We’re highlighting the amazing efforts and experience of our language experts, as well as an inside look at how we get it all done! The knowledge, loyalty, and attention to detail that our community embodies are what make Language Department unrivaled in language services.
We’ve previously given you a look into some of the wonderful faces of our language community. Now, we’re excited to introduce you to one of the people who makes sure our experts and projects are top-of-mind!
Meet Carolina, Project Manager…
Where do you currently reside and what languages can you speak?
I live in Mexico City, Mexico, and my native language is Spanish. I am also fluent in English, currently learning French and studied German in my younger years.
Describe your role as Project Manager at Language Department.
As Project Manager, I’m in charge of all direct communications with our clients and our vendors. My main role is taking care of clients requests, planning timelines for delivery, and making sure that our vendors have the necessary tools to work seamlessly together.
What does your daily routine look like?
In the morning, I always wake up and do some light exercise to clear my head (very important), drink coffee, and read (also very important). I try to keep up to date with current events and trends; in the long run, it helps a lot to be familiarized with what’s going on and what’s new.
After that, I start my working day getting up to date: from responding to emails to transferring documents through their different translation processes. If we have any translation requests, I make sure to receive them, prepare them and send them to our translators and proofreaders. Part of my day also consists of Quality Management, in which I make sure all the translations and localizations are perfected and making sure to unify the writing voice for our clients’ specific needs.
What is your absolute favorite part about your job, and about translation?
I love how much I learn on a daily basis. We all have different backgrounds and different perspectives on life. Working with people from all around the globe has taught me a lot about their different views on culture, society, and other important areas of life.
From a young age, I have loved to read, write, and was gifted with the opportunity of being exposed to different languages, each one with its unique character. Being a translator gives me the opportunity to transfer that uniqueness into another language, another culture, and another world. Reading in one language and writing in a whole different language is quite complicated, but a fascinating adventure. Project Management is a different world that requires a different set of skills that change with each particular client and translation job. Being a PM keeps me very awake and in a constant learning process.
What are the most important skills for a Project Manager to have?
Some of the most valuable skills range from linguistic knowledge, planning capability, and having a keen eye on preventing possible obstacles. But the most important skill is having a lot of human sense. A translator can be prepared, study, and have all the tools, but translating is a purely human activity. As Project Manager, I have to understand that we all make mistakes, we all get tired, we can all break-down; but we are also capable of beautiful things, beautiful creation, and beautiful translations.
How do you ensure that quality standards are up to par?
The secret of a high-quality translation is to treat each one as a one-of-a-kind and never take anything for granted. You have to ensure all technical aspects of the translation are correct (grammar, syntaxis, punctuation), but you also have to make sure the whole idea of the text is translated as well. A good translation balances two voices: that of the writer and the translator.
How does your relationship with clients add value to each translation project?
One of the most important aspects of a PM is having a good communication channel with the client. There are fewer mistakes, fewer misunderstandings, and an easier workflow. When you are close to your client, you know their needs and their particular language, that way your translation job (translation, proofreading or quality management) is focused on their particular needs. Good communication makes all the difference.
Curious to learn more about our community? Meet them on our blog!
