Career Opportunities in the Translation Profession Now Wide Open

HUMANIORA (24/7/2024) The interesting fact that there are over 7,000 languages spoken in the world reflects an extraordinary linguistic diversity. Of these, the five most widely used languages are Mandarin, English, Arabic, Spanish, and Hindi. Mastery of several major languages is becoming increasingly important today due to their widespread use in various industrial sectors. For students, this opens up promising career opportunities in the field of translation. With the growing need for cross-language communication in business, diplomacy, technology, and many other fields, translation skills become a valuable asset that can open doors to various exciting and dynamic professional opportunities.

This was conveyed by professional translator and founder of Licolize Communications, Muhammad Afif Musthofa, during the Field Work Practice (PKL) briefing event held by the Faculty of Humanities at the State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, on the 5th floor of the Rectorate Building.

On this occasion, Afif explained the industries that frequently require language services, including market research, banking and insurance, manufacturing, healthcare and medical services, retail, e-commerce, tourism, education and training, law, and software development. This knowledge, according to Afif, is important for students interested in a career as a translator because it shows the wide range of job opportunities available.

Furthermore, Afif provided several suggestions on the preparations that aspiring translators need to make. "Mastery of technology, language skills, cultural knowledge, personal development, general knowledge, and personal qualities and soft skills are keys to success in the translation industry," he said. He also emphasized the importance of improving source and target language proficiency, especially the target language, as the foundation of translation work.

In the career-starting tips session, Afif suggested that students regularly translate to improve their skills while doing good deeds, such as translating abstracts or joining the TED Translators community. He also emphasized the importance of actively communicating with peers and networking, such as joining professional organizations and communication platforms between translators and clients.

In the same session, Afif recommended that students pursue translator and interpreter certifications as proof of professional competence. "The National HPI Certification Test and ATA are examples of certifications that can enhance your credibility and competitiveness in this industry," he added.

The PKL briefing event ran smoothly and received enthusiastic responses from the participants. Students felt they gained a lot of valuable knowledge and new insights useful for developing a career in translation. The Faculty of Humanities at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang continues to commit to supporting the development of student skills through relevant and beneficial programs, preparing them to become competent professionals in the workforce. [al]