Career Overlap Occupation record
RecordJob

Where a translator can go next

12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a translator already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.

Translators transcribe written documents from one or more languages to another ensuring that the message and nuances therein remain in the translated material. They translate material backed up by an understanding of it, which can include commercial and industrial documentation, personal documents, journalism, novels, creative writing, and scientific texts delivering the translations in any format.

Also known as business translator, editorial translator, sworn translator, translation project manager, book translator, language specialist, language leader, technical translator, reviser, linguistic coordinator, video game translator, medical translator.

Professionals 60 skills on file 12 career moves 2 above 60% overlap Closest: localiser, 78%

Fig. 2 · Career map 6 nearest · ESCO v1.2.1
localiser 78% covered translation agency manager 68% covered lawyer linguist 56% covered sign language interpreter 54% covered lexicographer 52% covered interpreter 49% covered translator You are here
  • 70% and above · short step
  • 50 to 70% · real move
  • Below 50% · substantial retraining
The 6 nearest destinations from translator, each one a link to that move’s record. Distance from the centre is how much retraining the move takes; the figure on each is how much of that role a translator already covers. All 12 are listed in the tables below.
Table 1

Table 1 · Within reach

Table 2

Table 2 · A bigger jump

Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.

Table 3

Table 3 · What the job itself asks for

A translator needs 24 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.

Required skill Area
  • translate different types of texts communication, collaboration and creativity
  • translate tags communication, collaboration and creativity
  • comprehend the material to be translated communication, collaboration and creativity
  • revise translation works communication, collaboration and creativity
  • follow an ethical code of conduct for translation activities communication, collaboration and creativity
  • review translation works communication, collaboration and creativity
  • update language skills communication, collaboration and creativity
  • develop a translation strategy information skills
  • follow translation quality standards management skills
  • translate texts communication, collaboration and creativity
Table 4

Table 4 · Jobs that lead here

The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a translator does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.

Index

Look up another occupation

Translator is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.

Note

How these figures were compiled

Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a translator’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.