Catherine Davies is currently working with The Translation People’s Birmingham office; here she shares her first week’s experience.

‘I have just completed a Masters degree in Interpreting and Translating at the University of Bath, which was without a doubt my most intensive year so far, but also my most rewarding. I had the opportunity to complete a professional translation placement at the Universal Postal Union in Switzerland and have since been eager to learn more about the world of translation. Throughout the course, the message was that good translators are highly sought after, but that competition on the outside is tough! So, pre-armed and pre-warned, I applied for an internship with The Translation People at their Birmingham office and I was lucky enough to be accepted.

It has only been a week since my first day, yet I am surprised at how much I have learnt in such a short period of time. This is down to my colleagues who are keen to include me in every aspect of the day-to-day running of a busy translation agency, even when they are rushed off their feet.

I have been entrusted with proof reading; assisted in the preparation of quotations; compiled glossaries; seen the wonders of Trados – my experience of this CAT tool is limited, but I am quickly becoming a convert – and even Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) has been mentioned – all before the end of week one.

After such an information-packed week, I am looking forward to a weekend of rest and relaxation, but nevertheless, I am also looking forward to returning to work on Monday. A simple statement maybe, but having taken the plunge and changed careers to become a translator, it is music to my ears.’