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Job Specification for a Translation Intern

💰 Stipend-based / Hourly

InternshipTranslationLocalizationLinguisticsLanguage Services

🎯 Role Definition

The Translation Intern is an entry-level developmental role focused on bridging communication gaps between a company and its global audiences. This position is instrumental in ensuring that all forms of content—from marketing materials and website copy to technical documentation and user interfaces—are not just translated, but are also culturally and contextually adapted for specific international markets. Working under the guidance of senior translators and localization managers, the intern gains hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and workflows. This role is a crucial support function for the localization team, contributing directly to the quality, consistency, and impact of the organization's multilingual presence.

📈 Career Progression

A Translation Internship is a foundational stepping stone into the language services and localization industry. It provides the practical experience needed to bridge academic knowledge with real-world professional demands.

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Current students or recent graduates of University Language or Translation Programs.
  • Recent graduates with a degree in Linguistics, Communications, or International Studies.
  • Highly proficient bilingual or multilingual individuals seeking to formalize their skills into a professional career.

Advancement To:

  • Junior Translator / Translator
  • Localization Coordinator / Specialist
  • Translation Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Multilingual Content Editor / Copywriter
  • International Marketing Associate

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform high-quality translation of a wide variety of content types, including marketing collateral, social media posts, blog articles, and website copy, from a source language into your native target language.
  • Translate user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) text strings for software applications, websites, and mobile apps, ensuring functional and linguistic accuracy.
  • Conduct thorough proofreading and editing of content translated by other team members or external vendors to ensure it is free of grammatical errors, typos, and mistranslations.
  • Utilize Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, such as Trados Studio, MemoQ, or Smartling, to accept, translate, and deliver assigned projects, ensuring consistency with previous translations.
  • Actively maintain and update core linguistic assets, including Translation Memories (TMs) and Term Bases (TBs)/glossaries, to enhance translation efficiency and consistency across all projects.
  • Execute Linguistic Quality Assurance (LQA) checks on finalized content to identify and report any linguistic bugs, formatting issues, or cultural inconsistencies.
  • Adapt content for specific local markets (localization), going beyond literal translation to ensure cultural relevance, appropriateness, and resonance with the target audience.
    -e Research and resolve complex linguistic and cultural questions to ensure the highest level of accuracy and nuance in all translations.
  • Collaborate closely with Localization Project Managers to understand project requirements, timelines, and specific instructions for each task.
  • Provide constructive linguistic feedback on translated content to internal team members and external freelancers to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Perform functional and cosmetic testing of localized software, websites, or apps to ensure the translated text displays correctly and the user experience is seamless.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in the creation and maintenance of language-specific style guides and glossaries to codify the brand's tone of voice and terminology in target markets.
  • Support the transcription and translation of audio and video content, including the creation and timing of subtitles for corporate videos or marketing campaigns.
  • Help prepare and engineer files for translation, ensuring they are correctly formatted and segmented for efficient processing in CAT tools.
  • Manage file organization and version control for translated documents, ensuring that the team's repositories are clean, up-to-date, and easily searchable.
  • Conduct market-specific research on terminology, trends, and cultural norms to inform localization strategy and content adaptation.
  • Participate actively in team meetings, contributing to discussions about project statuses, linguistic challenges, and potential process improvements.
  • Assist in the evaluation of machine translation (MT) output, performing post-editing tasks to bring the content up to human-quality standards.
  • Support senior team members in analyzing translation quality data and metrics to identify trends and areas for improvement.
  • Document internal workflows, tool guidelines, and best practices to contribute to the team's internal knowledge base.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Bilingual Proficiency: Native or near-native fluency in the target translation language and exceptional command of the source language (typically English).
  • CAT Tool Familiarity: Basic understanding and hands-on experience with at least one major CAT tool (e.g., Trados, MemoQ, Phrase, Lokalise, Smartling).
  • Terminology Management: Knowledge of how to use and contribute to terminology databases (term bases) and translation memories (TMs).
  • Linguistic Quality Assurance (LQA): Ability to systematically review translated content against a set of quality criteria, including grammar, style, and accuracy.
  • Research Skills: Strong ability to research unfamiliar topics, technical terms, and cultural concepts to ensure accurate translation.
  • Typing and Formatting: Excellent typing speed and proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace).

Soft Skills

  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: A sharp eye for catching the smallest errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency.
  • Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity: A deep understanding of and appreciation for cultural nuances, idioms, and social norms in the target-language region.
  • Time Management & Organization: Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet tight deadlines.
  • Adaptability & Receptiveness to Feedback: A willingness to learn quickly, adapt to new tools and processes, and graciously accept and implement constructive feedback.
  • Problem-Solving Mindset: The ability to independently identify linguistic or technical issues and proactively seek out solutions.
  • Strong Communication: Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills for collaborating with a diverse, often remote, team.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of a Bachelor’s degree program.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Translation, Linguistics, a specific Modern Language, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Translation Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Modern Languages
  • International Studies
  • Communications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0-1 years of professional experience. Academic projects, volunteer work, and personal translation projects are highly relevant.

Preferred:

  • Demonstrated experience translating or proofreading content, whether through academic coursework, freelance projects, or volunteer activities.
  • A portfolio of translation samples is often requested and highly advantageous.
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