to Become an Online Translator?
The qualifications needed to perform online translation work usually vary, depending on who the employer is. There are hundreds to thousands of short-term, contract-based online translation jobs available at any given time. Some of the employers require translators to have a degree, either in a language or in the subject area of the translation assignment.
Other employers and jobs have less stringent requirements and employers simply want to know that you are fluent and proficient in whatever two languages you’ll be working in. (You may be asked to provide some type of proof of proficiency, such as a writing sample, or filling out a short quiz.) Even if you don’t have a degree, you’ll probably find there are plenty of short-term translation assignments available which don’t require translators to have one.
How to Find Online Translation Jobs
Prospective employers who need documents translated typically advertise on freelancer’s Websites/forums. Some of these sites, such as iFreelance.com, are general freelance sites which accept postings for all kinds of different freelance jobs (writing, editing, translating, etc.), while others, such as Translatorsbase.com are freelance sites strictly for translation jobs.
Different sites are set up differently. However, most operate in similar ways. Here’s how they work: prospective employers who are looking for document translators post a job description on the site. The posting lays out the parameters and scope of the work and what they expect. Some employers will also post a firm price while others will invite translators to put in a quote (bid) for the advertised work. The employer also decides how long the posting will remain active and note the deadline for bids.
Translators can peruse listings of translation jobs available. They can bid on the ones that interest them. Once the bidding deadline arrives, the employer can look over the bids and choose a suitable translator. The winning bidder is notified by email. Then the winner can make a final decision on whether or not he/she wants to accept the assignment.
The key to finding steady translation work this way is to register with as many of these sites as you can. Then, check back often (daily is ideal) and bid frequently. It’s always best to bid on as many as you’re qualified for. You aren’t usually bound by any rules that require you to actually accept an assignment if you decide later on you’re too busy, or the job turned out to be different than what you expected.