Why Are Translation Agencies Reaching Out to Me But Not You?
Why Are Translation Agencies Reaching Out to Me But Not You?
Let me start with the answer.
If translation agencies are reaching out to you about projects, but those opportunities rarely turn into actual work, the problem may not be your translation skills.
It may be how you are presenting yourself.
Here are four things I would check immediately:
1. Your CV
Your CV needs to make it obvious, within seconds, that you are the person they need.
Don't just list:
“Freelance Translator: 2018 to present.”
Show them what you've actually done.
Include your:
Language pairs
Years of experience
Specializations
Types of projects you've worked on
Relevant clients or industries
CAT tools and other technology you use
Qualifications
Localization, subtitling, MTPE, AI or other relevant experience
Remember: your CV is not just a history of your career. It is a sales document.
2. Your LinkedIn profile
When an agency gets your name, there is a good chance they will search for you on LinkedIn.
So what will they find?
Can they immediately tell that you're a professional translator?
Is your headline clear?
Does your About section explain what you do?
Does your experience support what you claim?
Do you have a professional-looking profile?
Are you completely inactive?
Your LinkedIn profile doesn't need to be perfect or have thousands of followers.
But it needs to build trust.
3. Your qualifications and experience
Yes, experience matters, yes.
But don't assume agencies don't care about qualifications.
Many agencies still look for relevant degrees, diplomas, certifications or other formal training because these can signal professional commitment and knowledge.
If you have qualifications, put them where people can see them.
Don't make a project manager dig through your CV to discover that you actually have a degree in languages, translation, journalism or another relevant field.
And if you don't have a degree, don't panic.
Build your credibility through experience, specializations, portfolios, references, certifications and the quality of your professional presence.
4. The way you respond to project enquiries
This is a simple one, and I see it quite often.
An agency emails:
“Hi Joy, we have an English-to-Xhosa project. Are you available?”
And you respond:
“Hi, yes, I'm available.”
Technically, you've answered the question.
But you've missed an opportunity to make the agency's job easier.
Instead, respond with something like:
“Thank you for reaching out. I confirm that I am available for this project. My language pair is English to isiXhosa, my rate is X, and my areas of specialization include X, Y and Z. I can dedicate X hours per week to the project. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me.”
Obviously, answer whatever the agency specifically asks you to confirm.
If they ask for your rate, give them your rate.
If they ask for your specialization, tell them.
If they ask about your availability, be specific.
If they ask about your capacity, tell them how much work you can realistically take on.
Don't make the project manager chase you for basic information.
Make it easy for them to say yes.
Now, here's why I'm talking about this.
Once a month, I get at least three agencies reaching out to me about translation projects. Because I currently have a demanding full-time job and other professional commitments, I often have to decline.
In the past, I would recommend another trusted translator instead. Someone qualified, experienced and capable of doing the work. But quite often, that translator would come back to me and say, “They never got back to me.”
This always made me wonder: if the agency genuinely needed a Xhosa translator and I referred someone with the right experience and qualifications, why didn't the opportunity turn into a project?
I recently had a similar conversation with a colleague who told me that agencies regularly contact her, she responds that she's available, and then they disappear. When I looked at her response, it was simply: “Hi, I'm available.”
That's when I realised that sometimes the problem isn't your ability to do the work - it may be how you are presenting yourself to the person deciding whether to hire you.
Your CV, LinkedIn profile and communication all contribute to the impression an agency forms of you. You may have the experience, qualifications and skills, but if those things aren't immediately visible, you're making it harder for someone to choose you.
If you're a freelance translator or language professional and you want help positioning yourself, improving your CV or LinkedIn profile, or learning how to attract and convert more opportunities, that's where I come in.
I offer one-on-one coaching, CV revamps and LinkedIn optimization. Email me at joyngapu@gmail.com or send me a DM on LinkedIn, and let's talk about how I can help you build a stronger professional presence and get more clients.
Get in Touch
Email: joyngaphu@gmail.com to discuss how we can work together.
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